What causes the smell of ammonia when you work out and how do you stop it?
sabalsam844
Posts: 4
Whenever I work out, shortly after I warm up and start to sweat, I can smell this really pungent smell of ammonia.
Typically I have finished eating about 2 hours prior to my workout and I am fairly well hydrated. I am not doing any sort of fad diet, just counting calories in and out. I drink between 8 and 16 glasses of water a day in addition to the 8 that I will drink while I am working out.
I am not stressing physical abilities that I am aware of, I have a resting heart rate of about 50 and once I am warmed up I am keeping my heart rate in the neighborhood of 133.
One of my friends told me that I was buying protein and that was what the smell was coming from. If that is the case, how do I stop it? I am sure that this is not normal as the gym I work out at would stink if it were the case.
Typically I have finished eating about 2 hours prior to my workout and I am fairly well hydrated. I am not doing any sort of fad diet, just counting calories in and out. I drink between 8 and 16 glasses of water a day in addition to the 8 that I will drink while I am working out.
I am not stressing physical abilities that I am aware of, I have a resting heart rate of about 50 and once I am warmed up I am keeping my heart rate in the neighborhood of 133.
One of my friends told me that I was buying protein and that was what the smell was coming from. If that is the case, how do I stop it? I am sure that this is not normal as the gym I work out at would stink if it were the case.
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Replies
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Ammonia is released in sweat when amino acids (protein) are broken down for enery. What are your macros currently set as? Are you getting enough carbs and fat?0
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KarenJanine wrote: »Ammonia is released in sweat when amino acids (protein) are broken down for enery. What are your macros currently set as? Are you getting enough carbs and fat?
My current diet breaks down as 50% carbs 25% fat 25% protein.
Also depending on how I feel, I will eat a banana just before leaving the house for the gym. It takes between 15 and 20 minutes to get there.0 -
sabalsam844 wrote: »KarenJanine wrote: »Ammonia is released in sweat when amino acids (protein) are broken down for enery. What are your macros currently set as? Are you getting enough carbs and fat?
My current diet breaks down as 50% carbs 25% fat 25% protein.
Also depending on how I feel, I will eat a banana just before leaving the house for the gym. It takes between 15 and 20 minutes to get there.
And what is your current total daily calorie intake (sorry, should have asked in my previous post)?0 -
KarenJanine wrote: »Ammonia is released in sweat when amino acids (protein) are broken down for enery. What are your macros currently set as? Are you getting enough carbs and fat?
That is not good. I did not know that .
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Are you sure it's coming from you and not your clothes? I've had to toss gym clothes before because they get a stink that you can't get out....bacteria can get trapped in the fibers and they'll smell when you put them back on.0
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Are you sure it's coming from you and not your clothes? I've had to toss gym clothes before because they get a stink that you can't get out....bacteria can get trapped in the fibers and they'll smell when you put them back on.
especially the newer fancier gym clothes. Cotton tends to get less funk.0 -
Yep, although I've managed to skunk cotton too haha. Normally a wash in really hot water with an extra rinse helps, and make sure you're not leaving sweaty clothes wadded up....they need to dry properly.Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »Are you sure it's coming from you and not your clothes? I've had to toss gym clothes before because they get a stink that you can't get out....bacteria can get trapped in the fibers and they'll smell when you put them back on.
especially the newer fancier gym clothes. Cotton tends to get less funk.
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Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »Are you sure it's coming from you and not your clothes? I've had to toss gym clothes before because they get a stink that you can't get out....bacteria can get trapped in the fibers and they'll smell when you put them back on.
especially the newer fancier gym clothes. Cotton tends to get less funk.
yeah after a few years of working out- you figure out which clothes work with your body chemistry and those that don't. Some fabrics just will not agree with your sweat. Like under armour- I like it- but I don't go out of my way to buy them- why? because they stink.
But generic brand from TJmaxx- or Target- I haven't had any issues with at all.0 -
I've experienced it before. When I first started running I used to get it a lot. It didn't matter how or what I ate and I wasn't doing excessive distance or anything, I'd get it on an easy 5k. Eventually it just stopped.
I noticed that when I started back running after being off while pregnant it started again.
I'm not sure what the causes are but in my case, it seems like my level of fitness was the difference.0 -
Try soaking your workout clothes in a weak solution of vinegar / water (ie 1 cup vinegar in a bucket of water) before washing them and you will probably notice that the problem goes away (it's pretty unlikely you're in ketosis if 50% of your calories are from carbs)0
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Usually this. But in some cases it's also issues with your liver or kidneys. A check up on this wouldn't hurt.KarenJanine wrote: »Ammonia is released in sweat when amino acids (protein) are broken down for enery. What are your macros currently set as? Are you getting enough carbs and fat?
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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Yep, although I've managed to skunk cotton too haha. Normally a wash in really hot water with an extra rinse helps, and make sure you're not leaving sweaty clothes wadded up....they need to dry properly.Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »Are you sure it's coming from you and not your clothes? I've had to toss gym clothes before because they get a stink that you can't get out....bacteria can get trapped in the fibers and they'll smell when you put them back on.
especially the newer fancier gym clothes. Cotton tends to get less funk.
When mine get that SOOPAH FUNK that won't wash out I throw them in the bath tub and soak them overnight with that Oxy laundry additive powder. Then wash them like normal and they always come out smelling fresh.0 -
3dogsrunning wrote: »I've experienced it before. When I first started running I used to get it a lot. It didn't matter how or what I ate and I wasn't doing excessive distance or anything, I'd get it on an easy 5k. Eventually it just stopped.
I noticed that when I started back running after being off while pregnant it started again.
I'm not sure what the causes are but in my case, it seems like my level of fitness was the difference.
I've noticed this too. When I started back running after recovering from an injury for several months it would happen even on easy runs. It went away after a few weeks.0 -
Usually this. But in some cases it's also issues with your liver or kidneys. A check up on this wouldn't hurt.KarenJanine wrote: »Ammonia is released in sweat when amino acids (protein) are broken down for enery. What are your macros currently set as? Are you getting enough carbs and fat?
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
This is awesome.0 -
I'm in the sweaty, sweaty girl club. . .it's just genetics. With a lot of sweat, you get smell. I wash my workout clothes, every single, stinking time with a healthy dash of vinegar in the washer water and I try to stay downwind of people when I'm running and shower immediately as soon as I get in.0
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Man... I'm glad I'm not the only one.
I haven't noticed the problem while running or working out but if I don't wash the clothes pretty quickly afterwards the laundry basket lets me know its time. In fact, since I workout every day I am the official clothes washer at my house now.0 -
L-citrulline helps reduce the ammonia pathway. A lot of preworkouts have l-citrulline but the amount isn't effective. You can buy l-citrulline in bulk and add it to your intraworkout drink or drink it day to day. IMO it reduces the cat pee smell but I still stink.
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I almost knock myself out in the shower when I raise my arms to wash my hair after exercising, particularly a run. For a while I was wondering if I had sweat glands on the inside of my nose and was washing out my nostrils - then I figured out the connection.
True story.
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Lack of carbs usually0
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I never realized until just now how good I smell.0
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My wife has noticed and said something to me about how I smell as well. I told her it was just an old person smell but she says its related to my workouts. She hasn't described it as an ammonia smell, however.0
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snarlingcoyote wrote: »I'm in the sweaty, sweaty girl club. . .it's just genetics. With a lot of sweat, you get smell. I wash my workout clothes, every single, stinking time with a healthy dash of vinegar in the washer water and I try to stay downwind of people when I'm running and shower immediately as soon as I get in.
I am also a heavy sweater but the ammonia thing is a separate issue for me. The ammonia has went away after time, the heavy sweating remained.Lack of carbs usually
I've experienced it on high levels of carbs, like 50-60% but have also not experienced it at 40%.
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KarenJanine wrote: »sabalsam844 wrote: »KarenJanine wrote: »Ammonia is released in sweat when amino acids (protein) are broken down for enery. What are your macros currently set as? Are you getting enough carbs and fat?
My current diet breaks down as 50% carbs 25% fat 25% protein.
Also depending on how I feel, I will eat a banana just before leaving the house for the gym. It takes between 15 and 20 minutes to get there.
And what is your current total daily calorie intake (sorry, should have asked in my previous post)?
I was eating about 2200 calories a day, and I just increased that to 2650 a day because of the added activity.0 -
Are you taking BCAAs or a protein shake right before or during your workout? I've had this become more pronounced when I used to take BCAAs. I think it's because there are readily usable amino acids right there for the burning so they get used as fuel first and end up making you smell ammonia-y.
But I could be totally wrong.0 -
I get that ammonia smell too on my runs after several miles, even though I have a normal 50% carb, 20% protein ratio. It hasn't killed me yet, but I'll let everyone know if it does!
Seriously though, I just chalk it up to burning through glycogen stores and the body beginning to switch to fat burning mode. I may be right, I may be wrong. But that's my story and I'm sticking to it!0 -
When you're eating at a calorie deficit your body is likely to be low on stored carbohydrates (glycogen) for fuel. Absent this, the body will break down amino acids for fuel, converting parts of it to glucose and the rest to waste. The ammonia is a waste byproduct.
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sometimes it is the material, I can not wear the "nike running shorts" or any type of new materials. I palyed soccer for years with no funk, so I switched to cotton and my soccer type shorts with no funk when I work out and run now. I am funk free
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I had that a few times! I sweat excessively, but somehow I don't ever get that typical underarm odor. After a workout, however, I smell like an industrial grade cleaning product because of the ammonia stench! I did a bit of research and it's the protein being broken down. Some say it helps to take in some carbs about half an hour before working out.0
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Usually this. But in some cases it's also issues with your liver or kidneys. A check up on this wouldn't hurt.KarenJanine wrote: »Ammonia is released in sweat when amino acids (protein) are broken down for enery. What are your macros currently set as? Are you getting enough carbs and fat?
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
Years ago I was finishing my first Boot Camp and had the annual physical. Bloodwork came back with muscle enzymes twice the max on one and five times max on another. I didn't doubt it as I was pretty sore for weeks. I thought it was odd that sweat didn't taste or smell salty towards end of BC. The doctor's concern was that it might be a kidney generated as I only have one. To be certain bloodwork tested two months later and the two enzymes were back in normal range. Since then no recurrence to that degree- soreness or ammonia.0 -
I doubt this could be it because youre a man but the woman that mentioned it happened to her after returning to running after a pregnancy makes me think it MIGHT be related possibly? I noticed this same smell when I was pregnant with my 3rd baby, went away after pregnancy, returned while prego with my 4th, now occasionally after working out, heavy cleaning day, whatever I'll notice it. I researched a lot on the matter and found out that the smell of urine can give a strong ammonia smell. Happens of course from weak bladder leaking trace amounts throughout the day or a hard workout. Just thought I would mention it just in case 0
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