Why guys are losers
Have you ever heard a guy say that he needs to shed a few pounds, make some tiny changes in his lifestyle, and -- BOOM! -- he's at his goal weight? I know that's how it is for my dad. He'll state he wants to lose weight, drop desserts for a week, and all of a sudden he's down five pounds. Quite frankly, it's annoying. Granted, this is a bit of a stereotype -- not all men can lose weight easily. Differences in body chemistry, lifestyle habits, and other health factors can make it difficult for some men to lose weight. But, as a general rule, most men can lose weight more easily than women. Why is that?Men have a larger muscle mass which helps them burn 30% more calories. Women have the added disadvantages of extra body fat and a predisposition to store fat. Also, many women retain water at least one week each month. There are other reasons men might have an easier time with weight loss, too.
- Cravings. Both men and women have cravings and both sexes have an equally difficult time resisting them. But, according to a Cornell University study, most women tend to crave sweets and most men tend to crave protein (like a big, juicy steak). Neither is health food, but protein will keep men feeling full longer whereas those of us with a sweet tooth might keep munching and munching. To help fight cravings, take a tip from the men. Instead of reaching for chocolate, have some protein -- a stick of low-fat string cheese, a protein bar, some cottage cheese with fruit. Then you're more likely to be satisfied.
- All or nothing attitude. Everybody, men and women alike, screw up on their diet or exercise plan from time to time. But women are far more likely to berate themselves and succumb to negative self-talk. So what if you had a donut for breakfast when you were planning on having oatmeal? One little slip isn't going to derail your entire weight loss plan.
- Strength training. Many women focus solely on cardio activities. Cardio is necessary and important for weight loss, but strength training is important, too.
- Emotional eating. Women are twice as likely as men to turn to food for comfort. If you think you may be an emotional eater, try keeping a food journal for a few days. Try to recognize any patterns in your eating habits. If you do turn to food when you're depressed, angry, frustrated, stressed, bored, or lonely -- remember that food can only solve one thing -- hunger. Instead, find different ways to deal with life's stressors.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-10-2008 @ 10:48PM
marcie0305 said...
Women have a harder time dropping desserts, that's a big one :)
~Marcie
http://feedingblackmail.blogspot.com/
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5-11-2008 @ 10:34AM
carlabirnberg said...
interesting point, marcie.
regardless I was lamenting this precise thing to my husbands 6-pack last night.
(uh, belly--not brew)
M.
http://www.MizFitOnline.com
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