Let’s talk about sweat baby
There are certain topics which are seemingly taboo, like sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll. Ahem, I mean, sex, money and politics. I suspect I’ve already broken a few rules on that front, so I’m pretty sure you’ll forgive me for touching on this somewhat-sensitive subject.
Yes… let’s talk about sex sweat baby.
Although it’s a cold hard fact of life involving basic bodily functions, it’s not something we really discuss. Well most of us, that is.
On the whole I suspect the art of ‘sweating’ is looked upon with some disdain. I still recall reading an Archie comic when I was a kid and Veronica commenting that SHE did not ‘sweat’; or ‘perspire’; rather, she ‘glowed’.
I’m a sweater. Though not the woollen or fleecy type. Obviously.
In fact, I have medication* for a condition called hyperhidrosis… which I self-diagnosed after visiting Dr Google esteemed experts in the field.
For those not in the know, or too lazy to visit the good Dr Google herself (or click on the link!), hyperhidrosis is a condition which involves excess sweating. Charming huh?! Mostly it manifests itself in sweaty palms, feet or armpits. Understandably it can cause great stress.
As for me, it’s all about my head (aka facial hyperhidrosis). For seemingly little reason at all, my head sweats. Sure, I’m overweight and probably sweat more because of it, but that’s not the sole cause. Naturally my head sweats when I’m hot; but it also sweats when I’m stressed or… well, whenever it bloody wants to. Just thinking about it can set me off. I cannot wear make up (or even moisturiser during the day) because the moment I put stuff on my face I start sweating.
I keep cutting my hair off because when it’s done up the hair on my scalp is wet, with this dry blonde ponytail appearing from nowhere.
At those times, the fact that I sweat perspire glow excessively is a cause of embarrassment. I feel self-conscious. I feel that people assume I’m sweating because I’m overweight. When I have absolutely no reason at all to be sweating profusely I feel great discomfort that I am.
However, then there are those times when I wear my sweaty face and body as a badge of honour. And I must confess, I love me those post-workout red-faced sweaty pictures people tweet with justifiable pride.
I grew up playing a lot of sport and sweatiness was just part and parcel of the whole thing. I knew my body was just working efficiently to cool itself off.
Bizarrely – even when I’m working out – only my head gets ultra-sweaty, the rest of me just sweats like a normal person.
I’m always surprised though by those who don’t sweat. Even when exercising. Perhaps some are just fortunate, whereas others just don’t try hard enough.
Indeed, there’s a girl in my faux Zumba class who does the entire thing half-heartedly in full make up and remains completely dry-faced throughout. Another fellow gym-goer tells me she tries to avoid sweating in class so she doesn’t have to shower before going back to work. Even in hard circuit classes. W. T. F?!
As for me… I like to know I’ve worked out. I do get embarrassed about the extent of my sweatiness (and face which remains red for HOURS after!) BUT I also wear it as a source of pride.
*I’ve actually only tried taking the medication once (when I was already irritable and sweaty) and it didn’t work. It freaks me a bit cos it blocks sweat / saliva glands or something!
The recommended treatment is actually botox. (What a great excuse I reckon?!) Although getting botox around my scalp doesn’t sound very alluring!
Are you a sweater?
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Jo Tracey
July 27, 2012It’s like a badge of honour after a really hard workout. Someone told me once that sweat is your fat cells crying…
Debbish
July 28, 2012Yes, I’ve heard that one as well Jo!
Vanessa @ Babbling Bandit
July 27, 2012I sweat a little bit but not excessively. I go bright red though. Totally bright red that lasts for ages. I think that is because I’m fair. After a workout I wear it like a badge of honour too.
When I had postpartum thyroid disease I sweated non stop. It was horrible!
Botox sounds good! I will defo be getting it when I’m older… if I can afford it!
Debbish
July 28, 2012The idea of plastic surgery (incl botox) scares the bejesus out of me. I look at these Hollywood types who can afford the best and when their work gets screwed up I worry what could happen to me!
And yes… I go really red as well. For yonks.
Vanessa @ Babbling Bandit
July 28, 2012My sister had botox once and she said it hurt like hell but she’d go back again for sure.
Noticed you mentioned night sweats below. Have you had your thyroid tested? Sweating and slow metabolism could be a symptom of thyroid probs. Not that I’m a doctor or anything…
Debbish
July 29, 2012Vanessa, I’m actually already on thyroid medication (I have hypothyroidism!).
Yes, perhaps botox is the way to go!
Eating as a Path to Yoga
July 27, 2012I think I *glow* a moderate amount. I feel like a I got a good workout/my heart rate up if I get glowing. If I don’t… I’m a little pissed. However, when I sweat because it’s hot outside, I get mad!
Debbish
July 28, 2012Yes, I’m the same… if I have an excuse (exercise) it’s okay.
KCLAnderson (Karen)
July 28, 2012I’m a sweater too, especially when I work out (and lately at night) but I don’t have hyper…whatever. 😉 And when I sweat, I sweat a lot, to the point that my hair is wet and my clothes are damp! I have often marveled at people who do a workout and don’t have to take a shower afterwards. There have been times when I didn’t want to do something strenuous because I knew I wouldn’t have time for a shower and not taking a shower just won’t do!
Debbish
July 28, 2012I’ve been getting the sweats at night as well Karen. Not sure if it’s cos of the same thing, or just strange winter-y weather.
I have to do more weekly washing when working out also cos my t-shirts in particular (around the neck) are always wet!
Karen@WaistingTime
July 28, 2012I am not:) Unless I am working out pretty hard or it is hot. Today the room at the gym was hotter than normal and my head was pretty sweaty. When I do cycling, I sweat! My husband is a huge sweater. He can just do something as simple as bring the trash to the curb and break a sweat.
Debbish
July 28, 2012Your hubby sounds like me Karen! The tiniest thing can make me sweat!
Resveratrol Australia
July 28, 2012Nice post . I do not sweat much but when i am in a tension my body starts sweating automatically .
Julia
July 28, 2012Get thee to the doctor! This is a condition that is pretty easily fixed. You’d still sweat when working out, but you’d also be able to do your hair/wearb make up and not feel self conscious.
Debbish
July 29, 2012Do you mean if I took the meds for hyperhidrosis Julia? As I said, the one time I tried them I was already hot and irritable when I took them and so just kept sweating.
Rebecca
July 30, 2012I love it, you know that I love a river of sweat by the end of a session, I have to work less hard now I’m fitter to achieve the sweaty look.
There are several people in my gym who I see most days and they don’t break a sweat I just don’t understand it!
Debbish
July 30, 2012Yes Rebecca, I’m the same… I can’t believe that some people look so ‘fresh’ after a workout.
Deb
Marion
August 1, 2012Hi Deb! I never seem to notice that anyone else has these personal things that bother them. I don’t see it in others, what would bother me about myself. There’s only a couple of guys I noticed that sweated/dripped profusely all over the place, which only bothered me because they should have tidied their wet mess up. Messy gym people bug me. Other than that, I’m sure I’d never notice the circumstances that you have for sweat. And you’d probably not notice my thinning hair. 😀
🙂 Marion
Debbish
August 1, 2012Marion, my best friend is angsty about the hairline on the back of her head (being uneven) and talked about getting laser hair removal surgery to straighten it. (AND SHE HAS LONG HAIR!) I used to tease her endlessly about this as I cannot imagine something like that being a problem for anyone. Everyone has their own foibles I guess…
Deb