Is it true that the fitter you are the more you sweat?

cat_dog

I'm very fit and run a lot but my face is always drenched in sweat after my workout. I never used to sweat this much. Is this normal?

dani_1977

Well.. funny you say that, because I literally just said to my workout partner. I sweat so much more and so much more quicker than when I started in 2008... I have been consitently working 4-5 days a week, since then. My work outs change but nothing extreme.

whit1108

I sweat ALOT!! It is gross it looks like i got out of the shower. But i know i put in a nice long hard workout in. I have heard this before from more than one person that more fit you are the more you sweat but i dont know if it is true or not..Would be interesting to know.

whitefang66

In reality it is just down to the individual. However, the amount that you sweat is related directly to the amount that you drink - since generally fitter people (not necessarily lighter people) do more exercise so they tend generally to drink more water in anticipation, especially if they are athletes who are particularly aware of their liquid requirements - therefore sweat more - it's as simple as that!

scottb81

Yes, that is normal. The body adapts to increased workload by improving its ability to cool itself.

robinskv

This is so funny! I have found that I sweat a lot easier and more since I have been working out more. I have never sweat this much in my life, although I am not sure i have ever worked this hard. Thanks for posting!

Siannah

Yup same here. Never even a drop when I started off, but nowadays I need a shower BAD after a workout!

_Elemenopee_

I've been thinking this to myself more and more lately too.

sisierra

Yes, that is normal. The body adapts to increased workload by improving its ability to cool itself.

this so smart! and makes so much sense! thanks!

brandyk77

While your body gets more effiicient at cooling, most of your sweat rate is determined by genetics.

Rhea30

Maybe you're able to workout harder then you were able to before so sweating more?

sailinjen

I am the same way....I even sweat when Im at rest....I was at a concert for my daughter and the gymnasium had to be about 90 degrees and my forehead started to sweat. I never remember sweating like this before I started wourking out. Glad its not just me.

714rah714

Yes, that is normal. The body adapts to increased workload by improving its ability to cool itself.

How, by growing more sweat glands?

VMarkV

The more you can raise your body temperature (and sustain) during exercise determines how much you sweat
It's like having a very low-grade fever, great for killing off bacteria but not damaging at all (why exercise boosts immunity + improved lymphatic circulation)

jennifer52484

When you get into better shape, your body will require more physical work to cause the same level of exertion, and therefore, you'll sweat less when doing the same physical activities.

The reason for this is that as your body gets into better shape, it will have more muscle tissue, and your heart's muscle tissue will also become more efficient at moving blood through your body, so you will not heat up as much to do the same amount of work. You will also probably reduce your body fat percentage, which will also reduce the exertion necessary to move your body and pump blood through it. When your body is more fit, it does not heat up as easily, so you sweat less.

Evidence also suggests that obese individuals sweat more profusely than thinner individuals simply because their bodies need to work harder to complete the same physical tasks.

However, you will always sweat at least a little when exercising as it is the body's nature process to cool down.

Nikkei24

In reality it is just down to the individual. However, the amount that you sweat is related directly to the amount that you drink - since generally fitter people (not necessarily lighter people) do more exercise so they tend generally to drink more water in anticipation, especially if they are athletes who are particularly aware of their liquid requirements - therefore sweat more - it's as simple as that!

This makes so much sense. I absolutley right. I'm going to watch to see if there is a correlation from how much I sweat to how much water I've been drinking. I think this is on the money.

JPod279

I say no. In fact you sweat more when you are fat. Hell, I've seen fat people sweat from all the "exertion" it takes to eat. No lie.

NakedLunchTime

The more you can raise your body temperature (and sustain) during exercise determines how much you sweat
It's like having a very low-grade fever, great for killing off bacteria but not damaging at all (why exercise boosts immunity + improved lymphatic circulation)

Thanks! Great info!

shybelle

my kickboxing instructor just told me the other day that the more in shape you get the more you sweat. I didn't have time to ask him why...he was to busy killing me with push ups haha

ninerbuff

Individuals vary, but science does show that people who are fitter have better core temperature control and therefore will sweat at lower temps than the average person who isn't as fit will sweat.
I'm not a big sweater, but I also have an issue with my skin drying out to fast causing me to have to moisturize everyday or I'll be really scaly. The good thing about that was I didn't have an acne issue as a teen!


A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer/Group Fitness Instructor
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Abells

There's a lot of research and articles on sweating vs efficient sweating.

Unfit people sweat a lot as they tend to have more mass to cool

however - Fit people sweat more efficiently. I read they will start sweating during the warm up because the body knows a workout is coming so it starts the "cool off" earlier - hence pry why it seems as though you are sweating more when rather you are sweating more efficiently.

LauraJWStevenson

I was going to say.... that obese people SWEAT alot...harder for thier body to stay cool. I have always sweated...when younger and ran track, I had to take salt pills. Before Gatoraid! LOL!! Always have drank alot of water. If I don't sweat....I have heat stroke. That has happened only once....and it was HOT!! I knew something was wrong right away and got outta of the gym and in the A/C. So I'll take the sweat...and jump in the shower as much as I need too. So I don't think its true....I would think its geneitic.(SP?)

TheFitHooker

Ya know, I believe it! I use to could walk and workout hard and barely break a sweat, now I sweat a lot quicker.

apapandrea

There's a lot of research and articles on sweating vs efficient sweating.

Unfit people sweat a lot as they tend to have more mass to cool

however - Fit people sweat more efficiently. I read they will start sweating during the warm up because the body knows a workout is coming so it starts the "cool off" earlier - hence pry why it seems as though you are sweating more when rather you are sweating more efficiently.

this is what I've found in my reading too, and it does fit with my personal experience in becoming more fit!

scottb81

Yes, that is normal. The body adapts to increased workload by improving its ability to cool itself.

How, by growing more sweat glands?

It stores more water (primarily in increased blood volume) and increases the sweat rate. It also changes the composition of the sweat so you lose less electrolyte.

jnh17

I've always been a crazy sweater. I walk out of the gym and my body is cold to the touch. Always been that way. I remember back when I was playing vball, during timeouts, my teammates would grab my arms b/c they were like ice.

BerryH

I used to overheat massively when I started working out, now I just drip sweat... :blushing:

VMarkV

I say no. In fact you sweat more when you are fat. Hell, I've seen fat people sweat from all the "exertion" it takes to eat. No lie.

OMG, hilarious. I've seen this many times under the bright lights at the dinner table watching my dad go to town. Hot cooked food increases body T

Grandysl

I have noticed this too. I now sweat so much I have to change my socks between my cardio exercises. My t-shirts, which are on top of a compression shirt, look like I jumped in the pool. I could wring them out. Its CRAZY! I leave puddles on the floor next to the stationary bke which I have to cleanup. There have been puddle in the foot things on the elliptical! I was actually starting to worry until I started finding out others were in the same boat!

TrailRunner61

For me, I don't think so. When I first started working out I sweat a LOT, even while walking. Now that I've lost 34lbs I don't sweat unless I jog so now I'm going to do that more often. I miss that yucky, salty sensation. lol

tquig

Maybe you're able to workout harder then you were able to before so sweating more?

This^