We are pleased to announce that on March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor will be introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the upcoming changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

Do I need to sweat for it to count?

Tia_N_Mac
Tia_N_Mac Posts: 181 Member
edited February 11 in Fitness and Exercise
When I work out at home using various YouTube cardio workouts, I sweat a lot and I'm tired and I feel like I got a good workout (about 40 min). I just joined the gym and after being on the bike and treadmill for the same length of time as a workout, I just wasn't that tired or that sweaty even though my calorie burn was about the same.

Is 100 calories burned really 100 calories burned whether I sweat or not? I know this may be a dumb question, but it seems like without the sweating that I'm not really doing much. Should I not be expecting to work up a sweat on the stationary bike?

Replies

  • kaylorraine44
    kaylorraine44 Posts: 135 Member
    Machines at a gym often overestimate calories burned. I would suggest investing in a HRM if you want an accurate count of calories burned at the gym.
  • Adc7225
    Adc7225 Posts: 1,318 Member
    One reason I do not like working out at home is because in general I like to keep my home pretty warm. So unless I open a window or turn on the fan when I start working out at home 7 minutes in I have sweat runiing down my face. At the gym it tends to be pretty cool but I still sweat on the bike and elliptical when I work out, unless I happen to be downwind of one of the fans. I would not really worry about it, keep going and see what happens :smile:
  • Tia_N_Mac
    Tia_N_Mac Posts: 181 Member
    One reason I do not like working out at home is because in general I like to keep my home pretty warm. So unless I open a window or turn on the fan when I start working out at home 7 minutes in I have sweat runiing down my face. At the gym it tends to be pretty cool but I still sweat on the bike and elliptical when I work out, unless I happen to be downwind of one of the fans. I would not really worry about it, keep going and see what happens :smile:

    You know, I never thought about that! It makes a lot of sense. I live in S. Florida so unless the AC is on, it's always gonna be a little warm in the house. Thank you for that! I'm going to keep moving on :)
  • I have thought about this and also would like to know the answer. I often work out at home, with that being a workout video or just simply the exercise bike and I always have the fan on. If I have the fan on, I don't feel as sweaty and as I'm doing as much work, therefore carrying on for longer - if that makes sense?
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    Sweating is irrelevant.
  • Jenloves2eat
    Jenloves2eat Posts: 4 Member
    I've often wondered this same thing! My husband and I can do the exact same cardio workout and he will be sweating profusely, while I will be just slightly shiny on my forehead. I feel like I must be doing something wrong!
  • ktied
    ktied Posts: 137 Member
    I live in a pretty small house and the only room I have to workout inside is next to my wood stove. Needless to say I sweat buckets! However when I am in the gym or run outside in this weather - no sweat or hardly any. So I think temperature has a lot to do with it. Also some people just don't sweat that much.
This discussion has been closed.