Fat but think I have it. Your opinions please...

[RTPUnderPar]

Hi,

First time poster here, this is a very informative board thanks for the forum.  

Here's my story.   6'0 230lbs, always been heavy.   I know I optimally should be 180.  I got down to 200 two years ago and saw some improvement, but not much.  I do 50 push ups first thing in AM and 50 more before bed daily, and trying to work out 4x weekly.  

I've had a comparatively odd chest seemingly as I remember since 9 or 10 years old.   I can't believe I'm just hearing about this condition now and never heard a peep out of any of my doctors about it.  

At any rate, here are my pics.  Any opinions/severity thoughts are appreciated.  

http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/2350/dscf03870pa.jpg

http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/7917/dscf03886yx.jpg

http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/5058/dscf03890ky.jpg

http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/8396/dscf03903kd.jpg

I feel you guys pain.  It's like 115 degrees here and I would love to go the pool but alas...  

Assuming thoughts are along the lines of mine, any reccomendations for doctors in the Raleigh/Durham NC, area are much appreciated.

Thanks in advance!  

[c3ntralp3rk]

sorry to be the bearer of bad news.. but i think you got it.
i think you have a case of both real + pseudo gynecomastia..

one way you can tell that you have gland is by looking at your nipples.. you have the typical 'puffy nipples' something a lot of the people on this board share in common. however due to your weight, you also have a plethora of fat stored up in your chest..

i wouldn't recommend that you go to a PS just yet. i say you lose some poundage first. try goign on a low car (NOT ATKINS!!) a low carb diet. i used to be VERY obese, and i'm now pretty ripped with muscle, besides my gyne..  hence this is my advise to you:

try spacing out small meals, instead of having 2 realy large ones..

but here:

breakfast: most important meal of the day. a lot of people trying to lose weight skip breakfast... i don't know why they do that, breakfast is the one meal that you *should* eat.. skip any other meal, not breakfast. its what keeps you going for the rest of the day.. what you eat at night may be stored, but breakfast.. thats the stuff you burn.. don't go crazy on breakfast though. eat rationally. controll yourself.

lunch: lower your carbs, focus on a high protein diet. primarily eggwhites, chicken/turkey (no skin), lean beef, tofu, milk (2% not whole cream)..

evening: have a bowl of chopped fruits. bannanas, apples, papayas, whatever you fancy. you need the vitamins, and face it.. you need *some* sweetness in life  

dinner: have 2 scoops of protein shake mixed with skim milk/water.. whatever you preffer.
----------------------------------------------------

ground rules:

1. no in between snacking (that is your enemy)
2. for the next 6 months, control the fatty substances, control the carbs, no candybars, no pop - and that includes diet soda.. aspartame, the artificial sweetener can phuck you up pretty bad, give you craving for more food, and screw up your thyroid..
3. 4-5 days a week, do 30-45 mins of cardio work.. as you start losing weight, make your workouts more and more intense.. push yourself to the maximum.

if you follow these rules, and are committed to yourself. you WILL lose weight.

best of luck.
may you be rid of this gyne very soon.

[c3ntralp3rk]

sorry to be the bearer of bad news.. but i think you got it.
i think you have a case of both real + pseudo gynecomastia..

one way you can tell that you have gland is by looking at your nipples.. you have the typical 'puffy nipples' something a lot of the people on this board share in common. however due to your weight, you also have a plethora of fat stored up in your chest..

i wouldn't recommend that you go to a PS just yet. i say you lose some poundage first. try goign on a low car (NOT ATKINS!!) a low carb diet. i used to be VERY obese, and i'm now pretty ripped with muscle, besides my gyne..  hence this is my advise to you:

try spacing out small meals, instead of having 2 realy large ones..

but here:

breakfast: most important meal of the day. a lot of people trying to lose weight skip breakfast... i don't know why they do that, breakfast is the one meal that you *should* eat.. skip any other meal, not breakfast. its what keeps you going for the rest of the day.. what you eat at night may be stored, but breakfast.. thats the stuff you burn.. don't go crazy on breakfast though. eat rationally. controll yourself.

lunch: lower your carbs, focus on a high protein diet. primarily eggwhites, chicken/turkey (no skin), lean beef, tofu, milk (2% not whole cream)..

evening: have a bowl of chopped fruits. bannanas, apples, papayas, whatever you fancy. you need the vitamins, and face it.. you need *some* sweetness in life  

dinner: have 2 scoops of protein shake mixed with skim milk/water.. whatever you preffer.
----------------------------------------------------

ground rules:

1. no in between snacking (that is your enemy)
2. for the next 6 months, control the fatty substances, control the carbs, no candybars, no pop - and that includes diet soda.. aspartame, the artificial sweetener can phuck you up pretty bad, give you craving for more food, and screw up your thyroid..
3. 4-5 days a week, do 30-45 mins of cardio work.. as you start losing weight, make your workouts more and more intense.. push yourself to the maximum.

if you follow these rules, and are committed to yourself. you WILL lose weight.

best of luck.
may you be rid of this gyne very soon.

[makesmesad]

Hi - I also believe you have it, the nipples are pushed out and  it looks like alot of fat in the chest area


My reccomendation is to lose some weight first, They may get smaller but not go, When you lose some weight (180? 200?) youll feel alot better, currently im 6'' 186 and  got a beer gut pretty bad but it hides well under a tshirt, and just since i gotr my operation its also motivating to do this diet of yours...as i think i can pull it off. But the point is - Lose weight before you go to the doctors.

Here in canada, we have to go to our regular doctor before we can go to OHIP and get the PS paid for (doctor gets us a refferall, blah blah all boring) but basically it takes AGES..

i went to my parents general and it was some pregnant lady..and it was rather embarassing, I kew i wanted a refferall but she didnt understand..kept saying 'if nobody makes fun of you why does it bother you?' and She didnt even know what it was   she played it out as if i was just a fat guy. Went to the doctor, for sure i had it, ALOT of gland removed.

Point being: Go to the doctor skinnier and if your canadian, like me, itll go faster

[Gine2D]

Fat now, but could progress futher.  

You have enough fat to start converting testosterone to estrogen E2.  Then the boobs will grow more.

Get the testosterone & estrogen levels blood tested. Lost faith in saliva tests as many came back wrong.

Lose weight soon.

Good luck

G

[Worrier]

Hi I used to have a case similar to the way yours looks albeit to a lesser extent. It looks like a mixture of gland and fat with the emphasis on fat rather than gland.
I made a huge improvement purely from diet and exercise to the extent that Iam now reluctant to have the surgery.
Like others have said I would start exercising right now, join a gym as putting it off could make it worse.And watch your diet maybe even see a dietician? I saw one of those as in the UK you get to see them free. I got loads of helpful advice.
All body types are different but general weight loss will help all areas. Once you have got down to a much better weight re-assess it . Get your hormones checked out with your doc as well and maybe discuss an ideal weight for your height. If you get to that targer weight and you are still not happy consider the surgical route.

[steinbock]

Hi I used to have a case similar to the way yours looks albeit to a lesser extent. It looks like a mixture of gland and fat with the emphasis on fat rather than gland.
I made a huge improvement purely from diet and exercise to the extent that Iam now reluctant to have the surgery.

Hey Worrier,

I stumbled upon your post and that gave me some hope that diet and excercise could help at least improve
the glands. I'm 33 years old and have had it since puberty. Been to 3 different doctors over a course of 10 years (but they were not specialists on this) and got the same advice - excercise.

I've been going to the gym for more than half a year now and I hardly notice any improvement. I don't really have weight problems but I wanted to get rid of it.

How often do you excercise and how streneuous should it be? I really want to get rid of the glands but would only think of surgery as a last resort.

Thanks,
Steinbock

[STILLgotIT]

I couldn't make a determination on surgery until you lose 50-75 lbs. At that point you'll be able to tell how much is from being obese.

[fl3a]

Before I went in for surgery I lost over 50 lbs, you are larger than I was so I recommend you lose a good chunk of weight before thinking about surgery as an option. After losing a lot of weight my case still looked bad cause of loose skin and gland so I opted for the surgery. My weight was a problem for a long time until I finally asked myself this one question about losing the weight "How bad do I want it?" I realized that I wanted it real bad and its worth the struggle. Every time youre busting your ass in the gym or fighting a craving for some food you shouldnt have. Just ask yourself this question.  I wish you the best of luck, hope everything turns out great for you.

[Youngboi]

breakfast: most important meal of the day. a lot of people trying to lose weight skip breakfast... i don't know why they do that, breakfast is the one meal that you *should* eat.. skip any other meal, not breakfast. its what keeps you going for the rest of the day.. what you eat at night may be stored, but breakfast.. thats the stuff you burn.. don't go crazy on breakfast though. eat rationally. controll yourself.

Also you should know that by skipping breakfast you slow down your metabolism for the day. Therefore if you eat, say, a huge dinner as your only meal, most of that will go towards fat, rather then get digested normally. Eat a small breakfast, and spread out your meals. Rather have 5 small meals/snacks throughout the day, then two huge meals. And never eat for any reason other then hunger (unless its healthy food). Thats the problem overweight people have - they eat because it makes them feel better. You have to overcome that if you want to become skinnier. I may be only 15 years old and I admit that I was never truly fat but over this summer I have gotten into the routine of healthy eating and exercise and I've got to tell you - its an enlightening experience. Good luck to you.

[intilt]

normal.

[STILLgotIT]

Also you should know that by skipping breakfast you slow down your metabolism for the day. Therefore if you eat, say, a huge dinner as your only meal, most of that will go towards fat, rather then get digested normally. Eat a small breakfast, and spread out your meals. Rather have 5 small meals/snacks throughout the day, then two huge meals. And never eat for any reason other then hunger (unless its healthy food). Thats the problem overweight people have - they eat because it makes them feel better. You have to overcome that if you want to become skinnier. I may be only 15 years old and I admit that I was never truly fat but over this summer I have gotten into the routine of healthy eating and exercise and I've got to tell you - its an enlightening experience. Good luck to you.

I disagree about only eating when you're hungry. You need to eat when the clock tells you to. For me, that's about every 3 hours. The key is having these meals only 250-400 calories.

Even if I am not hungry I must eat. My muscles need the nourishment to recouperate from my workouts, and my metabolism needs it to keep the fire burning.