{"id":2910,"date":"2019-06-19T14:00:46","date_gmt":"2019-06-19T06:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/paulstokes.com.au\/?p=2910"},"modified":"2023-05-01T20:58:33","modified_gmt":"2023-05-01T12:58:33","slug":"sweat-during-exercise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paulstokes.com.au\/sweat-during-exercise\/","title":{"rendered":"Sweat during exercise – the sign of a good workout?"},"content":{"rendered":"
Why do people sweat? Do people generally associate a “good sweat” with an effective exercise session? Why do people love to sweat during their workouts? The reasons are varied and many.<\/p>\n
From the perspective of fitness instructor, or participant, many of us evaluate the effectiveness of our workout by how much sweat is dripping from our bodies. RPM and group-cycling peeps – I’m looking at you! I know you get satisfaction from those little puddles around your bike.<\/p>\n
Excessive sweat creates the image of hard work accomplished and tough exercise. It’s the illusion that “if some sweat is good, more must be better.” Now, don’t get me wrong, sweat is not disgusting. It’s a natural, pure, necessary and unavoidable product of exercise. It can be a good thing. But the effectiveness of a workout isn’t related to how much sweat is created. In terms of fat loss, total calories burned and cardiovascular conditioning, sweat is irrelevant . What counts is the amount and type of activity that you do, as well as the intensity of the session.<\/p>\n
Exercise and muscle contraction depends on taking oxygen into the body. Oxygen uptake is directly related to calorie burning. Calorie burning is related to fat loss and weight control. Sweat isn’t a factor. If you consume oxygen, you will burn calories. Since this represents energy production, you will produce heat and sweat to cool the body.<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n What actually happens when you sweat?<\/p>\n When you exercise, your body produces excess heat as the muscles turn fuel into energy. Your skin plays a key role in keeping you cool. Blood carries the excess heat from deep inside your body to your skin. This allows heat to radiate from your skin’s surface. This blood shunt or transfer is shown by a red face flushed skin. Similar to that which occurs on a hot day, our blood vessels dilate to increase blood flow.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the body perspires, literally dumping water onto your skin. Evaporation of this sweat cools the body. Through perspiration and breathing, both fluid and heat are lost. Since the fluid comes from blood plasma, excess sweating reduces blood volume. As blood supply and volume decreases, the exercising muscles don’t perform as efficiently.<\/p>\n If fluids are not replaced, dehydration also adds strain to the heart and circulation. The blood shunt and decreased blood volume will cause the heart rate to increase. It’s trying to meet the oxygen needs of the working muscles. A faster beating heart needs more oxygen because it is working harder. In this high stressed situation, oxygen delivery may not be able to meet the oxygen demands of the heart. The skeletal muscles that literally move you can recover from being deprived of oxygen. This is called your oxygen debt and is part of anaerobic metabolism. Unfortunately, the heart muscle does not have the capability to sustain contraction without an adequate oxygen supply. The end result of the body overheating could be a heart attack in susceptible people.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n READ ALSO: <\/strong>What is EPOC? HIIT, Oxygen Debt, Intensity & Recovery Explained<\/a><\/p>\n Even a moderate amount of exercise can bring your core temperature up by a degree or more and produce sweat. Wear loose or ‘breathable’ clothing which helps your body’s cooling system. It will let air flow over your skin; allowing sweat to evaporate. Finally, try to choose a well-ventilated and slightly cool environment. If exercising outdoors, avoid extreme heat and humidity.<\/p>\n The quest for “dripping wet” is counter-productive from a safety and calorie burning standpoint. If it happens, fine – but it shouldn’t represent an exercise goal. Simply put, excessive dehydration or heat exposure results in physiological strain on the body and decreased performance. You may produce a lot of sweat as your body frantically tries to cool its core temperature. However, you may end up exercising for a shorter duration, at a lower intensity and the experience may be less than fun.<\/p>\n If you exercise in the optimum environment, dress appropriately, take necessary precautions and stay hydrated, you’ll burn more calories. Also, you’ll be able to exercise harder and longer. Oh yes, plus there is a good chance you’ll keep coming back for more!<\/p>\nStaying cool during your workout<\/h2>\n
Bottom line on sweat and exercise<\/h2>\n