Does sweating mean youre losing weight?

Your sweat rate

You might think you're sweating off a ton of calories at the gym, by running, or while getting in a good workout at home...

But the truth is, it's not always about shedding the weight.

According to Tom Holland, MS, CSCS, an exercise physiologist and author of Beat the Gym, the rate at which you sweat and the amount you sweat depends on various factors besides your actual workout.

“People sweat at different rates, depending on their fitness level, the air temperature, and humidity,” says Holland.

It's not a symbol of your fat-burning abilities, but the residue of your body's cooling system.

Fitter people tend to sweat more easily because their systems are more efficient at cooling them down.

Sweating and weight loss

Sweating does cause weight loss, but it's only temporary.

The minute you eat or drink something, the weight comes back. To effectively keep off weight, you need to burn fat through regular exercise.

Safe sweating

Excessive sweating can be dangerous and lead to heatstroke or heat exhaustion, when too many electrolytes eliminated in the sweat are lost. This can also cause kidney damage, cardiovascular problems, and it can even be fatal.

Always keep hydrated with water before, during and after your workout, and don't go to risky extremes in order to sweat more when you're exercising.

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