Overcoming the Loss of Muscle Mass During Andropause

Andropause is a serious condition that can affect most men as they age. One of the more extreme symptoms is the loss of muscle mass.

What is Andropause?

Similar to menopause, andropause occurs in men when their levels of testosterone start to decline. This is simply a part of the aging process. There are numerous symptoms that come with a reduction in testosterone. Some of those include weight gain, lowered sex drive, loss of muscle mass, receding hairline, and a general lack of energy. All of these can cause individuals to feel depressed by the sudden alteration in their lifestyle.

Andropause and Muscle Mass

One of the worst outcomes of andropause is the decrease in muscle. Testosterone plays an active role in building muscle. When your body starts to reduce the amount of testosterone that is produced, it makes developing muscle more difficult. Instead of developing muscle, you’ll likely find the opposite to be true: it’s far easier to gain weight. This can also be attributed to the decrease in energy that you feel.

Testosterone plays a role in your metabolism. It is your metabolism that burns fuel from your diet into energy. When you are undergoing andropause, your metabolism slows, and you feel more sluggish. As a result, you likely don’t feel inclined to work out and keep your muscle growth. Thankfully, there are a few steps you can take to maintain the level of muscle in your body.

1. Keep Working Out

Though you may feel tired, it is critical that you keep up your workout routine. In fact, you should try your hardest not to deviate from the regimen that you’ve been using for the past several years because deviating from it will only allow your body to lose that muscle instead of maintaining or growing it. Certain workouts like heavy weight-lifting can actually help to produce testosterone in your body. So, to give yourself an extra boost of testosterone production and to keep growing muscle, you may want to focus on heavy-lifting workouts or proper body weight poses found in yoga that apply proper tension on your muscles while holding a yoga pose.

In addition, resistance training is an excellent method to keep the excess fat from collecting on your body. By keeping that fat off, you can show off your muscle definition no matter how old you are. Working out, in general, is also just an excellent option to stay healthy throughout your life no matter how old you are.

2. Undergo Hormone Therapy

You may also want to consider undergoing hormone-replacement therapy. For men who have low testosterone, it is possible to receive treatments that can keep your levels of testosterone normal, similar to what they were when you were younger. Your doctor can easily test your levels and determine how large your dosage should be. There are many ways to take testosterone. Topical creams and gels, pills and injections are all viable and effective methods of maintaining your testosterone levels.

By keeping your testosterone level the same as what your body is used to, you may never see a decline in your muscle or an increase in weight. You’ll also likely notice that your energy level is about the same and that your sex drive is healthy. By maintaining what you’re used to, you can ward off the unpleasant side effects of andropause and steer clear of the resulting depression, too.

3. Eat a Certain Diet

Another method to help maintain your level of testosterone is to eat a diet that is high in protein and low in carbs. Nuts, beans, lean meats, powders, certain plants, and fish are all excellent options for a high-protein meal and snack. The proteins are essential for the production of testosterone.

No Need to Suffer

There are numerous options available to fight against the symptoms of andropause. For your own happiness and health, you may want to consider one of the ideas listed above. Particularly, men may want to consider hormone replacement in order to maintain the levels of testosterone that their bodies have always been familiar with. Your muscle will continue to be built.