Sweating makes you lose weight: myth or truth?

Sweat is the body’s attempt to regulate body temperature, not representing caloric and fat expenditure and, therefore, cannot be used as a weight loss parameter, in addition to not being an indication of whether the physical activity had an effect or not.

Although it is not a parameter to indicate weight loss, sweat can be used as a tool to assess whether physical activity is being practiced intensely or not, as intense exercise speeds up metabolism and increases body temperature, resulting in in sweat.

However, some people may sweat more than others, even with small stimuli, and it is important to use another parameter to assess the intensity of the exercise.

Does sweating really help you lose weight?

Sweat does not represent fat loss and, therefore, cannot be used as a parameter for weight loss.

Sweat is the body’s attempt to balance body temperature: when the body reaches a very high temperature, such as during physical activity or when the weather is very hot, the sweat glands release sweat, which is made up of water and mineral salts. with the aim of avoiding damage to the body’s vital functions. Therefore, sweat does not represent the loss of fat, but rather of fluids, which is why it is important for people to stay hydrated during physical activities.

It is normal for there to be greater sweat production during very intense physical exercise, and it is important for people to maintain adequate hydration during physical activity, but some people sweat even when standing still and in any situation, this condition being known as hyperhidrosis. Understand what hyperhidrosis is and how to treat it.

I weighed myself after exercising and my weight decreased: did I lose weight?

Losing weight after exercising can be common, but it does not indicate weight loss but water loss, and it is important that the person drinks water to replace the amount of water lost. If your weight after exercise has decreased by more than 2% compared to your initial weight, it may indicate dehydration. See what the symptoms are and how to combat dehydration.

What to do to lose weight

To lose weight you don’t need to sweat, but rather burn more calories than you consume daily, have a balanced diet and practice physical activity regularly, preferably early in the morning or late afternoon, away from the hottest hours of the day.

The best exercises for those who want to lose weight are those that promote greater energy consumption in less time of activity, such as running and swimming, for example. See which are the best exercises to lose weight.

Does exercising in warm clothes or with plastic help you lose weight?

Exercising in warm clothing or plastic does not help you lose weight, it only raises your body temperature, stimulating your sweat glands to produce and release more sweat in an attempt to regulate your body temperature.

How to replace lost minerals after intense physical activity

Sweat represents the loss of water and minerals that are essential for the functioning of the body and, therefore, is important to replace during and after intense physical activity. Therefore, it is important to drink water during and after exercise and, in some cases, drink isotonic drinks, which are normally consumed more by people whose activity is extensive and intense.

Isotonic drinks should be consumed during exercise and in small quantities and are contraindicated in people who have kidney problems.

Check out how to make a natural isotonic drink that, in addition to preventing excessive loss of minerals

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