The “Dad-Bod” movement has gone too far. It’s a social media phenomenon. And it’s encouraging men of all ages to sit around, cool and relaxed, gaining beer bellies rather than muscle mass. Yes, love your body the way it is, but at the same time, understand that “just hanging out” can be unhealthy.
Hey, by all means, have fun and relax… but we all know it’s important to not let yourself go too far, or it will be hard to turn back and get fit again.
Is being fit not “in” anymore? “Dad-Bod” dudes pig out on the weekends, but aren’t completely sedentary either. Maybe he hits the gym once or twice a week for some curls or bench presses. It’s sort of like the, “I peaked in high school, but didn’t care too much after that” kind of guy.
Well, OK, it may be cute and fun, and some women might be into that kind of thing, but a big belly and 10 minute mile will hurt you later on.
Here are 5 reasons we’re not into it:
1. It can screw up your future fitness state
Even though you’re not feeling the effects now, continuing on this path of eating and drinking carelessly will catch up with you. You’re a young guy now, but as you age your metabolism slows down and your body, over time, produces less testosterone, making it harder to maintain your fat burning capability.
2. Belly fat is the worst kind of fat
Visceral (aka stubborn belly fat aka beer belly) is the most dangerous of the fats and the hardest to lose as time goes on (you don’t get it from beer alone, it’s an accumulation of calories in excess). Visceral fat surrounds vital organs such as the heart and liver, preventing them from functioning properly. Overtime it increases your likelihood of developing diseases such as, high blood pressure, high cholesterol as your vital passageways narrow, and diabetes, as your body becomes insulin resistant.
3. It messes with your metabolism
Metabolic syndrome, caused by obesity and an inactive lifestyle, is a combination of high blood pressure, excess body fat, high cholesterol and high blood sugar, which boosts your chances for stroke or heart disease. Large waistlines (waist circumference 40 and up in men) and old age increase your chances for developing this condition.
4. It will screw up your sleep quality
More men than women are diagnosed with sleep apnea, (restrictive breathing during sleep throughout the night) which put them at risk for other diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. There is a relationship between belly fat accumulation and this sleep disorder, as sleep apnea is linked to low blood oxygen and high levels of visceral fat. You don’t have to be obese to have sleep apnea. This sleep disorder happens when your upper airways are blocked by fat obstructing normal breathing.
5. It can mess with your mojo during the day
Losing excess fat helps give your energy levels a boost. Larger waistlines are related to depression that may make you feel tired and sluggish throughout the day. Furthermore, when you’re out of shape your heart and lungs have to work harder because of the excess fat covering them, lowering your energy levels. Finally, sleep apnea can leave you feeling tired all day long because of disruptions that prevent you from going through full sleep cycles.