10 pounds off: what happens to the male body after losing weight
Ten pounds is just a conditional benchmark. Some men need to lose 20-30 pounds to get in shape. And some who have lost only 10 pounds, can become emaciated, to the point where you could literally count the ribs. To understand whether you need to drop weight or not, you should measure the abdominal circumference at the top point or at the level of the navel. If the measurement exceeds 38 inches, then there is a risk of developing atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and heart attack increases. That doesn't leave much to look forward to, but do not despair right away. To avoid the development of severe cardiovascular diseases, you need to fix the problem of being overweight.
Here are 7 more changes that will occur in the male body after weight loss:
Your sex life will improve
Excess weight leads to the deposition of bad cholesterol on the blood vessels walls. The lumen in the vessels narrows, leading to violation of blood circulation in the pelvic organs. Another serious problem is endocrine disruption. An increase in adipose tissue reduces the production of testosterone. After all, adipose tissue is a full-fledged organ that produces more than 600 compounds, including the female hormone estrogen. It is estrogens that affect the growth of the breast in obese men. And after losing weight, you will get rid of shortness of breath and will be able to have sex much longer.
Joint health will improve
Excess weight is a serious load on the musculoskeletal system, especially on the spine, hip and knee joints. Experts say that every pound of excess body weight increases the load on the skeleton by 1%. At the same time, the risk of damage to cartilage and joints increases by 4 times. In addition, the extra pounds shift the center of gravity forward. This increases the load on the lumbar spine.
You can update your wardrobe
Finally, you will be able to buy yourself a stylish tight-fitting T-shirt, which you have been dreaming about for so long, but could not afford because of those extra pounds. And in general, change your shapeless clothes for one that will accentuate your now athletic physique.
It will be easier to be active
10 pounds – not so much. And now try to put on a ten-pound backpack, go up the stairs with it and then immediately take it off. Do you feel how much easier it has become for you? Your body will feel the same way when you lose weight.
Blood sugar level will be reduced
Lowering blood sugar level will reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and other related diseases (heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and others). Experts at Johns Hopkins Medical Center claim that reducing body weight by 5-10% reduces the risk of developing diabetes by 58%.
Your stomach will shrink
In people with obesity, disruption of cortisol production, a hormone that increases blood sugar levels, leads to the formation of fat deposits around the abdomen. Reducing body weight normalizes the work of this hormone, as a result of which you will lose weight in the abdominal area.
Sleep quality will improve
Doctors can't come to a consensus on what comes first – obesity or sleep problems. One thing is clear: overweight people sleep worse. This is due to the fact that excess body weight leads to hormonal disorders. The work of the hunger hormone ghrelin is activated, which constantly signals the body to look for food. Reducing the level of the satiety hormone leptin does not allow the excess amount of fat to be broken down. This leads to the fact that a person constantly wants to sleep during the day and cannot be physically active. Accordingly, the processes of falling asleep and sleeping at night are also disrupted.
Losing weight for men is not as difficult as it may seem at first glance. And even more so, this process is easier and faster for men than for women. After all, men have much higher levels of testosterone, which increase the metabolism rate. And the daily calorie intake for men is higher than for women. Moreover, men are not prone to emotional eating. It remains only to reinforce all these benefits with regular physical activity, the use of protein for muscle growth and your refusal to drink alcohol and consume junk food. And then you will certainly get rid of those extra pounds.
