Sweaty Pits - Don't Sweat Em'

by Fitz K. (Subscribe to Fitz K.'s posts)
Mar 11th 2009 12:00PM

Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answers. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. When I go walking with my friends, I notice that I often sweat and it shows through the back of my shirt and armpits. I know sweating is good, but not when I'm the only one who looks like that while walking with other ladies. It is really embarrassing. What can I do? Lorraine

A. My dear Lorraine, I understand where your stress is coming from. Sweat is rarely considered womanly, pretty or delightful. The thought process on sweat makes regular folks think it's gross. Allow me to share my thoughts and experiences on the subject.

I've spent what seems like millions of hours in gyms training people -- and you know what is always one of my main goals: To make them sweat. I do this because sweat is the body's natural response to becoming warm, and that means my clients are working hard. Very few people escape my company without dripping profusely. Oddly enough, many of them apologize for being sweaty! This, of course, is ironic, because sweat is what I expect. Sweat is not icky. The sweat that stems from exercise is awesome. It's a sign that your workout has been productive and your body's cooling system is working right.

A drenched back and armpit rings are actually a sign of accomplishment. Wouldn't you feel like a loser if you finished your workouts as clean and pretty as when you started? If you didn't sweat, I'd be screeching at you to take things up a notch!

Having said all of this, there are a few things you can do to decrease the amount of armpit sweat and odor.

Try a clinical or prescription strength antiperspirant instead of regular deodorant. This won't, however, leave your back dry.
Wear a tank top. This make sweat rings much less obvious.
Wear dark, shiny colors -- they help mask sweat marks.
Reduce your intake levels of caffeine and alcohol. Sometimes these can increase your sweat production.
Achieve your ideal weight. Extra weight can lead to excessive sweating.

If you had mentioned all-day sweating that seemed more of a medical issue, Lorraine, I would have referred you to a physician. Your question leads me to believe that it's not. I hate to say "be proud of your sweat," but the fact that your shirt gets drenched means you are doing the right thing! Try the simple suggestions I listed above and make sure you take a shower when your workouts are done. I'm proud of your efforts. Now get to work!

Punches & Kicks,

Fitz

Fitzness.com

Note: The content presented in this Q. & A section is for informational purposes only and should not be viewed as medical advice or substitute for professional medical care.

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Comments (2)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

jessica 3-12-2009 @ 10:31AM

Fitz,
I love your Ask Fitz column. I always come away from it learning something new and feeling better about myself. Thank you. Jessica

Cecily T 3-14-2009 @ 2:49PM

Fitz, I was wondering if you could give advice on how to train yourself for a move or pose that is too advanced for you. I understand how to work up to a particular weight or speed in weight-lifting or cardio but I'm at a loss about things that seem 'all-or-nothing'. I'm thinking of things in fitness DVDs where they frequently have models for easy/moderate/advanced movements. Sometimes I can do the easier move without feeling it a challenge, but I can't do the harder one *at all*, and I don't see how continuing to do the easier one gets me closer to doing the more advanced one. I'll give you three examples so you can see what I'm talking about.

1) the yoga pose called the Crane. It's both a balance and a strength pose, and I really can't do it without falling on my face. I can manage the 'set-up' step, where you balance your knees on your elbows, but I fall on my face the second I try to lift up.

2) the pilates move where you 'roll like a ball', but then sort of stand in a crouch on one leg while the other leg shoots out in front of you. Again, I can do the rolling just fine, but I wipe out when I try the one-legged crouch.

3) Revolved Side Angle in yoga. I can't twist that far (getting my shoulder past my knee and rotating that far in my low back), and trying to do it while in that pose usually gives me a cramp or makes me fall down.

Thanks! Your articles and videos are my favorite thing about That's Fit. :)