Sweat

So, I am used to going to the gym and sort of wrinkling my nose at the people whose sweat is dripping off them and onto the ground. Ah karma. Now that I am getting into better shape, or at least my body is used to me exercising, i'm sweating like crazy.  More than I ever have before in my life.  So, I have a few sweat related questions.

Water intake wise, what do I need to do to replenish what I'm losing?  Out of curiosity, I weighed myself before and after my workout and I lost a pound.  Should I assume that I lost 16 oz of sweat and therefore drink that much?  What about salt and potassium that I've also lost doing all that sweating?  I've been eating a banana after my workout to replenish some of it, but should I look into Gatorade type drinks with electrolytes?  I can't really afford to drink one of those every day, twice a day, but if it's really necessary I can try.  Or is there another way to get back those nutrients?

My other question is related to clothing.  I know that Nike and everyone else has coolmax fabrics and stuff like that to diminish sweat.  Do they work?  All my workout gear is a sort of heavy cotton, so it's not great.  I also don't particularly want to be embarrassed by giant sweat stains all over me when I'm out jogging.  I wear black, but it's getting to be so hot and sunny that black is not doing me any favors in the sweat department.  advice? 

thanks :)

Yep that is the general advice. Weight yourself before and after difference is a guideline for how much water to drink. Banana should be fine.

Sport drinks are mainly for endurance athletes who do multi hour work out, and there are much better ones out there then Gatorade.

UD

Original Post by ctrinity:

So, I am used to going to the gym and sort of wrinkling my nose at the people whose sweat is dripping off them and onto the ground. Ah karma.

Hehe, I am one of those people that you used to wrinkle your nose at :)  I am a sweater, always have been, and probably always will be.  I do think that the coolmax or similar products help, in that you won't get giant sweat stains.  It doesn't help me with the actual sweating (which I notice the most on my face, which kindly also turns beet red), but it does help with not having weird patterns on your clothes!  Personally, I like adidas the best - their tank tops with the built-in bras are very supportive (and I'm larger on top, so I should know!) and cute, and most of their pants don't fall down when I run like some other brands do.  I haven't tried their shorts, though.  It does tend to be pricey in stores, so if money is an issue, I would suggest trying stuff on in-store, then ordering online from a site like 6pm.com where it's MUCH cheaper.  But I think even Target has some moisture-wicking items, so you could try that as well.

I've got a different theory.

If you're not sweating, you're not working hard enough!

So I wrinkle my nose at people with perfectly quaffed hair and full makeup on in the gym. These people who don't sweat, don't look like they're trying. Each to their own I suppose though.

As long as it's light and breathable and stretchy (and doesn't cause nasty heat rash) then it's good for me.

I personally don't feel like I've had a good workout unless I'm dripping in sweat.  And I appreciate everyone else who is too.  As to clothing though...the coolmax stuff is better because it wicks away the sweat, whereas cotton just absorbs it.  It is really about comfort since once cotton gets what it stays wet.  This can lead to blisters (on your feet from sweaty socks), sticky smelling stuff from bacteria, and rashes.  I'm trying to switch from cotton to wicking materials, but is a bit more expensive, so baby steps.

-Susan

Original Post by nutella85:

I've got a different theory.

If you're not sweating, you're not working hard enough!

So I wrinkle my nose at people with perfectly quaffed hair, full makeup, 'fashion' gym clothes and jewellery on in the gym.

Ha ha I love the women who wear full make-up in the gym.  When I go after work I make a point of taking off all my make-up in the changing rooms beforehand.  This is often a traumatic experience as I work in a posh boutique and its in my contract to re-aply make-up throughout the day to maintain appropriate style guidelines.  However I know within 5 minites my face is bright red and sweaty and i'll rather have that, than bright red sweaty with mascara running down my cheeks. Its bad for your skin to workout in makeup anyway.

As far as sweat goes i'm in the "it you're not sweating, you're not working hard enough" camp all the way.  I personally dont mind wearing lightweight cotten t-shirts from non sports shops, I just make sure there gym t-shirts only and don't work their way into my regular wardrobe.  A banana about an hour before my workout is good and I find that water is more than ok, the sports drinks are really more for top athlectc professionals and i'm not quite that (yet).  I'm not sure about set amounts of water you should drink, I know I drink more the harder I work I just make-sure I have a largeish bottle with me.  Just make sure you never withold water if you feel lightheaded, dizzy or just generally hot.  Stop and quench your thurst. 

I usually try to have carbs about half an hour before gym - sometimes, half of a mini-pita bread (cranberry-orange, delicious). It's about 200 calories, but I just count it in with that day's total and I've noticed that I have my best workouts when I do that. I can run longer and faster, do more intervals, etc.

I'm also of the 'if you don't sweat, you're not working hard enough' camp. I'm a sweater too (thankfully, it doesn't smell unlike some people), and it just comes in puddles around me (I have to just spray the gym's cleaning spray all over the elliptical machine's control panel because it's covered in sweat since I do very hard intervals for half an hour on there. It's disgusting, but I feel amazing when I'm done).

My advise, really, is gonna be short if you're the type that wears long pants. That makes a huge difference.

I love sweat. The more I sweat the better I feel when I'm done.

But hey! I don't get the caps comment. I sweat like crazy and that's exactly WHY I wear a ball cap. It keeps the sweat from running down my face and neck and I feel much better.