Ladies, any tips on reducing body odor when working out?

workoutqueen628
workoutqueen628 Posts: 220
edited September 21 in Fitness and Exercise
I have a problem. I sweat a lot when I work out, which is fine because I know that I am working hard, but my sweat stinks! I don't really understand this because I drink tons of water. How do I do away with this odor? It's embarrassing going to the gym when it's crowded- i'm scared to workout next to ppl! Should i use clinical strength deodorant? Does it really work that much better than regular deodorant?

Replies

  • hiddensecant
    hiddensecant Posts: 2,446 Member
    Try applying some hand sanitizer (just rub it in well and air dry) before putting on deodorant. I also hear drinking a shot of wheat grass juice can help reduce body odor.
  • Sillybunni
    Sillybunni Posts: 61 Member
    Silly as it sounds, I try to shower before going to the gym so I don't stink. I don't have to shower RIGHT before, but at least the morning of. I can't really workout and then shower for the day.
  • Panda86
    Panda86 Posts: 873
    Sweat itself doesn't smell. When it mixes with bacteria, then it takes on an odor. Wash your armpits and such with antibacterial soap, and try a clinical strength antiperspirant when you work out. Hope that helps!
  • missboriken
    missboriken Posts: 52 Member
    Showering with an antibacterial soap before the gym might help.
  • FabulousFifty
    FabulousFifty Posts: 1,575 Member
    I bet you are noticing it more than anyone else.....it is just natural. Hang in there and just know that toxins are leaving your body while you are working out.....that is a good thing!:flowerforyou:
  • rhia2
    rhia2 Posts: 6 Member
    I've heard drinking green tea can help.
  • msbanana
    msbanana Posts: 793 Member
    I've noticed I get funkier if I've consumed a lot of onions or garlic and my funk is directly proportionate to the amount I've eaten. If I cut back a bit on those I'm not nearly as pungent. Showers with antibacterial soap help and a good anti-persperant (vs deoderant)...

    Best of Luck with the Funk! :laugh:
  • Yurippe
    Yurippe Posts: 850 Member
    Sweat itself doesn't smell. When it mixes with bacteria, then it takes on an odor. Wash your armpits and such with antibacterial soap, and try a clinical strength antiperspirant when you work out. Hope that helps!

    Bingo.

    It may not just be the area under your arms. Underboob and groin (really anywhere that sweat pools) can be funky. If the antibacterial soap isn't enough, you can try apple cider vinegar to kill the bacteria or even tomato juice.

    http://www.health911.com/remedies/rem_bodyo.htm
    http://www.ehow.com/how_2042517_effectively-control-body-odor-vinegar.html
  • freetolivefree
    freetolivefree Posts: 1
    Yes indeed, I use purebodyscent products and wow they are amazing. Ladies the more I sweat, the better I smell, no kidding. I use the deodorant, but a friend told me to apply some of this in my inner thighs and areas that have the most body odor. I am so amazed at how well this product works. I work out for at least 45 min to an hour and I am literally dripping with sweat when I finish and even so... absolutely NO ODOR whatsoever. This is also a natural deodorant by the way. I am so hooked. ;)
  • ME0172
    ME0172 Posts: 200
    I addition to showering well before you workout, make sure not to rewear your workout gear - wash it after each use. I had a friend that would wear her workout clothes a couple of times before washing it because she said he "hardly sweat in it at all" but that second day was a doozy.

    If you're being clean hygiene wise and wearing deodorant, then just go about your business. Most people won't notice anyway because everyone stinks at the gym. :)
  • Super_Amy
    Super_Amy Posts: 97 Member
    I like to stink the whole place up. I have shirts that have developed their own stink. OK, I probably don't smell THAT bad, but I honestly don't worry about if I'm offending anyone with my sweaty funky self when I'm at the gym. Its like worrying about farting in the bathroom.
  • KinoM
    KinoM Posts: 359 Member
    OP, does it have an unusual smell at all, like a strong ammonia smell?
  • AlongCame_Molly
    AlongCame_Molly Posts: 2,835 Member
    Omg, I was just considering posting a thread about this today! I've been battling some serious gym swamp-crotch (sorry for the tmi guys :blushing: ) Options I am going look into:

    Summer's Eve spray
    Apply Mitchum to schweddy parts (I'd probably put it on a paper towel or something, THEN on the body, so I don't ever use the crotch-deodorant anywhere else by accident :sick: )
  • GorillaNJ
    GorillaNJ Posts: 4,024 Member
    Is the smell THAT distracting? Might use it to your advantage to get the equipment you want to use faster!
  • a_stronger_me13
    a_stronger_me13 Posts: 812 Member
    Sweat itself doesn't smell. When it mixes with bacteria, then it takes on an odor. Wash your armpits and such with antibacterial soap, and try a clinical strength antiperspirant when you work out. Hope that helps!

    Bingo.

    It may not just be the area under your arms. Underboob and groin (really anywhere that sweat pools) can be funky. If the antibacterial soap isn't enough, you can try apple cider vinegar to kill the bacteria or even tomato juice.

    http://www.health911.com/remedies/rem_bodyo.htm
    http://www.ehow.com/how_2042517_effectively-control-body-odor-vinegar.html

    And anything persistently funky in the crotchular region means you should probably go to the gynecologist. You could have a bacterial infection. It's easy to get one when you work out in spandexy material for extended periods of time and sweat profusely.
  • Amandawith3kids
    Amandawith3kids Posts: 367 Member
    it's more likely to be your clothes than you. try adding some oxy clean to your workout laundry, and washing on hot. if that doesnt do the trick, then they make sport wash detergent. those contain enzymes that eat the odor causing stuff. also, watch the fabric content of your workout stuff. synthetic fabrics tent to hold the smell more than natural stuff. not to say that you cant wear those things, they have some neat properties that outperform cotton, but they do present a challenge to wash. heck i have some everyday shirts that i need to do this with, the armpit just doesnt want to smell good. keep forgetting to buy the special detergent for them.

    take a good deep sniff of the armpits/sweaty areas of your clothes right as you take them out of the dryer still hot. if it smells even the tiniest bit funky, its going to SMELL when you start sweating in them again.
  • ruffnstuff
    ruffnstuff Posts: 400 Member
    Omg, I was just considering posting a thread about this today! I've been battling some serious gym swamp-crotch (sorry for the tmi guys :blushing: ) Options I am going look into:

    Summer's Eve spray
    Apply Mitchum to schweddy parts (I'd probably put it on a paper towel or something, THEN on the body, so I don't ever use the crotch-deodorant anywhere else by accident :sick: )

    I'm a school counselor and giving a student our state standarized test in my office right now. Almost impossible not to laugh. Tears welling up in eyes right now.
  • JoelleAnn78
    JoelleAnn78 Posts: 1,492 Member
    OP, does it have an unusual smell at all, like a strong ammonia smell?

    Ok, I have to know. What would it mean if it did??
  • mccindy72
    mccindy72 Posts: 7,001 Member
    I wash my gym clothes with bleach between uses to kill the bacteria that causes that odor, and showered daily to kill any odor- causing bacteria. It also helps to use anti-perspirant and deodorant at night, because it works better overnight.
  • a_stronger_me13
    a_stronger_me13 Posts: 812 Member
    OP, does it have an unusual smell at all, like a strong ammonia smell?

    Ok, I have to know. What would it mean if it did??

    That can be an indicator of bacterial infection. At least that's what I've read.
  • Jennilyn79
    Jennilyn79 Posts: 30 Member
    If you've used your workout gear for a long time they definitely can retain smell and will smell worse when you sweat in them. Wash them everytime you workout, once every two weeks soak in water plus 1 cup white vinegar, occasionally ad baking soda to wash, and don't use fabric softener.
  • bex4health
    bex4health Posts: 45 Member
    What ever you do, just don't smother yourself with perfumes (spray or lotions). I find these more repulsive and offending while working out in the gym then anybody's BO I have smelt!!!! My #1 pet peeve in the gym! I think others have given great advice, and make sure in isn't something a doctor might have to look at. Also I know cotton clothing hang on to smells and will ignite them again when the cotton gets wet from sweat.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    Omg, I was just considering posting a thread about this today! I've been battling some serious gym swamp-crotch (sorry for the tmi guys :blushing: ) Options I am going look into:

    Summer's Eve spray
    Apply Mitchum to schweddy parts (I'd probably put it on a paper towel or something, THEN on the body, so I don't ever use the crotch-deodorant anywhere else by accident :sick: )

    I guess it depends on what it smells like- because crotch sweat is going to smell somewhat- there is a LOT going on down there- but it should smell more organic- not nasty/rank. If you are smelling nasty all the time- definitely go see a doctor. I catch wafts of myself occasionally and I"m like- damn that's ripe- but it's still orgnanic and not rotten smelling.
    I wash my gym clothes with bleach between uses to kill the bacteria that causes that odor, and showered daily to kill any odor- causing bacteria. It also helps to use anti-perspirant and deodorant at night, because it works better overnight.

    yup yup yup- I wash all clothing after wearing for workouts. every time - no exceptions.
    (god every time we talk about bra's someone says they don't wash between workouts and I seriously have no idea how)...


    I second using deodorant at night- read it somewhere about it having a chance to be more effective and I'm finding it true.

    Also certain fabrics- there are certain fabrics I cannot use- they make my sweat smell worse- so I stick with fabric I know I can use. (obviously trial and error but something to be aware of)
  • 1983ashleigh
    1983ashleigh Posts: 34 Member
    It might sound crazy, but I have the same problem.... What has helped me more than anything has been exfoliating with a sea salt scrub after I shave under my arms when I shower & then put on my deodorant. I hope this helps you as much as it has helped me.
  • mccindy72
    mccindy72 Posts: 7,001 Member
    What ever you do, just don't smother yourself with perfumes (spray or lotions). I find these more repulsive and offending while working out in the gym then anybody's BO I have smelt!!!! My #1 pet peeve in the gym! I think others have given great advice, and make sure in isn't something a doctor might have to look at. Also I know cotton clothing hang on to smells and will ignite them again when the cotton gets wet from sweat.

    SO true. I hated going to the gym and having a girl on the next machine reeking of perfume. I switched machines before to get away from that.
  • Mrsallypants
    Mrsallypants Posts: 887 Member
    OP, does it have an unusual smell at all, like a strong ammonia smell?

    Ok, I have to know. What would it mean if it did??
    There are several reasons that your sweat might smell like ammonia. Most of them are nothing to worry about, but it could be a sign of something more serious.

    When you exercise, your body uses carbohydrates for fuel. That’s why you often hear about people carbo-loading before a marathon. But during long, strenuous workouts, such as marathons, or even a full-tilt day at the gym, sometimes the body needs to dip into its protein stores for added energy. When the amino acids in proteins are broken down, one of the by-products is ammonia, which is then excreted in your sweat. Hence the stench.

    If you are on a low-carb, high-protein diet, you increase the chances that your body will turn to amino acids because there aren’t enough carbohydrates in your system to sustain the activity. Eating starches before a workout will give your body adequate reserves to meet your energy needs without breaking down protein. In addition, dehydration can exacerbate the problem by increasing the concentration of ammonia in your perspiration. Drinking more water while you exercise will dilute the ammonia and minimize the odor.

    If neither what you eat nor what you drink has any effect, you should probably get checked out by your doctor. The smell could signal an electrolyte imbalance, or damage to your liver or kidneys.

    Source: http://www.youbeauty.com/body-fitness/ask-a-scientist-ammonia-sweat

    I know that certain foods such as onions and garlic can affect the smell of sweat.
  • jkwolly
    jkwolly Posts: 3,049 Member
    Omg, I was just considering posting a thread about this today! I've been battling some serious gym swamp-crotch (sorry for the tmi guys :blushing: ) Options I am going look into:

    Summer's Eve spray
    Apply Mitchum to schweddy parts (I'd probably put it on a paper towel or something, THEN on the body, so I don't ever use the crotch-deodorant anywhere else by accident :sick: )
    BAHAHAHA at swamp crotch.
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