Sweat as a sign of exertion

I don't sweat very much when I'm working out - does that mean I am not working hard enough? I feel like I am. My muscles are tired, what are some other signs that I am working out hard enough? How do you know?

Sun. Mar 5, 12:21pm

Depends on the person

You could get a heart rate monitor to wear for your workouts. An entry level model will be < $60 and you'll always know how hard you're working. Sweat just isn't always a good indicator.

Sunday, March 5, 2006, 12:55 PM

heart rate!!!! Your muscles could be sore because you're doing something wrong. Or because your cardio choice is more strength training than you realise, or you are exercising at a mild intensity for a longer duration working your muscles more than your cardio-respiratory system. Make sure you're working in your target range.

Even just taking your pulse several times during your workout can help- you don't necessarily need the heart rate monitor, but they are a good investment.

Sunday, March 5, 2006, 3:21 PM

I didn't used to sweat much either -- until I'd been in a daily cardio habit for about 2 months. Then holy cow, my sweat glands woke up!! I like to think that it means my body is working more efficiently and healthily.

KatieMc80

Sunday, March 5, 2006, 10:00 PM

some people have more active sweat glands than others. i know women who could run 5 miles and barely break a sweat . . .where as I hop on a stairmaster for 5 minutes and i'm drenched. so sweat is definitely not an indication of how hard your body is working. aside from a heart monitor, you can also gage your level of exertion by your ability to hold a conversation, sing etc. If you can hold a full conversation with someone while working out, you are probably not working as hard as you could. If you can only get a few words out before having to take another breath . . .you are probably getting your heart rate up where it needs to be to get fit cardio-wise.

Sunday, March 5, 2006, 10:19 PM

it may also depend on the warmth or coolness of the room where you are working out.

I don't sweat much at home on my treadmill because it is in the basement where it is cool-- I walk for 40-80 minutes at a heartrate of mostly about 145 bpm...

However, I was at the fitness room in my brother's apartment, and also did the cardio walking for 45 minutes-- that room was much warmer and I was sweating buckets!!

Monday, March 6, 2006, 10:56 AM

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