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| Tuesday, August 24, 2010 |
| Sweat More, Burn More? |
Most people sweat when they exercise. But did you know we all sweat all day? The average person sweats around 4 cups per day, even without exercising. That might seem like a lot but consider the fact that the human body has around 2.6 million sweat glands! Sweating is natural and normal. It is the body’s way of cooling itself down and maintaining a proper temperature.
A very common question I get as a personal trainer is, “Do I burn more calories if I sweat more?” Unfortunately, the answer is no. It might feel great to get a good sweat going during your workout, but you won’t burn extra calories just by sweating more. Sweating is just your body cooling itself to an acceptable temperature. If you walk for 30 minutes, you will burn the same amount of calories whether you sweat a little or a lot.
With the popularity of such classes as “Hot Yoga” recently, people are getting confused about the connection between sweating and fitness. The two are not really connected. You can get the same calorie burn from a warm or cool yoga class as a hot yoga class. You may prefer a hot yoga class, but you will not burn any extra calories in that class. The intensity and duration of your workout are the keys to burning calories. In fact, exercising in the heat can cause problems for some people.
Turning up the heat on your workout can have negative consequences. If the body get so hot that it can no longer cool itself, it will store the heat inside which can cause problems. - First of all, when sweating excessively, you run the risk of becoming dehydrated. The more you sweat, the more you should drink. Water or sports drinks are a good choice. Don’t wait until you are thirsty to drink. Drink before, during and after your workout to ensure you stay hydrated.
- Secondly, exercising in the heat can result in heat exhaustion or even heat stroke. Signs of heat exhaustion can include fatigue, dizziness, muscle cramps and an increase in body temperature. A body temperature over 104 degrees can be dangerous and may require medical attention.
- Thirdly, an extremely high body temperature can put your internal organs and central nervous system at risk. Be aware of how you are feeling during your workout so that you can avoid overheating.
Although too much heat is not good during a workout, many people still want to work up a good sweat (myself included). It’s great to work up a sweat because you will feel like you really worked hard and your body will release endorphins which make you feel energized. It is fine to exercise in cool or warm temperatures. A temperature in the mid 70’s is great but you can even go a little higher. Be careful when the temperature outside or in a class or gym gets above 80 degrees. You can still exercise, but be sure to take the proper precautions and pay attention to how your body feels. Also, remember that you won’t be burning extra calories just by sweating more so pick a temperature that feels good for you.
- Jennifer
If you like this article, you might also enjoy…
Sensei Talks: Step Up to the Bar!
Sensei Talks: Cardio Tennis
Labels: Exercise, Jennifer, Physical Activity
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posted by My Sensei @ Tuesday, August 24, 2010   |
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| 3 Comments: |
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Sweating is a passive activity and does not burn calories even though infra red sauna makers wish it were so, and make the claim regardless because you can't put them in jail for lying about it :-)
I do feel that sweating with moderate to intense exercise is an indicator of burning fat, and I hope that is not s jailable offense!
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Good old "exercise induced thermogenesis" =)
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I sweat like crazy!!!! I also hydrate!!!
People need to understand that once they replenish, the weight lost comes back on... if you weigh yourself right after a workout & then after you replenish, it will show you how much you lose in sweat vs. after drinking some water & IF you are replenishing enough during the workout.
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Sweating is a passive activity and does not burn calories even though infra red sauna makers wish it were so, and make the claim regardless because you can't put them in jail for lying about it :-)
I do feel that sweating with moderate to intense exercise is an indicator of burning fat, and I hope that is not s jailable offense!