metallic smelling sweat?

1sisrat

When I sweat during a workout or work I smell a metallic scent, does anyone know what causes that?

lsd007

Could it be an ammonia smell? If so, sounds like you need to eat more. Seriously.

MuchMovement

are you drinking enough water?

BV1980

are you a cyborg?

luppic8

When I take vitamins, I notice that smell. I wonder if it has something to do with the iron in the supplements?

Heather75

are you a cyborg?

This is an excellent question.

skinnyjeanzbound

are you a cyborb?

ahahaha! if she were would she be your dream girl? or are you not THAT much of a tech geek?

Seriously, I believe it means you are going into ketosis--your body is attacking it's own fat stores--not a terrible thing depending on how much fat you have stored.

melizerd

Most antiperspirants have aluminum in them as well so it could be a reaction to the metal in the deodorant, they do make them without but you have to look for them (they're usually all natural, organic etc types)

koosdel

This is so weird! I've been hearing Mettalica during my workouts!?!?

BV1980

ahahaha! if she were would she be your dream girl? or are you not THAT much of a tech geek?

hahaha no comment.... Well besides this comment declaring no comment.

d2footballJRC

That is weird but after my work out I smell a metallic almost bleach like smell and I can't ever figure it out. No one else smells it.

James_1954

Could it be an ammonia smell? If so, sounds like you need to eat more. Seriously.

That's an interesting comment. Sometimes my sweat tends to have a really strong ammonia-type smell. However, that used to be true back when I was eating my fool head off, and is still sometimes true today, when I'm not. I used to think it was correlated to the kind of activity that produced the sweat -- it seemed to me that it happened more frequently with "working" sweat (summer lawn-mowing, for instance) than with "workout" sweat (the sort I soak my T-shirt with at the Y). As time goes on, though, I'm increasingly doubtful that the correlation is real.

I'm curious, though -- why would an ammonia smell mean there's a need to eat more?

d2footballJRC

I just found this but not sure what they people are saying exactly.

http://blog.fitnesstown.ca/2008/10/30/ammonia-smell-after-exercising/

its_betty

I just asked my doctor the same thing. I small ammonia, especially in the shower after working out on an empty stomach, but sometimes without serious exercise.

I did some internet research, but haven't found a definitive explanation.

My doctor is not sure, but he is doing some research. I'll post again if he comes up with any good explanation.

skinnyjeanzbound

I just found this but not sure what they people are saying exactly.

http://blog.fitnesstown.ca/2008/10/30/ammonia-smell-after-exercising/

Yes--this is what I said--your body goes into ketosis. It has used up all the glucose in your blood and attacks your fat stores. I've heard other people say they get a mettalic taste in their mouth (others describe it as tasting like blood b/c of the copper) in addition to the ammonia and mettalic smells.

d2footballJRC

I just found this but not sure what they people are saying exactly.

http://blog.fitnesstown.ca/2008/10/30/ammonia-smell-after-exercising/

Yes--this is what I said--your body goes into ketosis. It has used up all the glucose in your blood and attacks your fat stores. I've heard other people say they get a mettalic taste in their mouth (others describe it as tasting like blood b/c of the copper) in addition to the ammonia and mettalic smells.

so you want it to attack your fat stores right?

skinnyjeanzbound

I just found this but not sure what they people are saying exactly.

http://blog.fitnesstown.ca/2008/10/30/ammonia-smell-after-exercising/

Yes--this is what I said--your body goes into ketosis. It has used up all the glucose in your blood and attacks your fat stores. I've heard other people say they get a mettalic taste in their mouth (others describe it as tasting like blood b/c of the copper) in addition to the ammonia and mettalic smells.

so you want it to attack your fat stores right?

It's not a terrible thing provided it doesn't happen too early in your workout and doesn't leave you feeling weak/shaky. Also, the article says make sure to replenish by drinking/eating something after the workout.

Genem30

ahahaha! if she were would she be your dream girl? or are you not THAT much of a tech geek?

hahaha no comment.... Well besides this comment declaring no comment.

I'd be okay with a cyborg lady. They can fix cars right?

1sisrat

i eat fine. it's not that. It's always happened.

d2footballJRC

I just found this but not sure what they people are saying exactly.

http://blog.fitnesstown.ca/2008/10/30/ammonia-smell-after-exercising/

Yes--this is what I said--your body goes into ketosis. It has used up all the glucose in your blood and attacks your fat stores. I've heard other people say they get a mettalic taste in their mouth (others describe it as tasting like blood b/c of the copper) in addition to the ammonia and mettalic smells.

so you want it to attack your fat stores right?

It's not a terrible thing provided it doesn't happen too early in your workout and doesn't leave you feeling weak/shaky. Also, the article says make sure to replenish by drinking/eating something after the workout.

Yeah I don't smell it til I'm done working out. Like when I get home and get in the shower.

mrphil86

Ammonia sweat is from the breaking down of protein and muscle fibers to fuel the body for quick burning energy... It's not a good thing. Means you should eat more carbs.