Working up a sweat at the gym can be a pretty satisfying sign that you’re giving your body a proper workout.
…but does sweat really mean that you’re burning off that stubborn fat?
The truth is, no. Sweating doesn't mean you're burning fat.
In fact, people can sweat for a bunch of different reasons. Some people even produce a lot more sweat, while others produce a lot less.
So, what does it actually mean when you’re sweating up a storm at the gym?
Here's everything you need to know...
Does Sweating Help You Lose Weight?
Well first, there is a significant difference between “weight loss” and “fat loss.” The term weight loss is not specific, so the weight loss could come from body fat, muscle, water, food, etc.
Fat loss is specifically referring to a loss in body fat. Fat loss is what almost everyone means when they say weight loss. I just wanted to make this distinction clear so you know exactly what I’m referring to when I use each term.
So the quick answer is, no. Sweating won’t actually help you lose fat, or even lose weight in a meaningful way. It might help you lose some weight in the immediate short-term, but that won’t last long or be noticeable.
Before I give too much away too early though, let’s get into the science behind it all...
What Does It Mean When We Sweat?
Have you ever thought about why we sweat?
Well, sweating is actually one of the main ways that your body regulates its temperature. You see, when you use your muscles and get your heart rate up ... your body is creating heat. When your core temperature increases, your brain sends out the signal to cool the body down.
Can you guess what your body does next to cool itself?
Yup ... you sweat! This works because as the moisture on your skin evaporates, it takes some of the heat along with it.
Sweat is roughly 99% water ... so when you sweat, you’re mostly just releasing water from the body, meaning almost all the weight you lose due to sweating is going to be water weight.
Sure, sweating CAN be a sign of an intense workout, and contribute to short-term weight loss via water. The act of sweating doesn’t actually affect weight loss on its own though.
Even if you’re "melting away" on a hot summer day ... simply sweating from the heat isn’t going to impact your weight loss once you rehydrate.
...and rehydrate you MUST!
So, ditch the sweatsuits, sweat belts, and saunas if you’re only using them to sweat for weight loss. They aren’t harming you, and have their benefits, but you won’t see the results you’re looking for from simply using these methods.
Is Sweating Something To Focus On?
If you want to stay hydrated, you have to pay attention to how much you sweat, so you can replenish what you lost. When it comes to weight loss though, it really won’t do you much good to just focus on sweating.
That’s not to say that you don’t want to sweat if you want to lose weight. If you’re doing the work necessary to increase calorie burning for fat loss ... chances are you will sweat quite a bit.
It’s just not the causative factor as much as it is a byproduct of the work being done.
Plus, you have to remember that sweat doesn't just come from a strenuous workout. Sweat can also come from factors such as:
• Temperature
• Humidity
• Genetics
• Weight
• Water intake
• Gender
• Age
• Fitness level
Some people who are at a higher fitness level may even sweat less while doing the same task as someone less fit. This is because their body is more efficient and uses less energy to produce the same output.
Less energy used equals less heat produced, and that leads to less sweat production.
That doesn’t mean that the higher fitness level person is less likely to lose body fat because they produced less sweat ... that's crazy talk. It just means they produced less sweat.
At the same time too, they could produce less sweat due to genetics, water intake, or one of several other factors.
Lose the Weight with 1st Phorm
At the end of the day ... sweating doesn't guarantee you're losing weight. This is one of the biggest misconceptions when it comes to fat loss. Now, if you sweat during your training sessions ... that's still a great thing.
If anything, it means you're putting in the hard work it takes to see results with your workouts.
Plus, seeing great results with your health and fitness comes down to consistency. If you aren't consistently exercising and tracking your food intake ... it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to see results.
For instance, if you want to lose body fat ... you have to eat less calories than you're burning. That's because you need to burn more calories than you're eating in order to burn excess energy off your body.
If you never pay attention to how many calories you eat ... it's no different than buying a lottery ticket. Your chances of winning are slim to none.
If you are serious about your fitness goals, we'd love to help you reach them.
I know there's nothing fun or easy about pursuing a weight loss goal. Heck, just ask anyone who's done it.
There's just a lot to monitor and stay on top of if you want to see results. That includes your protein intake, water, calories, workouts, sleep, and much more.
For this reason, we developed the ultimate tool to guide you along the journey: The 1st Phorm App.
In the app, you'll get access to:
• 1-on-1 messaging with your own NASM Certified advisor
• Custom meal planning/nutrition tracking
• Full library of custom workout programs for your goals
• Daily livestreams and educational content
• A community of like-minded people
• A chance to enter in and win $25,000 in our Transformation Challenges
You truly do get all the tools you need in one convenient spot. So check out the 1st Phorm App and start working toward your health and fitness goals now!
If you have any questions or need any extra help, don't hesitate to reach out to us anytime.
Just give us a call at 1-800-409-9732 or send us an email at CustomerService@1stPhorm.com!
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