Amnonia like smell after running.

Pacing Mule

I'm new to running - started in January and tonight I ran 5 miles non stop for the first time ever. Obviously this pushed me further than before and also it was the first time I ever ran in the evening (normally I would run in the morning times) After finishing my run I became aware of a weird smell deep in my nose (not sweat / BO) which I would best describe as smelling like amnonia.

I've had a quick google and this seems to be regarded by some as a bad thing - people who think it is bad say that it is a sign I was burning muscle for fuel. Some others mentioned burning ketones which is the bodies fat reserves. This would be a good thing for me as I am in the process of losing weight and would welcome this if it is accurate.

Could anyone here shed any light on what is actually going on and if it's good or bad ?

Thanks in advance

RandyMann

Pageant Messiah wrote: »

I'm new to running - started in January and tonight I ran 5 miles non stop for the first time ever. Obviously this pushed me further than before and also it was the first time I ever ran in the evening (normally I would run in the morning times) After finishing my run I became aware of a weird smell deep in my nose (not sweat / BO) which I would best describe as smelling like amnonia.

I've had a quick google and this seems to be regarded by some as a bad thing - people who think it is bad say that it is a sign I was burning muscle for fuel. Some others mentioned burning ketones which is the bodies fat reserves. This would be a good thing for me as I am in the process of losing weight and would welcome this if it is accurate.

Could anyone here shed any light on what is actually going on and if it's good or bad ?

Thanks in advance

Drink more water and this will dilute the ammonia. Your body is using amino acids as fuel and one of the byproducts, nitrogen is excreted as ammonia in your sweat.
I dont think its a concern.

couerdelion

Not a concern, as Randy says drink more water and it will dilute the smell.

TheRoadRunner

Is your diet high in meat products or protein?

Pacing Mule

I've realised in hindsight that I have smelled this previously but not on the same scale (had thought that the showers in the gym had a strange cleaner being used ! - but it seems it was my own nose.)

Just to clarify the smell is literally within my own nose as others can't smell it from me. Although it could be that it's very mild in the sweat outside the body but when it's up your nose it's more prominent.

As for the diet I wouldn't say I am high in protein. Not really high in anything. I am eating approx 1400-1600 calories a day on a normal day as I am coupling my running with a diet.

Last night I had ran the 5 miles non stop with no water whereas in the gym I would be drinking along the way so that may well have been a factor.

ThisRegard

Did you have a cold, flu or similar bug recently?

TFBubendorfer

Pageant Messiah wrote: »

I've had a quick google and this seems to be regarded by some as a bad thing - people who think it is bad say that it is a sign I was burning muscle for fuel.

Unless you started running in a completely fasted state, you don't start burning muscle for fuel in a 5 mile run. That would happen much, much later. 5 miles only burn about 500 calories - not even close to using up your muscle carbohydrate storage, never mind the fat reserves. Muscles burning comes after even that.

Solair

I'd suggest :

1) Get your blood sugars checked by your GP.

2) Make sure you're eating enough, and that you're eating sustained release energy foods too, not just fast-burn sugars.
Sports drinks are disastrous in many respects for this kind of thing as they cause sugar highs and lows.

RayCun

Pageant Messiah wrote: »

I am eating approx 1400-1600 calories a day on a normal day as I am coupling my running with a diet.

I assume you're a man, more than 5'3" tall? That seems way too low, especially if you've just taken up exercise too.

rom

RayCun wrote: »

I assume you're a man, more than 5'3" tall? That seems way too low, especially if you've just taken up exercise too.

He should try something like myfitness pal to ensure that he is taking in enough calories for the exercise he is doing.

Pacing Mule

Yep I'm male and 6ft tall. I've targeted a 2lb per week weight loss and it is actually myfitnesspal that I use to track calories. On excercise days I would eat more but my non excercise daily allowance is 1490 calories. Weight has been coming off at a rate of 1-2 lbs per week since January. Started off at 16 stone so I have a good bit of weight to lose.

No cold / flu history in last few weeks but perhaps a trip to the doc to get checked out would be in order.

rom

Pageant Messiah wrote: »

Yep I'm male and 6ft tall. I've targeted a 2lb per week weight loss and it is actually myfitnesspal that I use to track calories. On excercise days I would eat more but my non excercise daily allowance is 1490 calories. Weight has been coming off at a rate of 1-2 lbs per week since January. Started off at 16 stone so I have a good bit of weight to lose.

No cold / flu history in last few weeks but perhaps a trip to the doc to get checked out would be in order.

I am trying to lose weight similarly to yourself. 1500 calories is very little to be having in the day even with no running that day. Personally I am going to dietitian soon as I need help in getting the rights foods to fuel my running but cutting the weight also. Like yourself I tried 2 pounds a week to start but went back to 1 as I found it was too much. Lost just under a stone since end of Jan. I must say I am not starving myself. I could lose more yes but as long as I am going in the right direction then I am happy. How much have you lost since Jan and what weekly mileage are you doing ? no idea how much you run but if you run more days but the same amount of time you do weekly then your body will get used to burning more. I used to run like 3/4 days last year and i would eat more somedays and less others. its consistency what you need in everything like equal pacing in a race. if every day is the correct formula then its right but if you starve one day then you will slow down your metabolism. Similarly when doing marathon training you can actually gain weight as your body gets used to storing for the long runs but if you were running equal amounts 5+ days a week then your body would get used to burning. For me I have found that instead of running 8 miles in the evening, running 4 miles at lunch and another 4 in the evening burns more.

Dotcomdolly

MFP notoriously give very low calories goals.
have a look on www.fat2fitradio.com and use their bmr calculator. Even if you chosse the sedentary option it should suit better. On your running days maybe eat back half of your burn.
I'm 5'3, female, and lost weight at 130lbs on 1600 cals.

Pacing Mule

rom wrote: »

I am trying to lose weight similarly to yourself. 1500 calories is very little to be having in the day even with no running that day. Personally I am going to dietitian soon as I need help in getting the rights foods to fuel my running but cutting the weight also. Like yourself I tried 2 pounds a week to start but went back to 1 as I found it was too much. Lost just under a stone since end of Jan. I must say I am not starving myself. I could lose more yes but as long as I am going in the right direction then I am happy. How much have you lost since Jan and what weekly mileage are you doing ? no idea how much you run but if you run more days but the same amount of time you do weekly then your body will get used to burning more. I used to run like 3/4 days last year and i would eat more somedays and less others. its consistency what you need in everything like equal pacing in a race. if every day is the correct formula then its right but if you starve one day then you will slow down your metabolism. Similarly when doing marathon training you can actually gain weight as your body gets used to storing for the long runs but if you were running equal amounts 5+ days a week then your body would get used to burning. For me I have found that instead of running 8 miles in the evening, running 4 miles at lunch and another 4 in the evening burns more.

I've lost 1 and a half stone since January.

Normally run 3 times a week for up to 5 miles (but will be starting to increase that now)

Pacing Mule

Dotcomdolly wrote: »

MFP notoriously give very low calories goals.
have a look on www.fat2fitradio.com and use their bmr calculator. Even if you chosse the sedentary option it should suit better. On your running days maybe eat back half of your burn.
I'm 5'3, female, and lost weight at 130lbs on 1600 cals.

Results there gave me approx 2200 - 2500 calories :eek: Crazy difference

Donelson

Are you getting a slightly metallic taste in your mouth when this happens?