A delicate issue....need advice on how to handle

after boot camp, take her aside with NO ONE ELSE AROUND and very gently, politely tell her.

"Michelle, I really enjoy having you in my groups during boot camp...you're a great motivator and you really get into it...but I noticed that when we arrive in the morning and get into our groups, there is a very strong odor coming from you...I think it is some body odor. I only say this because I really enjoy your company...but this one thing takes away from that. I know if it were me, and I smelled bad, I would want you to say something to me. Please don't be offended."

Of course, make sure you don't say anything along the lines of..."everyone thinks you stink." Or "everyone noticed that..."

I like this approach. Personally (and I could be wrong, but...) I think that if the smell isn't present beforehand and is THAT offensive, it could be a medical issue that she can't really help.

Either that or she doesn't wash her workout clothes, in which case deodorant won't help.

There is a kind of skin/health condition that cause the body to emanate intense and unpleasant odor from the body (fecal, feet, armpits odor most of the time). Causes are still unknown.
Few peoples suffer this condition but if you google "bodyodor + community" or something similar you will able to find a couple of forum where those users gather to talk about their problem, I know a italian one : http://bodyodor.forumcommunity.net/

Those people emit this odor even 1min after the shower and covering with other essences sometime make thing worse... they simply can't do much about it

In conclusion she could be affected by this kind of problem, she's probably not able to smell her odor (even if strong she's accustomed to it) but she's well aware that the other people will react to the odor...even if you don't look into the forums you can try to image what mean the social life to them and how many problem those people have every day.

She probably acknowledged you as a smell-tolerant type so that the reason she try to stay near you during the lesson.

So my suggestion is: bear with it and maybe even ask to her privately if she suffer about this problem...at least she will find you sensible to the problem

Apparently I'm the only one who would just come right out and say "please start wearing deoderant or you're going to have to find another workout buddy". *shrug*

Totally my fix. I'd probably go to walmart and get the cheapest brand they have and just say "girl, I really love having you as a work out buddy, but I can't keep on if you don't start wearing this" Whip out the deodorant. "I got this for you. Keep it. Use it." Smile really big and change the subject. No harm no foul.

Love this - short, honest, to the point. I like the longer version posted above too.

I'm pretty shy and feel weird about confronting people with personal things like this but you have to think of it this way - if it was you, wouldn't you want someone to tell you? I know I would! Especially if it's super offensive BO! Yes, you'd think she'd notice but smells are funny. You can get used to them and tune them out pretty easily. Or maybe she doesn't have a very good sense of smell?

I was walking behind a woman into the office the other day and saw she had a big white string hanging off the right butt cheek of her black leggings. Thankfully there was no one else walking in so I quietly said "excuse me, you have a piece of lint on your rear". It was awkward but she was SO thankful that I told her. She even had me double check she'd got it when I held the door open for her. LOL! And when I saw her later on the way back from my walk, she said to her friend "hey, that's my new buddy!" :flowerforyou:

Honestly, I'd just politely say that maybe she needs to use some deodorant. What's the worst can happen? She gets mad at you and you don't work out next to her any more? I mean.. hardly a bad thing here.

If it were you, wouldn't you rather someone said it to you nicely than later down the line someone said it in a nasty way?

Just my 2c.

I would find a new class.

Talk to the instructor. Politely tell them about the problem and ask if they could speak to her discreetly. That way, the woman doesn't know who complained, but the message still gets across and through the proper channels. Besides if it's as bad as you say, I'm sure there are other people who are wondering how to broach the subject as well.

This!!!! And/or bring the spray kind with you, put it on in front of her and say hey you want some this class makes me really sweat and get stinky.

edited for spelling

Okay, I'm a stereotypical Canadian; I literally will profusely apologize to someone for almost bumping into them when we're still half a foot away from each other, but when it comes to problems like this, you should say something, just be polite.

I ran into a similar situation with a girl at my university gym last year; we took a bunch of classes together where you get hot and sweaty, and by the end of session her scent would make me gag if we were beside each other. And do you know how I solved the problem? It was so easy I said something like, "man, that workout got me soaked in sweat. I'm pretty stinky, and you so are too, we should definitely double up on the deodorant next time, maybe even go clinical strength."

Maybe she was a perceptive person, but she jokingly showed me her new deodorant the next week (which was a clinical grade one you can still get at the stores), and told me her new life goal was to try to smell awful after a workout wearing that. I never had a problem with her scent again.

i understand what your going through

where i work we have some (clients) that stink so badly mainly children, which is sad because its not there fault they dont have good parents to keep up with their hygiene. however it still leaves you in a very awkward position. i agree with some of this advice.

i like the idea of mentioning your own b.o and that you use clinical strength deodorant. because some people really do need it . some of my closest girl friend have a stink/ swet problem.

i also like the vapor rub idea.

if these things dont work i would talk to the instructor privately about having a briefing on rules safety and hygiene.

and if all of these don't work i would mention it in as kind of a way as possible it still will be awkward, she still will either be mad, embarrassed, or offended. but if the smell truly is that bad i understand why you cant put up with it.

I am the same way. I have absolutely ZERO filter, and would most definitely tell her "Please shower and put on deodorant before class". In all honesty, she may not realize it and be grateful for the advice. OR...she may tell you to go screw yourself and walk off to another group. Either way...you need to do something. You are working on you, so I most certainly will NOT tell you to quit. Just tell her. Sometimes you have to be brutally honest...and the truth hurts!

Omg lmfao I would probably be as nice as possible but this

Apparently I'm the only one who would just come right out and say "please start wearing deoderant or you're going to have to find another workout buddy". *shrug*

I would say so too. Maybe I would use softer words but I would definitely let her know.

You pay for your classes, you enjoy them. Why would you quit because of a stinky stranger?

If you are sensitive to certain aromas but not comfortable enough to approach her directly, the suggestion to approach the instructor is a very good idea! If you're comfortable enough to just tell her straight up something about her scent is messing with your sensitivity, go for it, maybe she has a sensitivity too so you may find some common ground there! You deserve to be comfortable in your own class.

1) Unless the person is a friend, I would have no interest in discussing body odor with him/her. You could always go passive/aggressive and slip a note into her locker or something like that.
2) If I am paying for this class, I would discretely speak to the instructor - quitting isn't going to accomplish anything
3) Suggesting that the person should cover it up with deodorant isn't helpful - it sounds like a cleanliness issue, slopping deodorant on over stink isn't really the answer.
4) If all else fails, stick it out and do the workout - if that is the most adversity that you face during the course of the week/month/year, life has been good to you!

1) Unless the person is a friend, I would have no interest in discussing body odor with him/her. You could always go passive/aggressive and slip a note into her locker or something like that.
2) If I am paying for this class, I would discretely speak to the instructor - quitting isn't going to accomplish anything
3) Suggesting that the person should cover it up with deodorant isn't helpful - it sounds like a cleanliness issue, slopping deodorant on over stink isn't really the answer.
4) If all else fails, stick it out and do the workout - if that is the most adversity that you face during the course of the week/month/year, life has been good to you!

This is good. I would hate to shame her to feel like she can't come to class anymore. If you were allergic to her perfume or something, that would be different. You are not. And she can't help how she smells when working out intensely. It's only an hour. I'm in the 'suck it up' camp.

This.

1) Unless the person is a friend, I would have no interest in discussing body odor with him/her. You could always go passive/aggressive and slip a note into her locker or something like that.
2) If I am paying for this class, I would discretely speak to the instructor - quitting isn't going to accomplish anything
3) Suggesting that the person should cover it up with deodorant isn't helpful - it sounds like a cleanliness issue, slopping deodorant on over stink isn't really the answer.
4) If all else fails, stick it out and do the workout - if that is the most adversity that you face during the course of the week/month/year, life has been good to you!