Often, we see people sweating profusely during workouts. The amount of sweat that comes out of one person need not be the same for another person. Heavier people generally tend to sweat more as compared to their counterparts and vice versa. What causes people to sweat? What is the relation between sweating and fat loss? What signs are an indicator of a good workout? Read on to get the answers to these FAQs along with some pointers that will help you achieve sustained fat loss.
Why Do People Sweat
The human body is designed to remain in a state of homeostasis. In simple words, this can be described as the in-built mechanism in human beings and animals which helps regulate the body by itself from external environmental influences. Human beings are warm-blooded species so normally the body is at a temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. When the body heats up above this temperature owing to external and internal factors that arise as a result of various activities, it automatically tries to release this excess heat to maintain the equilibrium. This is done in three different ways – when we breathe, through the outer layers of the skin, and through sweat. Of these, sweating is the process that occurs when the body is subjected to particular circumstances only whereas, the former 2 activities are a continuous, repetitive process.
Sweat glands spread across our body produce liquid, salty sweat which leaves the body from the outer skin layer through evaporation and this process cools down the over-heated body. Many factors lead to the body heating up like age of the person, exercising, sex, climate, hydration level, certain types of food, stress, the time of the day, smoking, etc. It is interesting to note that sweat in itself is colorless and odorless, and the unpleasant odor arises when sweat comes in contact with certain bacteria present in the body.
Are Sweat And Fat Loss Interrelated
Many people think that sweating itself aids in fat loss from the body which is a misconception. When you exercise or exert force and do some intense work you do tend to sweat a lot but that does not mean you are burning fat as a result of the sweating. Fat loss occurs as a result of the metabolic activity in your body which in turn generates energy as opposed to sweating which is a cooling process that brings down the body temperature. However, sweating does contribute to the burning of calories. This is in instances where you do extreme workout sessions for lengthy periods. The natural way in which the body functions is that when you do intense workout energy gets generated. This happens when carbohydrates in your body that are stored in small amounts in the liver and muscles are burned. Once these stored carbs are used up only, fat burning starts. So, when you work out for short time frames and you sweat as a result of it, you can be next to sure that no calories are being burned, which would contribute to weight loss.
Also, the body first tends to lose water weight at the initial stages of the workout if you do too little or less frequent workouts. Losing water weight is never a guaranteed step towards fat loss or weight loss. And once your body is rehydrated some amount of those lost weights generally tend to get back into your system. So, if it is fat loss or weight loss that your goal is then it is advisable to carry out daily, intense workouts where the time, effort, and sweat you lose in the process garner desired results where you make sure those calories are burned.
Signs Of a Good Workout
You may workout every single day to lose weight but what guarantees that your workout routine is on the right track? Listed below are common indicators of a good workout:
- Pain or muscle-soreness – it is interesting to know that exercising leads to muscle tear, resulting in pain and soreness. But fear not for this is normal and once you get adequate rest it self-repairs. So, the pain felt thus is a sign of a good workout.
- Heart rate – buy a heart monitor to keep track of the intensity of the workout that works best for your body as it shows you your heart rate at every step taken. During exercise you feel your muscles tiring out. Coinciding with this heart rate on the monitor is when you should stop over-exerting yourself. This indicates a loss of calories. With time you can however increase this duration.
- Feeling hungry – hunger is a good indicator that the time and effort you put into your choice of workout didn’t go to waste. Just make sure you don’t load up on carb-rich food as you may feel tempted to. Restrict the eating time to 30 minutes or lesser during which your body will use up the calories from food to fuel up energy lost and in this way you can ensure you are feeding your body right.
- Sleep – a sure shot indicator that your workout session was on the right track is your ability to enjoy a peaceful nightlong sleep. Tiredness post-workout is a good sign and apart from nutritious food your body also needs proper sleep to replenish it.
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Pointers To Bear in Mind
Just because one is sweating in the gym or during a run on the outdoors does not necessarily mean one is indulging in a perfect workout routine. If you are looking to lose fat and weight in the process, then you have to first and foremost be conscious of the food that goes into your body ensuring that you are feeding it with nutritious food but one that is calorie deficit. To begin with, set an achievable goal weight, make that trip to the health expert, and devise a plan for yourself that would help you attain your weight-loss goal sustainably. Never set out to lose weight keeping unreasonable goals in mind for it can do more harm than good.
Then comes the part where you devise a workout plan for yourself that does not tempt you to make excuses to skip it. If you are a working individual then devise a workout plan that can not only be carried out daily but one that gives you enough energy and motivation to repeat the same until your goal is achieved. Running, jogging, cycling, etc are some options that you could go for, to begin with, followed by opting for aerobics, resistance training, swimming, etc. Remember, sweating too much or too little is not what determines your fat loss. Some people sweat more as their bodies are accustomed to being fitter from prolonged fitness routines whereas others who are unfit or heavy also sweat a lot more due to their weight. So, sweating alone is never an indication of fat loss or weight loss but the more effort you put into the same, the closer you get to your fat-loss goal.
Conclusion
Sweating is a natural phenomenon and post a workout session we tend to sweat more than usual. But this does not indicate fat loss or weight loss rather our body inclines to cool the internal temperature down which arose as a result of the workout itself. If fat loss is your goal then stick to a workout plan that will guarantee you a satisfied smile once you get on those scales. Make consistency, determination, and effort taken as integral parts of your workout regime. Rest assured, for you will attain sustained fat loss along your weight-loss journey.