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#TBT 8 (Can we fast forward to this weekend already!?)

Good morning! Throwback Thursday means we are less than 24 hours away from THE LAST WEEKEND OF COLLEGE. And remember that little post/question I put up last week? Well, I found something to do. And you’ll just have to wait and read all about it next week. :)

Annnnnnyways……………..

Yesterday, I completed another cardio workout in the comfort of my apartment’s fitness room which involved hopping from treadmill to elliptical to treadmill. Nothing unusual.

Except the temperature.

The thermostat is protected by a locked plastic case, and the heater was on as I entered the little gym. It was already hot and I hadn’t even started working yet! The heater remained on during my entire stay and when I left, the thermostat read 75 degrees. Take that and add one intense stationary work out (6 miles plus elliptical time, some core work afterwards) and you have some prettttttty sweaty clothes.

So in lieu of my sauna-esque workout, I found this little scientific breakdown post to bring back to life as today’s throwback. (How so many people rave about “hot yoga” classes, I do not know.)

P.S. This is about as “scientific” as it gets on Strong Like My Coffee ;)

The Science of Sweating

Originally Posted on June 11, 2014

“Did you have a nice swim?”

Actually I just ran.

“Oh, so you just got out of the shower?”

Nope, this is pure perspiration right here.

“How long were you running???”

Oh you know, 30 minutes.

The amount I sweat looks completely disproportional to the intensity and effort I exert during a run. It seems logical that, after nearly 8 years of running, my body should be well-adapted to cardio activity and sweat less right?

Does sweat reflect fitness level

I will be forever envious of fellow female runners who can shake out a pony-tail after a solid treadmill session with nothing more than a slight mist on their hairline. Meanwhile I’m towelling off my soaked face, my hair dripping as I sprint to the shower and avoid chit chat in my sweaty state.

What gives?

I took to the world wide web to answer my eternal question of why the heck do I sweat so much if I am “in shape”?

***I can rule out “hyperhidrosis” or an actual diagnosis of excessive sweating because this only happens during exercise, thank goodness.***

SOME SWEET SWEAT FACTS:

Basic Anatomy:

  • The autonomic nervous system controls the sweat function, a natural response to the rise in body temperature.
  • Sweat is 99% water, 1% sodium and other compounds (on average). Some people have “saltier” sweat than others.
  • The odor accompanying the release of sweat is not the actual sweat itself; it is the bacteria that lives on our skin around the sweat glands that becomes “activated” with the sudden moisture.

Sweat Factors:the amount a person sweats is related to the number of sweat glands, their gender, some genetic factors, source or reason for sweating (stress, spicy food, exercise, etc.) and overall body mass.

Other Interesting findings:

  • Several sources report that more cardiovascularly-fit people sweat earlier into their exercise session because their bodies have learned to expect the rise in body temperature and attempt to cool off sooner into the workout.
  • Because fat and body mass act as insulators, heavier people require more sweat to bring down their body temperature. This is why larger bodies sweat more.
  • A red light for me: “CAFFEINE CAN INCREASE PERSPIRATION.” :(

Science of Sweating (stronglikemycoffee.com)

What it boils down to:

The body contains between 2 and 5 million sweat glands. More glands = more sweat. I.e. Sweat volume is not a sign of fitness.

If you are a light sweater, I’m a jealous jellyfish. If you are a faucet, include extra hydration into your pre and post-workout routine. Drink up, buttercup!

Sweaty Sources:

http://cathe.com/sweating-profusely-during-exercise-does-it-mean-youre-out-of-shape

http://www.fitsugar.com/Why-Some-People-Sweat-More-Than-Others-145870

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/30/sweat-too-much-normal-sweating-facts_n_4659752.html

 

Throwback Thursday – Blog Post Style

This morning I loved waking up to Instagram posts of baby pictures, parents’ wedding pictures, embarrassing elementary poses. It must be Thursday! (side note: does it constitute a “throwback” if it happened less than a month ago…?)

After over 2 years of blogging, I have an archive of 250 blog posts. Most of which are bound to go unnoticed by new-to-the-blog readers, and lay under the radar in the giant info-overload that is the internet. Instead of leaving them in the cobwebs, I wanted to pull some back into the frontlines for a second life. Starting this week, I’m bringing #TBT to SLMC! Thursday’s will now include a favorite forgotten workout, recipe, or recap post. :)

This was originally posted on September 17, 2012 during the first few weeks of sophomore year (when the blog was still a baby, awww…). Don’t worry, I’ve got plenty of NEW goodies to share in the coming days too. In the meantime….THIS FROZEN YOGURT. Omg.

Enjoy!

SUMMER’S ENDING, MAKE FROZEN YOGURT

(September 2012)

“It’s already the middle of September, and the Pumpkin Spice Latte is already back at Starbucks. I guess that means summer is wrapping up, huh? Well it hasn’t completely started cooling down yet, so I think we can get away with one more batch of frozen yogurt before switching pumpkin-and-apple-flavor-everything.

This weekend has been the most productive couple of days… There was the first home football game of the season, a complete shut out by our boys! My suitemates switched up roommates, (lots of heavy furniture moving involved) and now I have a wonderful new roomie! The Price is Right Live show was a fun and different way to start a Saturday night, but I sadly walked away empty handed. Then there was my first strength training workout, my first James Bond movie (a homework assignment- I would rather be watching old episodes of Grey’s Anatomy) and a ridiculous amount of homework plus some other fun stuff here and there. I wasn’t ready for this Monday morning alarm clock but here I am, hair curled and all, ready to share a super-healthy-super-sweet-summer-dessert : )

You will need:

1 1/2 Cups Vanilla non-fat Greek Yogurt

1 Cup fresh strawberries, diced

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup sugar *could substitute 1/4 cup with stevia

1 dark chocolate bar, broken into pieces

6 graham crackers, broken not crushed

*An ice cream maker

1. Heat diced strawberries, water and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat until they start to soften. Drain and refrigerate until cool.

2. Once the strawberries are cold, stir in the greek yogurt.

3. Pour yogurt mixture into the ice cream maker and allow to mix together in the machine for 20 minutes.

4. By hand, mix in the graham cracker and chocolate pieces; place the whole bowl in the freezer for at least 60 minutes before serving.

If you like greek frozen yogurt, you may also want to try: Peach n’ Pecan Greek Frozen Yogurt

Now we can welcome autumn. Onto all things cinnamon & spice.”

 

:)

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