Are workouts still effective, even if you're not sweating?

Nouurann

I don't track my work out calories, just because the numbers on the machines are so inaccurate, even if I put a lower weight. But I also don't really care if I go over my calories by a couple hundred if I know I had a good work out. But my question is, at the gym, the only machines that really make me sweat are the treadmill and stair master. The elliptical and bike don't, no matter how fast I'm going with high resistance/cross ramp/level, but it gives me a much higher calories burned than when I'm sweating like crazy on the stairmaster and treadmill with the same weight entered. So would the elliptical and bike be a waste or my time?

lin7604

none of them are a waste of time, they all do it a bit differently. some will target certain muscles more then another.. i don't sweat much at all when i workout, i never have.... i just make sure i give it my all and know that i got a good workout , sweat or not!

aquarabbit

I would strongly consider getting a heart rate monitor because this was a problem of mine that was solved by my Polar FT4. I didn't sweat as much during cardio workouts as I did with strength (I'm doing Body Revolution btw) and so it was harder to put a number in because I always gave as much as I could. With my hrm, I found that even though I wasn't sweating I was still getting the same if not more during cardio and it was great for putting the info in because I had an exact number instead of one from a machine. I've found that I sweat more with upper body workouts than lower body. It took me a few months to save up the money to buy a HRM, but it was worth every penny and more for problems like these.

Nouurann

How much would an HRM cost?? & I hear they're 25% innacurate have you been eating your calories back, and still losing?

stefjc

I've seen independent estimates of 15% inaccuracy, but at least one would give you a single source of information. Its level of accuracy won't make much difference for most people.

And if you find that trusting it means you don't lose as much then add 10% to your workout and see what difference it makes....

That is what I will be doing now I am able to workout again - yay!

LorinaLynn

If sweating were an indication of calories burned, I'd lose weight eating Jalapeno Poppers. :happy:

ndj1979

OP - you do not need to be covered in sweat to have an effective workout. If you are lifting heavy with longer rest between sets you will not be sweating much, but you are getting an effective work out in ...

As far as the HRM comments, my understanding is they are not accurate when it comes to measuring calories burned during weight training...

aquarabbit

How much would an HRM cost?? & I hear they're 25% innacurate have you been eating your calories back, and still losing?

Mine cost $80, but I know that depending on the type you want, there are ones that are higher and lower in price. I've heard that they can be inaccurate too, but I agree with stefjc. It doesn't seem to make much of a difference to the point that I'm not having success.

I do eat back my exercise calories. I try to net around 1200-1400 and while I haven't been losing weight as easily since I started the Body Revolution program (but I am losing inches like crazy! Almost 6" in the first week alone), I am still losing. It also helps me to make sure I'm putting in enough effort. Helps me stay within the range that I want, especially with strength.

rml_16

Using an HRM, I burn in an hour on the elliptical what I would burn with an hour of running on a treadmill. It's definitely a more efficient workout. But I sweat buckets no matter what I do, and especially on the elliptical. I'm sure you're burning calories like crazy, but the machine is usually way over. For me, the machine says about triple what my HRM says.

DavPul

The amount you sweat will be affected by how closely the machine is placed to the air vents and how many other people are in your immediate vicinity. Don't use sweat as an indicator of workout effectiveness.

3dogsrunning

If sweating were an indication of calories burned, I'd lose weight eating Jalapeno Poppers. :happy:

LOL this!

RunnerElizabeth

Sweat is more an indicator of how hydrated you are than how hard you are working. I made a huge mistake on my first treadmill run the other day after exclusively running outside for 4 months. I wwasn't sweating like I do outside and figured it was because of the air conditioning. Turns out I was dehydrated, scary dehydrated later in the day with chills, confusion, wrinkled skin, etc. It was during that terrible hot spell in the north east.

I do sweat when I do strength, but not like I do when I run. The important thing is to track what is normal for you during different types of excercise so you know if there is a problem.