Sweat after workout. More sweat = better workout

15.10.2019 Water heaters

If there was such an option as the deactivation of all sweat glands at the moments of serious physical effort by a person, after half an hour the unfortunate person would have fallen unconscious with a high temperature. Sweating during sports, internal emotional upheavals, as well as rapid and excessive filling of the stomach, performs the function of cooling the body. And just as no complex mechanism can work for a long time in an overheated state, so a multifunctional apparatus - the human body, will quickly fail, having lost the opportunity to cool down.

By the level of sweating, one can understand how intensively the muscles are being worked out and how adequately the body perceives the loads placed on it. In fact, the presence of sweating during periods of training indicates an absolutely healthy body with undistorted functions of the sweat glands, that's all. In addition to the cooling that moisture brings, evaporating on our heated skin, with droplets protruding from enlarged pores, accumulated toxins, sebaceous plugs, salts and other heavy elements come out.

But there are situations when, during exercise, moisture lingers in the body and begins to appear in abundant tides, after the tense muscles have relaxed.

The origin of such a belated compensation for overheating may be a violation of thermoregulation due to a vegetative-vascular disorder or for another reason, which must be clarified if the incident repeats or occurs repeatedly.

Abundant perspiration may not be observed at all, not before training, nor after it. If you eliminate the factor of conscious prevention of hyperhidrosis - this includes the use of specialized creams, talcum powder, sprays or a well-ventilated room - then you can look for the cause in medicines, dietary supplements or steroid drugs that could greatly change the hormonal background and thereby disrupt the water-alkaline balance in the body .

How to reduce excessive sweating

In the gym, the sight of blurred wet spots on the back and armpits will not frighten anyone, but for many people such a delicate problem can even become an obstacle to visiting the sports section. How not to sweat if you need to give all your best in training?

Of course, it will not be possible to completely eliminate hyperhidrosis with the help of corrective actions, but it is possible to reduce sweating, making the situation less psychologically painful, by observing simple conditions:

  • Forbid yourself flour and fatty foods 4-6 hours before a workout, or rather put a strict taboo on this aspect if you are overweight. Fat people sweat more profusely;
  • When purchasing a sports uniform, clearly focus on your sport. There are clothes for playing table tennis, for the "rocking chair" - their own and nothing else;
  • You can drink water 2 hours before training only if you really want to, and you should forget about hot, carbonated and energy drinks 2-4 hours before class;
  • Smoking and occasional alcohol consumption, even in small amounts, is actually the main answer to the questions: “Why do I sweat so much during training?”. Couperose on the face, a network of red vessels appearing in the area of ​​​​the nose and nasolabial folds - this is also a problem from the morning cigarette;
  • Foot sweating is the result of wearing uncomfortable, stuffy shoes, but with a tendency to increased hyperhidrosis, feet can sweat even in rag "T-shirts". Talc or a special spray that reduces sweating and protects against fungus will help;

It can be added that applying an antiperspirant somewhere else, except for the axillary area, will exacerbate the problem, since the rigid structure of the applied substance with the presence of heavy metals literally “clogs” the pores, locking the liquid inside. This can cause serious skin conditions.

Covered in cold sweat

Normally, sweat produced from the body during physical activity should not bring a feeling of cold, since it is the same temperature as the body, but cools down already at the exit from the epidermis. “Why don’t I sweat as much during workouts as everyone else? I cover myself with sticky icy perspiration, literally drenched in it, as if from the shower, ”many athletes ask at an appointment with an endocrinologist.

As a rule, the weakness that accompanies such a symptom causes a person to stop exercising. It happens worse when an athlete overdoes himself and continues to practice. Usually, precisely as a result of such a negligent attitude to health, then all sorts of questions arise: “Why me?” in the doctor's office.

The first thing that an endocrinologist will advise in such a situation is to donate blood for sugar levels, and then undergo an examination for cardiovascular diseases.

The smell of sweat has changed

The following questions, "What's wrong with me?", arise when the character of sweating becomes "scented". A person notices that he smells differently than before, perhaps others notice this as well. The first important moment of such uncharacteristic changes is observed in beginners in sports, who, in an effort to build muscle mass, begin to consume protein in huge quantities, without denying themselves the pleasure of sometimes eating the usual spicy and fatty foods. If at the same time they have not yet accustomed themselves to drink the prescribed amount of liquid, a sharp ammonia smell is provided to them after a short time.

If the food culture is adjusted correctly and the diet is balanced, a sudden change in body odor will have to be sought in other causes.

Do you sweat a lot while exercising? Does it bother you, do you feel insecure? Is it difficult to train at full strength? Clothes with traces of sweat seem unaesthetic? Understand, there is nothing unnatural here. On the contrary, heavy sweating during exercise is a natural reaction of your body associated with the restoration of normal heat transfer and metabolism during exercise.

Workout Sweat - Natural Thermoregulator

Heavy sweating is considered one of the signs of the quality of your workouts. The more you work out, the harder the exercises for the muscles, the more you sweat. Physical training contributes to an increase in body temperature, sweating, the body tries to neutralize overheating, restore the natural water-alkaline balance. Through the sweat glands, various toxins and slags that have accumulated in the body are removed. Thus, sweating is not only normal, but even necessary. It will also be very useful to visit the sauna, bath after physical exertion, this will help your body cleanse itself of accumulated harmful substances, enhance the effect of losing weight. Proper exercise, according to Cleveland Clinic research published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, will help not only detoxify the body, but also improve health.

However, special attention should be paid if profuse sweating occurs not during sports training, but, say, in stressful situations, such as when passing exams, meeting people that are unpleasant for you.

Then you should consult an endocrinologist to undergo an examination. You may have hydrosis (impaired sweating).

Attention: proper nutrition!

Few people think about proper nutrition on the eve of sports or fitness. But the amount of sweat produced directly depends on how much fluid was drunk, eaten salty, sour, spicy before training. If you are a lover of Mexican cuisine, drink a lot of water, then be prepared for the fact that after strong physical exercise you will resemble a wet cat.

Decreased sweating

In order to maintain an attractive appearance and a sense of comfort during training, special attention should be paid to sportswear. It is desirable that it be only from natural fabrics (cotton, linen). It may be worth buying a specialized form of clothing for sports. This kind of thing will help the skin to breathe, preventing the violation of heat transfer.

You should also pay close attention to the choice of shoes. If preference is given to yoga, Pilates, then your legs "breathe", respectively, there will be no problems with heat transfer. But, doing more active sports, dancing or fitness, you should choose shoes that are light, comfortable, made from natural materials. Poorly made sports shoes can lead to an unpleasant odor and cause foot fungus. Defeating severe sweating will also help special products for the feet - talc or deodorant.

Cosmetologists warn that getting carried away with antiperspirants during training is also dangerous, since the substances contained there block the sebaceous glands. At the same time, a person sweats, but the sweat does not reach the surface of the skin, it remains “locked” inside the body along with all the harmful substances that accumulate inside our body. This, of course, does not mean that it is completely necessary to forget about deodorants or antiperspirants, it is simply dangerous to abuse them. Apply them only to the most problematic places. It is worth adding that men have more severe sweating than women. Fat people sweat more than thin people.

Sports and sweat are two interrelated factors. I sweat means I lose weight. 15-20 minutes in a bath or sauna contribute to additional cleansing of the body from harmful substances.

Hello dear readers! In the article we touch on the problem of excessive sweating during physical activity. We describe the essence of the physiological process, list the factors that stimulate the release of fluid. Here we also describe when sweat after a workout and during exercise can be a cause for concern. We also do not disregard the issue of therapy and prevention of an unpleasant phenomenon.

Sweat during exercise: good or bad?

Is it good to sweat while exercising? To answer this question, it is worth touching on the physiological aspect of this phenomenon. The sweat glands are responsible for the process of thermoregulation in the body. As the body heats up, sweat cools the surface of the skin. The released liquid also acts as a lubricant, which provides protection against bacteria, since it is characterized by an acidic reaction.

When a person performs exercises during training, his body generates a lot of heat, the surface of the skin heats up. The body seeks to normalize the temperature through the release of sweat. Thus, we are talking about an absolutely normal phenomenon, which, subject to moderate fluid release, should not cause concern to the athlete.

Let's formulate the question differently: "Is it dangerous not to sweat during training?". Lack of sweat during physical activity can be caused by:

  • dehydration of the body;
  • the absence of a sufficiently intense load;
  • skin diseases;
  • violations in the work (absence) of sweat glands;
  • neurological disorders;
  • individual characteristics of the organism;
  • failures at the genetic level.


The reasons for this phenomenon are quite diverse, therefore, the problem should be solved under the strict guidance of a specialist.

Excessive sweating: what is the reason?

Some sports enthusiasts comment in a similar vein: "Why do I sweat a lot during exercise, while others don't?" The question may well be relevant.

In most cases, active sweating during sports is due to a hereditary tendency. Less commonly, the phenomenon is caused by pathological processes or external factors. This condition may be due to the following number of factors:

  • problems with the cardiovascular system (the circulatory system is not able to distribute oxygen evenly to all cells);
  • failures in the autonomic nervous system, causing disturbances in the process of thermoregulation;
  • hormonal disorders (during the transitional age in children, menopause, pregnancy in women);
  • problems at the level of the endocrine system (imbalance of enzymes causes a slowdown in metabolism);
  • overweight (provides an additional load on muscle and joint tissue);
  • wearing synthetic underwear and clothes (creating a "greenhouse effect");
  • inappropriate microclimate in the room (high temperature, humidity);
  • the use of excess amounts of liquid, spicy dishes.


Attention! If a child sweats heavily during physical exertion, this is in most cases associated with an unfavorable ambient room climate: the room is too hot, humid. Diseases expressed in excessive sweating are rarely discussed in the case of children.

When to beware: we analyze current problems

Among those who should pay special attention to their own condition are those who observe increased sweating during light exertion. For example, in the process of walking or a simple warm-up. The question is very relevant when a person complains: “With moderate walking, I sweat quickly!”.

In this case, heavy sweating can indicate a serious malfunction in the body. A visit to the doctor is especially necessary if a similar picture is observed for a long period before and after classes.

Cold sweat - "alarm bell"

When else is it recommended to see a doctor? If the training takes place in a stuffy room or outdoors during the hot season, cold sweat may appear on the body of the athletes. The skin cools down, it seems very wet - a person becomes cold after a workout. Thus, the body prevents overheating.

Experts advise stopping the session, guided by the likelihood of a deterioration in the athlete's condition. A similar symptom is not alien to diabetics, in whose blood sugar levels drop sharply during exercise. In addition, the release of cold sweat, accompanied by a burning sensation in the chest and fear, can warn of an imminent heart attack. If weakness, ear ringing is added to the characteristic symptom, then we are talking about a decrease in blood pressure.

Attention! Under any circumstances, the described condition of the athlete is a reason for medical advice or prompt assistance from the medical staff.

Smelly sweat - isn't it scary?

It happens that athletes, especially adults, notice the unpleasant smell of their own sweat. After a fairly intense workout, a person literally smells ammonia in the nose. This is observed when observing a protein diet, passion for spicy foods, non-compliance with the drinking regimen.


On a biochemical level, the phenomenon is explained by the process of splitting protein molecules. A chemical reaction leads to the release of ammonia, which gives the released liquid an unpleasant odor.

However, the stench of sweat is not always associated with such obvious facts. Sometimes this phenomenon becomes the result of a number of ailments, including:

  • kidney and liver diseases;
  • endocrine diseases;
  • avitaminosis;
  • infectious diseases.

In order to clarify the situation, a person should consult a doctor.

What influences the intensity of sweating at the physiological level? In fact, this process is associated with the level of development of muscle tissue and with how adequately the human body perceives physical activity. The release of sweat directly during exercise indicates a healthy body. In addition to the fact of timely cooling of the body, we can assert that everything unnecessary and harmful comes out with sweat: toxins, salt, sebaceous plugs, etc.


However, things don't always go so smoothly. Sometimes in the process of exercising, the fluid lingers in the body and begins to come out after the onset of a state of relaxation. The athlete experiences discomfort from periodic flushes of sweat.

Such belated sweating is a consequence of a violation of the thermoregulation process associated with vegetative-vascular diseases. There is a need to visit a specialist.

Cases of profuse sweating during training or its complete absence (they were discussed earlier) also require attention from a specialist.

How to deal with the problem?

It will not be possible to completely defeat hyperhidrosis by following the above tips, but it is possible to reduce the amount of sweat released. Traditional corrective actions include:

How not to sweat while exercising? Explanation
Refrain from flour and fatty foods It is necessary to refuse this type of dishes 4-6 hours before the start of classes. If the problem of excess weight is relevant, this class of food should be completely excluded from the menu.
Choose your sportswear wisely When buying sportswear, “push off” from the sport
Follow the drinking regime 2 hours before class, you can drink water only if you really want to. Hot and carbonated drinks, energy drinks should be categorically excluded 4 hours before training
Give up cigarettes and alcohol Even small amounts of nicotine and alcohol can lead to hyperhidrosis during exercise. The face turns red or rosacea - problems living next to a cigarette
Pay attention to sports shoes Preference should be given to light "t-shirts" made of natural material
Use special tools We are talking about special sprays that reduce sweating and provide protection against fungus.

Important! Using underarm antiperspirants to keep other areas of the body dry will exacerbate the problem. The tool has a rigid structure, includes heavy metals that cover the surface of the skin with a film, locking sweat inside. This can lead to serious skin ailments.


How to prevent an unpleasant symptom?

As a preventive measure, in case of a predisposition to excessive sweating during training, the previously listed recommendations related to nutrition, drinking regimen and clothing should be followed.

In addition, you should pay attention to additional tips:

  1. Before training, take a contrast shower - the pores will open, the body will begin to breathe.
  2. Try to drink less fluid before and during exercise.
  3. Before you start exercising, ventilate the room well. This will help reduce the temperature and humidity in the room.
  4. Use baby powder: the product absorbs moisture and helps to avoid friction.

So that profuse sweating during physical exertion does not cause embarrassment, it is better to take a small towel with you to training and wipe problem areas of the body with it.

Let's draw conclusions

In conclusion, we present the obvious conclusions formulated on the basis of the information provided.

Sweating during exercise is a normal physiological process. The release of fluid not only helps the body to “transfer” its heat to the environment, but also provides a protective function for the whole organism.


Excessively active sweating during physical exertion (when sweat literally drips from the face) is most often associated with heredity, less often with the development of pathologies.

Other warning signs include the following:

  • increased sweating with minimal physical exertion;
  • complete absence of sweat during classes;
  • performance of cold sweat;
  • pungent odor of the secreted liquid;
  • late sweating;
  • fading of the symptom, then again its resumption.

In all of these cases, the athlete should contact a specialist.

Therapeutic and preventive measures for the described problem are similar.

Does a basket of sweat-soaked laundry from a recent workout mean it was a great workout? And here is optional. “Sweat isn't always a good indicator of the quality of a workout,” says Jessica Matthews, senior health and athletic advisor for the American Board of Physical Education. There is a common misconception that links the amount of sweat produced to the amount of calories burned, which is not always true.

First, let's understand why you sweat (or not). "Sweating is our body's way of keeping itself warm," explains Matthews. During exercise, the body literally heats up, which stimulates the release of sweat. Then, as the sweat dries on your skin, you cool off.

However, it is important to remember that each person is unique. “Some people may sweat profusely even if they haven't been physically active, while others may work out for 60 minutes at the gym and look like they just started a workout,” Matthews explains.

How much you sweat is determined by many factors, including temperature, humidity, and even how thin you are. In general, fitter people sweat more quickly because their thermoregulation (like air conditioning) kicks in faster. But that's not always the case, and don't worry if you haven't started sweating yet.

Does sweating help you burn more calories?

Since we often associate sweat with exercise, it's easy to assume that the two are related. "It really doesn't matter how profusely you sweat, it doesn't always correlate with calorie burn and how hard you've been exercising," says Matthews. Take for example a hot yoga class or running down the street on a hot day. The strangest thing is that when you step on the scales at the end, they will show that you have lost a kilogram or even more. Keep in mind that this is water loss, not fat loss, so it's temporary. As soon as you drink water, the weight will return.

In one study conducted by researchers at Colorado State University, male participants burned about 460 calories in a 90-minute Bikram yoga class, while women burned an average of 330. Much less than you might think, right? This is because hot indoor classes are designed to increase muscle flexibility, not to increase calories burned. So, despite the significant increase in sweating compared to regular yoga strength classes, you will burn far fewer calories.

What is really important for burning calories

Matthews states that training duration and intensity are the two most important factors for increasing (and measuring) calorie expenditure. For aerobic exercise, the American College of Sports Medicine generally recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week. However, they also note that it will take more than the specified time (from 150 to 250 minutes or more) if you intend to lose weight. For strength training, says Matthews, the weight of the load is a fairly accurate indicator. In general, for muscle development, the weight of the weight should be such that you can do 8 to 15 repetitions of the exercise. It must be difficult, but not impossible.

This does not mean that you should give up those workouts that do not cause sweating. Take restorative yoga, for example. It is unlikely to break a sweat here, however, you can benefit from quality mind and body relaxation. In addition, one study found that restorative yoga also helps burn fat. So forget about worrying about sweat. Just keep moving. Remember, if you're trying to lose weight, it's more likely that you're trying to increase the intensity of your workouts rather than sweating profusely.

Sweating during any type of physical activity is an absolutely normal activity of the body, which loses its own fluid due to the fact that any intense, increased physical work associated with muscle tension is accompanied by an increase in the temperature of the human body.

By sweating during heavy muscular work or in hot weather, the body protects itself from overheating.

Heavy sweating during a workout is one of the main indicators of the maximum effectiveness of a workout. Sweating is the body's natural thermoregulation mechanism and is directly related to metabolism. It maintains our water-salt balance and well removes dangerous toxic products from the body.

Therefore, do not be ashamed of the fact that you are completely wet sweating in training and look ugly. There is nothing abnormal in this, on the contrary, everything is exactly as it should be.

What can be done to reduce sweating?

So that during physical activity, try to choose clothes made from cotton and linen (made from natural fabrics) for sports activities, or simply use a line of clothing that is specifically designed for fitness and physical activity. Such clothes take into account the increased need of the skin to breathe during training and easily release excess moisture.

The same should be considered when choosing shoes for training. Poor quality shoes can not only harm during training due to improper load distribution.

In addition, the feet, like the whole body, secrete and closed space spoils not only the skin, but also the pleasure of training provokes a pungent odor. Therefore, it is important to choose light and comfortable shoes and remember to use. The increased comfort of sportswear should come first.

It is also worth considering the nutrition and fluid intake on the eve of the workout. If you drank a lot of water or any drink, ate spicy, salty or sour, it is provided during physical activity. And one more feature of human physiology, in men, sweating during physical exertion, as well as the pungent smell of sweat during physical exertion, is much more abundant and stronger than in women.

I will also add that overweight people sweat profusely during physical exertion due to excess weight, but they also lose weight faster than their more slender colleagues in the classroom.

Benefits of sweating while exercising

The benefits of sweating during exercise are clear. Although sweat itself during a workout is not a pleasant phenomenon for anyone, it is natural and very necessary. Therefore, if you, on the contrary, do not sweat, or in small amounts - this is a cause for concern, it is worth considering why there is no sweating during training. This can be a serious indicator that heat exchange is disturbed in your body.

After training, it is additionally recommended to look into the bath or sauna, at least for 15 minutes, to get rid of all those toxins that have accumulated in your body. This is especially true for those who train to lose weight. Additional sweating will contribute to the speedy disposal of body fat.

During physical exertion, the phenomenon is normal, which cannot be said about profuse sweating in everyday life. may be caused by stress, poor diet, or be a symptom of some other disease.

This is why in this case you should consult an endocrinologist, for example, to determine the cause of hyperhidrosis. In this article, we will not dwell on the dangers of hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating).

Training rules and drinking regimen

Why is drinking regimen necessary? It is clear that during physical exertion, an increase in human body temperature is a natural phenomenon. - this is the main way to get rid of excess heat during sports training, the body's response to reduce our body temperature. But in training, it also reduces water reserves in our body. And the lack of fluid has a bad effect on performance during sports.

In order to optimize the performance of an athlete and maintain the health of the body, given the strong sweating during physical exertion, it is important to strictly observe the drinking regimen during classes and training.

The amount of fluid loss from the body is determined by the intensity, frequency and duration of training, as well as weather conditions or ambient temperature (microclimate in the gym).

Drinking pure water will reduce thirst and increase urine production - this will slow down the process of rehydration of the body and is good for quick recovery. Therefore, in order to avoid degradation during and after physical exertion, it is necessary to replenish the body's loss of water and electrolytes (salt, sodium, chlorine, and others).

With short-term physical exertion, there is no urgent need to replenish body losses. And when training in the hot season and with profuse sweating, you can restore the sodium balance and maintain normal water balance by adding salty foods to the diet.