Heavy sweating question

As my workouts have gotten more intense, so too has my sweating. I wonder though, does this excessive sweating mean that I'm burning much more fat, or does it simply mean that I'm genetically inclinced to sweat a lot more than most people. I kid you not, I think I sweat more than most people I see at the Y I frequent. Yesterday for instance, my shirt was almost completely soaked in sweat, whilst most people only had the collar area of the shirt going.  

And when I first began working out, my sweating was not this intense. I just had the collar sweat thing going.

thanks.

 Means you're working harder - and that your work capacity has increased. Or so I've had it explained to me - when your body gets used to exercise and you start getting fitter, your workouts get more intense and your body has to get rid of more heat as you're now burning more calories in a shorter time.

 Also, it means your body's getting better at regulating your heat balance - it doesn't wait until you're already overheated before it starts sweating, it gets going as soon as it recognizes the signs of a workout that's going to last a while. Which means your endurance improves.

 Whether that translates into actual calorie expenditure being higher now - well, there you've got me; on the one hand you're working harder, on the other hand you've got less body to work out and you're burning less calories just because of that. Annoying, isnt it?

Ah! I can't thank you enough for your insight sir. I was almost positive it was because I'm working harder. I just had a wee bit of doubt, 'cause I hear some people are inclined to sweat excessively . I know I'm not one of those people though.

I'm seriously dumbfounded by the insane amount I sweat. I hope it doesn't bother or offend people in the gym. Today, again, my shirt was almost completely soaked in sweat.

I sweat a lot more during workouts when I've had more water drunk during the day.  I also sweat more because of some meds I'm on and one of the side effects is excessive sweating. 

I don't think there is any correlation between cals burned and sweat produced, but if working out harder will burn more cals.  I wish sweating did burn fat because I sweat in my sleep - it would be great if I could lose weight while sleeping - I'd sleep for days if it were so!!!

o man, I sweat any time that I get active now! I used to NEVER sweat....until I started working out. Now anytime I do housework, slow bikeride...you name it, I start sweating!

I once was told it means you've become more fit....but who knows !haha

well vicki, if that were the case, i must have been in great shape all my life...my face will start dripping moments after i start excercising, while a friend of mine only gets red to the point of boiling, because she doesn't sweat... i think it's a gland thing, genetically determined - but obviously, i also sweat more the harder i work...

I sweat excesively which is one of the main reasons I hate to work out, especially in front of anyone. I can't take a walk in 80 degrees without soaking my shirt. I hardly ever want to go out in the summer and I must say it puts a damper on some things I would like to do otherwise.

That's awful, Tinker!  You should look into prescription anti-perspirants or something?  If it's just under your arms, get Certain Dri.  I use it every other night before going to bed and it's AMAZING.  I used to have major pit-stainage (SO EMBARASSING) and since using it, it's gone!  They sell it at pretty much every drug store.  

Hi Mortal

Kno tha feelin, i get offensive looks partically on womens day at the gym because of excess sweating, ppl even stop saying hello!!! i hav always perspired alot but i think because its increased with the consumption of a protein shake i drink 1/2 hr before session.  you should see my arms :) Im a sensitive soul so i tend to not make eye contact and blast my mp3 to keep me feelin up!!

I can't believe people actually give you looks and stop saying hello because you're sweating while working out! That's ridiculous!  You're at a GYM!

I could understand if you were leaving your sweat on every machine without wiping them down or something, but HELLO...you're working out! I've never given or received a dirty look from being sweaty. In fact, I usually shoot a dirty look (or at least think, "why bother?!") to the people who aren't even trying to break a sweat. News flash: walking 2mph at 0 incline for 30 on the treadmill is a waste of machinery! Walk outside!

When I see someone sweaty, I think, "yeah baby!"  It's motivating to me to get going, so sweat on!!!!

Original Post by madetoshine:

 News flash: walking 2mph at 0 incline for 30 on the treadmill is a waste of machinery! Walk outside!

 hahahahaha...now that's funny!!!

My boyfriend was dubbed "carwash" in high school because of his sweating. He works really hard and isn't afraid to push himself to the point of drenched clothes, similar to what would happen if you walked through a car wash. Anyways, about two weeks ago, my sweating REALLY kicked up a notch. I didn't ever sweat when exercising, and it was with great pride that I could finally soak a shirt! He affectionately calls me carwash now too, although I think I'd prefer Little Drip or something... haha =)

Now I look forward to the sweat. I make sure to spend an extra long time wiping down machines... I always felt silly wiping them before I could sweat, but now I positively beam as I wipe them down! I've always admired the people who really pump out the water at the gym... it keeps me very motivated. I always wanted to look like them, the athletic people who push themselves really hard.

I'm afraid heavy sweating does not necessarily mean you are fitter or working harder than anyone else.

It DOES mean you are well hydrated (or were lol), which is a good thing.

:)

I can't stand when I'm in a group exercise class DRIPPING with sweat (or just at the gym in general and sweating buckets) and everyone around me isn't.  I can't tell if it's because I'm working harder, or if I'm less in shape!  They all look relatively thin, but not really like...athletic.  They're probably those super lucky naturally thin types.  Grr! 

 im with u madetoshine, i HATE standing out from the crowd sweating buckets for no obvious reasons, but at least i am positive that im workin my butt off when it happens durin my wokouts

I have been a fitness Inst. for over 15 years and do sweat but I have Friends that teach that leave puddles, bordering on lakes and i have always kind of envied them talk about proof of exertion .

The times I have stopped working out for a while and return I do notice I start to sweat much more after a week and a half or 2.

I have ALWAYS gotten really red in the face and sweated like the proverbial pig! It's annoying to sweat when I'm not exercising, but when I do exercise, it feels like I'm a "well-oiled machine," and I embrace the sweating! I feel really awful in the first few moments of exertion BEFORE the sweating starts; for me, it's a sign that all is well and functioning right.

Do not let sweating keep you from doing things, please! So what if you sweat walking from your house to your car? Or whatever. As the slogan goes, "Just Do It!" Celebrate who you are and remember that anyone who judges YOU for sweating (or for being overweight, or for ANY reason that is none of their business) is NOT worth the emotional energy you are expending on them.

Life is short--laugh, sweat, have fun!

OP - if you feel uncomfortable in a sweat-soaked shirt at the gym, maybe buy a couple of those synthetic fiber wicking tops.  They don't really absorb the moisture so they don't look wet like a typical shirt does.

This is spooky - when I was fat and unfit I did not break out into a sweat at all.  Now I have lost 3 stone and am working out every day at the gym and burning off at least 900 calories per session I am drenched in sweat after the first 10 minutes!!

What is all that about??  Makes me feel good as I feel I am really working hard but doing hair no good as have to wash every day instead of alternate days - which means have to get up early every day to do workout/shower/hair wash/dry/make up thing before work............. must be mad!!!!!

I go to a gym at a men's club (so has relatively few women using it) but finishing a session drenched and walking out stiff (umm....) are a sign you've really killed it and you get respect x plenty.

Most of the guys are older than me and are working out so they can afford steak lunches three days a week so they really respect it when you are crunching out some big weights.  Although I did see a guy, probably about 60yo, doing negative push ups with his hands on seperate medicine balls and his feet on a big exercise ball - that's manning up!