Tuesday, July 2, 2019

7 Reasons to Embrace Being Sweaty

With the onset of this hot, humid summer, I am reminded once again of how much I sweat. I think I sweat more than the average person. Even when I run outside in the winter, after I finish I am a sweaty mess underneath all my layers. After a summer run, I am literally dripping from head to toe. I've been asked many times if I got caught in the rain. My running clothes are wrung out and hung to dry until laundry day. If I shower too soon after I run, I sweat in the shower. I sweat after the shower.

It may seem gross, it may seem annoying, but there are benefits to sweating, even for a profuse sweater like me. I found 7 reasons to embrace the sweat!



Sweat is our built-in air conditioning
Sweat is the body's way of cooling you down during exercise or when you're hot. If you didn't sweat, you would overheat, which could lead to fainting, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke. The fitter you are, the faster you'll sweat because your body is trained to recognize when it's time to regulate its temperature.


Sweat makes you glow
It isn't just the moisture on your skin that gives you a post-workout glow. Sweat brings more blood flow to the surface of the skin. Not only does this give you a healthy complexion, it also helps remove toxins that can lead to age-related changes in the skin. Sweat can help prevent acne, too, as long as you wash your face after you work out.


Sweating helps you detox
Several studies have shown that sweat helps remove toxins from the body. Sure beats a juice cleanse, in my opinion. Even though sweat is cleansing, it doesn't give you license to go out, party until the cows come home, and then run a marathon!


Sweating lowers the risk of kidney stones
What the what? Sweat makes you rehydrate and that helps flush the kidneys. Sweat also helps remove excess salt from the body and retain calcium in your bones instead of the kidneys.


Sweating boosts your immune system
Sweat contains substances that help fight serious invaders like bacteria, fungi, and viruses.


Sweat aids in recovery after a hard workout
By bringing blood flow to the muscles, sweat helps remove products of a hard workout that can lead to soreness and help the body repair itself.


Sweat makes you feel like a badass
As an athlete who sweats profusely after a hard workout, I can 100% agree that a sweaty workout makes me feel good Sweat produces endorphins and who doesn't love those? Plus, all that sweat is proof that you worked hard and there is no denying a sense of satisfaction with that!


If it seems like we sweat more in the hot, humid summer weather, it's because we do. When the air is saturated with humidity, it takes longer for sweat to evaporate. The body loses its natural ability to cool itself. In these conditions, make sure you take it slow and cool yourself down after you're done.

I don't know about you, but after learning about all these benefits of sweating, I say bring it on! There's nothing more satisfying than finishing a hard run or workout. The sweat is the reward! Let's embrace the sweat!


I've found some really good reasons to love sweating! /via @oldrunningmom #runchat #running


Do you sweat a lot? What is your favorite way to sweat? 

I'm linking up with Kim and Zenaida for Tuesday Topics.


42 comments :

  1. I feel slightly better after reading this post. I also tend to sweat A LOT. There are times that I come home after my run, I shower, and then I am still sweating while getting ready. I walk out of the house pretty much the same way I came in.

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    1. Those are the days I just pull my hair back, get in the car, and blast the AC. Gotta love summer!

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  2. I love this post! I sweat like a beast even in winter. Glad to know that I'm keeping kidney stones at bay;-)

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  3. Ok, you're motivated me. I'm going running after work so I can SWEAT!! lol.

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  4. I just look at the sun and I start sweating, lol. Good to know that sweating is overall a good thing!

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    1. It made me feel better to find this out because I sweat randomly. Gotta love menopause!

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  5. I agree with Darlene - I have to get out there and embrace the after work run so I can sweat! It's too easy for me to make excuses. I have a July 4th race and that is going to be a hot one as well.

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    1. I'm running a holiday race but it is on Sunday. They're calling for cooler conditions. Fingers crossed!

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  6. I love that sweating makes you glow. It definitely has to do with the cleansing and detoxing and I love it. Bring on the heat and humidity!

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    1. The humidity removes the wrinkles too! You know I love that!

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  7. I sweat 10 mins into a run no matter what the temp is outside. I have a friend that doesn't sweat at all. I was a little envious until reading this. Thanks!

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  8. Wonderful post! Thanks for sharing all these information. Like you I sweat while running and after the shower.
    Indeed you made me smile with the quote "sweat makes you feel like a badass": it is really true.

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    1. I love the way I feel after a really sweaty run. Gross and awesome all at the same time!

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  9. I am definitely a heavy sweater. Even in the winter -- I would get so chilled because of being sweaty (but trying out the wool bras has been a game changer for me -- I still sweat, naturally, but they wick so well I don't get as chilled).

    I'm not sure my beet red face can be mistaken for a glow, though, LOL!

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  10. I'm also a heavier sweater so I really appreciate this post!

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  11. OMG I sweat so much. So. Much. It's kind of embarrassing, but also, what can you do? My uncle actually had that surgery where they can remove your sweat glands because he was such a hard-core sweat-er - bad news is it only worked on half his body, which is kind of bizarre.

    It's natural and there's nothing we can really do about it, so might as well embrace it, right?

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    1. I've heard about that surgery...it seems so dramatic! I see a lot of patients with sweaty hands and feet--that is a different story. Otherwise, yep, let's embrace it!

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  12. All about the sweat over here! I did not know about the kidney stones and my dad is a nephrologist :) One to add: great instagram photos lol

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    1. Oh, yeah! Yesterday I posted a sweaty selfie--who knew I'd get so many likes? LOL!

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  13. I sweat a ridiculous amount when I'm running, even in winter, and also when I'm working out. So fun to discover that I sweat like a fiend while inside my air conditioned house, under a ceiling fan, while I do my PT exercises. I literally need to put on workout clothes because I sweat through everything.

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    1. I'm SO glad to know I"m not the only one. Judging by the comments here, there are a lot of us!

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  14. Well I'm definitely more sweaty after my runs! Tonight I had to go dig for a towel in my car cause we ate dinner at a restaurant we run from and the sweat on my chair was grossing me out!

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  15. I never realize how much I'm sweating until after I come inside....whether it's there all along (during the workout) or the sweat flows after I'm finished. Probably both. It definitely is a great, detoxifying feeling ;-)

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    1. I always feel as if I have worked so much harder when I sweat like a pig!

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  16. I'm all about working up a good sweat! My body really did have to learn how once I started exercising regulararly. When I was young I didn't sweat but would end up with a bright red face if I did something strenuous. Probably dangerous I know now.

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    1. Now that you mention it, I probably wasn't a good sweater in the beginning of working out. So maybe it means I'm in great shape? :p

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  17. I am SUCH a heavy sweater! I am always drenched no matter what the season. Glad to know I am not the only one!

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  18. I do not like sweating - I think it goes hand in hand with not enjoying being dirty. I take so many showers in summer it's insane. I thin it's part of why I don't like summer running

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    1. I actually don't mind sweating (or getting dirty)! I think it's a sign of being active. But it doesn't mean I like running in the summer either...

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    2. Mud, dirt are also part of why Warrior and the like don't appeal. My inner girly girl sometimes leaks out. It's not just a wokrout thing though, I also don't like camping or generally getting dirty. I was a mess after Pride from dust and dirt on suncreen and ugh couldn't wait for a shower

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  19. I’m a huge sweater too. My hair is usually plastered to my head after my run during all times of the year. I’ve always wondered how people can look so NOT sweaty after a run.

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  20. I typically don't sweat much at all, but that has not been the case these past few weeks. I'm a soggy mess even after my short, easy runs. This is why I will never move to Florida!

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    1. I think we're getting plenty of training for Florida...if we decide to go there!

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  21. Good reframing! I'm a big sweater, just in everyday life, too. It does annoy me as it's a bit obvious sometimes but I know to avoid pale grey outfits!

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