We all sweat, and it’s a completely normal body function. In fact, you could actually end up in a lot of danger if you didn’t sweat! But for some reason, a lot of misperceptions still exist with regard to sweating. Here’s what you need to know.
The amount that you sweat is not based on your fitness. Some people do sweat more than others, but it has nothing to do with your level of fitness. Some people are simply born with more sweat glands than others, and we do know that men tend to sweat more than women. Other than that, the amount of sweat that you see during or after a workout is just based on your personal biology. Climate matters, too, since we tend to sweat more when it’s hot outside.
Sweat doesn’t actually smell. Yes, you might smell bad after a workout, but it’s not due to the amount of sweat you released. Sweat is simply water, and does not smell until it mixes with bacteria or fungi present on your skin.
Sweating removes toxins from your body. Sweat is composed of water, combined with trace amounts of potassium, magnesium, and urea. Yes, urea is a waste product, but only a tiny amount is present in sweat.
Your kidneys and liver are responsible for filtering toxins out of your body. You can support their function by drinking plenty of water, and by avoiding an overload of the “bad stuff” to begin with.
Sweating does not equal fat burn. Unfortunately, no, the amount that you sweat has little to do with the amount of calories that you burn during a workout. Because it’s your body’s way of cooling itself off, sweat does indicate that you’re getting exercise. But because the amount each person sweats can vary so much, it is not a reliable indicator of exact calorie burn.
If you want to know whether your workouts are effective and you’re burning enough fat, schedule an appointment with us. We can evaluate your weight loss plan and fitness goals, and help you put together a program for success.
