Sweating at the gym is normal and an essential part of any workout. Working out raises your heart rate, makes you breathe faster and elevates your core temperature, all of which helps to get you fit and healthy. When you start to heat up internally, you start to sweat. This is your body’s natural way of cooling down. Sweating prevents you from overheating, and some even say it helps to release toxins.
Sweat itself is odorless, but the moistness of it acts as a breeding ground for bacteria, which can make you stink. While a little body odor with your workout is normal, excessive body odor might become offensive to other clients and even make you uncomfortable or embarrassed. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to minimize the amount of negative smells you produce at the gym.
Self Care & Personal Hygiene Products
It’s obviously overkill to wear perfume to the gym and no one is expected to do that. Several simple treatments can help you fight body odor when you work out. The first thing is to maintain good hygiene before your workouts. Bathe each day and shower with soap and water after each workout. Carefully clean the areas where sweat typically accumulates.
It’s not asking too much to put on deodorant or take a quick shower before working out in a gym in the morning or in the evening, especially if you are working out in the evening and haven’t showered since early that morning. At the least, put on more deodorant before hitting the gym after a long day of work.
Chemical Treatment
The simplest chemical treatment for preventing body odor while you workout is the application of antiperspirant or deodorant. The products used on your body before and after a workout can help prevent or reduce odor during your workout. Body washes containing essential oils, such as tea tree oil, have anti-microbial and anti-bacterial properties to help reduce bacterial growth on your skin. Antiperspirants can help to prevent you from sweating, which reduces moisture and the potential for bacteria to grow. Deodorants containing essential oils can also help reduce the chances that odor-causing bacteria will form.
Antiperspirant reduces the amount of sweat that accumulates on your skin while deodorants work by eliminating body odor but not reducing the amount of perspiration. Aluminium-based agents in antiperspirants block sweat pores in order to help eliminate sweat in the area applied. Consult a physician if these products do not work for you. The doctor may prescribe a medication that can help.
What You Eat
Sweat is typically odorless, but sometimes, depending on what you’ve eaten, your sweat might be what’s causing you to smell, not bacteria. Certain foods release enzymes that become odorous when you sweat. Foods like garlic, onions, broccoli and cabbage can all cause your sweat to stink. To reduce odor, try not to eat these foods the morning of or evening before you work out.
Your Workout Gear Might Be to Blame
Before you start your workout, SMELL your workout clothes. Do they have any odor? If they have even the slightest odor, it will only multiply once they become damp with sweat. To prevent odor on your clothes, wash them immediately after your workout. If you can’t wash the smell out of them, try a sports-wash laundry detergent, or soak your clothes in vinegar and baking soda before you wash them. It’s definitely reasonable to expect people to wear clothes in the gym that don’t already smell bad because they haven’t been washed since a prior workout.
Try Clothing Made for Sweaty Workouts
Special wicking fabric is made for sweaty workouts. Wicking fabric draws sweat away from body and absorbs it. The less sweat you have on your skin, the less bacteria will build up and start to smell. Your clothes might be soaked and even a little smelly, but your skin will stay drier and less odorous.
Other Hygiene Tips
Keep a clean towel handy to wipe sweat off while you exercise. Put talcum powder in your workout shoes to help your feet stay dry and odor free. Change socks during your workout if they become wet with sweat.
Other Reasons for Bad Body Odor
Not all body odor is due to the bacteria breaking down sweat and multiplying on your skin surface. Occasionally, certain medical conditions can cause odor. Check with your physician if you have difficulties in controlling odor, if the odor differs from what you are accustomed to, or you experience other physical concerns following exercise. Stop a workout immediately if you begin to feel ill. Ideally, you should have a full medical check up before beginning any type of physical activity program.
It’s NOT OKAY To Stink In The Gym!
ForeverStrong Health & Fitness wants to make each client’s workout memorable in the most positive way. Please ensure that you are doing your part and following the simple pieces of guidance from the above article.
We are proud to say that we’ve helped hundreds of people in Howard County and the surrounding areas learn and perfect their squat. If your looking for a personal trainer near Fulton, Maryland, we’d love to help you too! Call us at 301-452-5547 to see for yourself. Mention this article for a free session!