Types of sweat

BossArky

Anyone notice a difference between the stench from sweat after cardio vs weights?

If I run a few km I would be absolutely soaked and could wring my clothes out with sweat. The smell is negligible.

However, after weights I will be slightly damp but absolutely pungent within a few minutes.

Anyone notice this and care to offer a scientific explanation?

amacachi

BossArky wrote: »

Anyone notice a difference between the stench from sweat after cardio vs weights?

If I run a few km I would be absolutely soaked and could wring my clothes out with sweat. The smell is negligible.

However, after weights I will be slightly damp but absolutely pungent within a few minutes.

Anyone notice this and care to offer a scientific explanation?

I've also noticed this. Also the meat sweats are more like the lifting-heavy-stuff-sweat than the cardio type sweat.

kumate_champ07

amacachi wrote: »

meat sweats are more like the lifting-heavy-stuff-sweat than the cardio type sweat.

by meat you mean a meet and not your meat, right??

celestial

Pure speculating really but aerobic exercise such as running is a 'cleaner' form of exercise in terms of energy usage - using mainly fat and some carbs in the presence of oxygen - whereas weight training uses mainly sugar (glucose) with very little oxygen.

Could be the smell of sugar!!

amacachi

kumate_champ07 wrote: »

by meat you mean a meet and not your meat, right??

Nope, I mean those times when you eat so much steak ya can't move and then eat a little more.

kumate_champ07

celestial wrote: »

Pure speculating really but aerobic exercise such as running is a 'cleaner' form of exercise in terms of energy usage - using mainly fat and some carbs in the presence of oxygen - whereas weight training uses mainly sugar (glucose) with very little oxygen.

Could be the smell of sugar!!

your gym must smell like candy floss

Brian?

My guess is that when you excercise indoors its warmer so more of the water in the sweat evaporates off, leaving the salts in the sweat more concentrated on your clothes and body. I assume its the salts in your sweat that make it stank.

Vegeta

I have noticed this but more so about when nervous versus training.

When I am going to do an exam or something like that generally the sweat is much more potent

Doesn't really smell too bad from exercise though (lifting or cardio), I'll take note this time and see if I can smell any difference

Hanley

Vegeta wrote: »

I have noticed this but more so about when nervous versus training.

When I am going to do an exam or something like that generally the sweat is much more potent

Doesn't really smell too bad from exercise though (lifting or cardio), I'll take note this time and see if I can smell any difference

+1 actually!!

ScissorPaperRock

I'm pretty sure it's the bacteria that lives off the sweat that makes it smell. Sweat on it's own is odorless.



Edit: Found the answer

There are two different types of sweat, Eccrine (used to cool the body) and Apocrine (produced in armpits, groin, hands and feet and contains fat and protein).

It's the latter that the bacteria tends to grow on and consumes the sweat, breaking down the chemical bonds, leading to the odour.

Source: http://www.askmen.com/sports/health/43_mens_health.html

rubadub

similar stuff here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweat

There are two situations in which our nerves will stimulate sweat glands making us sweat: during physical heat and emotional stress. Emotionally induced sweating is generally restricted to palms, soles, and sometimes the forehead, while physical heat induced sweating occurs throughout the body

I would have also guessed that the bacteria develops better on moist damp things rather than saturated ones. If growing fungus the moisture content of the medium, like grains, is critical. If you left a damp towel in a musty attic I expect it would grow more stuff on it than a towel left in a bucket of water.

BossArky

Thanks for the info.

I guess it is the Apocrine that makes me reek after weights :pac:.