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You are here: Home / Uncategorized / five facts about sweat

five facts about sweat

June 17, 2022      9 Comments

With summer comes sweat, and while it’s not the most pleasant part of fitness, it is a necessary one. As a Floridian woman in her 40s, I am MORE than familiar with the “sparkle” that comes with running and other forms of physical activity. Today, let’s talk about sweat, and clear up any misconceptions!

Sweat is normal.

Let’s just go ahead and normalize sweatiness. It’s a good thing. A healthy thing. Pretty much everyone sweats, or perspires at some point or other. Sweating is what helps regulate our body temperature: when we overheat, glands excrete sweat from your body. The water in that perspiration evaporates, which helps cool you down. Is it the most pleasant process? Absolutely not. Sweat has a very important function and purpose, and should be tolerated as such.

Sweat does not always equal body odor.

Interestingly, sweat itself usually doesn’t have a smell. Body odor comes from perspiration interacting with bacteria on the skin. Runners are typically a sweaty group, but I don’t usually notice less pleasant smells until after a race or workout, when the sweat is drying on skin or clothes. Be sure to shower regularly and keep your gear clean and dry to help reduce this side effect.

Sweating is an indicator of fitness.

Shockingly, people who sweat quickly and more heavily tend to be more fit. It has nothing to do with weight or with exertion, but rather with the body recognizing that it needs to start that cooling down process. Athletes’ bodies are already in tune with their needs, and this is a huge plus for regulating temperature and keeping healthy.

It’s better to sweat too much than too little.

As much as I hate being a sweaty person, it is (as stated earlier) perfectly normal. The time to be concerned is when the sweat stops. When you no longer perspire, especially during physical activity, you are more prone to dehydration and heat exhaustion. These conditions can get very dangerous, very quick, so pay attention to the signs and symptoms. (Please be aware that the inability to sweat and over-excessive sweating should be brought to the attention of your doctor).

You can take steps to reduce sweat, but not eliminate it.

Especially in summer, there are things that can help reduce your perspiration. Wear lighter colors and wicking materials to help keep moisture from your skin. Drink plenty of water and try to avoid excessive amounts of sodium, caffeine, and alcohol.

Do you tend to sweat more or less? How do you handle it?

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Comments

  1. Deborah Brooks says

    June 17, 2022 at 10:33 am

    I am a big sweater always have been! I just try to keep hydrated. We are in a 2 a day shower season 🙂

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      June 17, 2022 at 1:26 pm

      I’m glad I’m not alone.

      Reply
  2. Catrina says

    June 17, 2022 at 12:01 pm

    That last photo is of the track in the stadium in Cape Town!
    I’ve run so many rounds on it!

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      June 17, 2022 at 1:26 pm

      Oh, that’s so cool!

      Reply
  3. Jenny says

    June 17, 2022 at 12:52 pm

    Great article- I know some people don’t like to sweat, but living and running in Florida, I sweat a LOT. My husband is a heavier sweater than I am- he would be very smug if he read your article and would now claim he’s fitter than me (I don’t think I’ll tell him about that.) So I don’t mind sweating- but my only question is, how can I STOP sweating after my run? It seems like I wait and wait to take a shower, but when I finish my shower and try to get dressed, I’m still sweating. Grr! One of the things that makes summer running extra challenging.

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      June 17, 2022 at 1:25 pm

      Same! I think our bathrooms get extra steamy from the humidity here. The trick is to take a cool shower, get all the way dry, and then get out of the bathroom. I also don’t get clothes on til the last second if I’m doing hair or makeup: towel, light robe, or light t-shirt for me.

      Reply
  4. Shathiso says

    June 20, 2022 at 9:59 am

    Very interesting facts about sweat! A lot of it actually new to me – I’m not a big “sweater” which has some benefits (mainly that my clothes don’t get to sticky or wet) but as you say I need to be very careful to rehydrate as it’s easy for me to have a false sense of security that haven’t lost a lot of water when it fact I need it. Thanks for sharing 🙂

    Reply
  5. Michelle says

    June 20, 2022 at 7:09 pm

    I second Deborah’s comments – once the warmer weather kicks in I sweat a lot! Hydration and cool showers are key for me.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. the ugly side of summer running - Runs With Pugs says:
    June 29, 2022 at 1:06 am

    […] we covered how sweat isn’t the worst thing in the world, it’s also not a favorite, either. Your mileage may vary, but in our Florida summers, sweat […]

    Reply

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Welcome to Runs With Pugs. My name is Jenn and this is the story of my love affair with running and finding myself through fitness. From C25K to marathon, from triathlon to SUP, from broken leg to the recovery journey... I'm sharing it all. I'm a wife and mother of one, living in NE Florida, in love with travel, adventure, and food. Oh. We have pugs and a hedgehog, too. Thank you for joining us! We're glad to have you along for the ride!
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I am not a doctor or medical professional, nor do I play one on the internet. This blog reflects my personal experiences on my own fitness and running journey, and the processes that work for me. Before you begin any exercise regiment, please consult your physician.
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