Everyone has had those days when the weather is so hot or they’re working out so hard that they can’t stop the sweat. While sweating can make your hair look horrible, create sweat stains on your clothes and even cause eye make-up to stream down your face, it’s good for you in the gym. Sweat helps you cool down as it evaporates on your skin. That’s why there are so many gym phrases about sweat, like, “Sweat is fat crying.” or “Great things come to those who sweat.”
Sweat is our natural cooling technique.
When you workout, the muscles used stored energy, which quickly depletes. The muscles then create more energy by combining oxygen with ATP—adenosine triphosphate. That causes heat as a byproduct. One study conducted in 2018 and published in the Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, noted that the heat created was around muscle groups. In the case of runners, it was around their legs, where most of the work was accomplished. Without sweating, the body temperature can rise to dangerous levels.
Embrace the sweat and push toward it.
If you’ve ever talked to someone that lives in a dry, desert area, they’ll tell you that the higher temperatures aren’t bad, because it’s a dry heat. Of course, it’s still hot, but the quicker evaporation of the sweat cools the body faster and makes it feel more comfortable than it does when it’s humid. Working out in an air conditioned area won’t make you feel as hot as it would working outside in the hot sun on a humid day, but you’ll still sweat, especially if you’re working hard. Your body temperature still increases to get the calories for muscles to do their best.
Don’t forget to drink water before, during and after a workout.
Two hours before you workout, make sure you have two to three 8-ounce bottles of water. Then drink an 8-ounce bottle of water 20 to 30 minutes before you workout or during the warm-up. During your workout sip on a half liter of water for every 30 minutes. Within 30 minutes after you workout drink another 8-ounces of water. Having adequate fluid for sweat is important to keep you cool, healthy and ready for the best possible workout.
- Water does more than just regulate your body temperature. It also lubricates the joints. It aids in transporting nutrients, while also aiding you in performing your best and helping to prevent muscle cramps, dizziness and other serious conditions.
- People who are fitter tend to sweat faster than those who aren’t. It’s the body’s adjustment to ensure it’s kept cool.
- Some studies show that working out in a hotter environment may actually burn more calories. You have to be used to the workout first and then acclimate the body to the heat to be safer. Always make sure you hydrate heavily if you choose this option.
- At Studio Fit, we’ll provide a tailored workout program that will definitely make you sweat, but never be beyond your capabilities.
For more information, contact us today at Studio Fit