Question about, uh... B.O.

[horsemom]

Thanks!! Horse triathlons are called three day eventing. I do endurance racing---50 and 100 mile races in a day, or mutiple 50 milers in a row. That picture is my mare Mo at a 10 day ride that started in Santa Fe and went east along the Santa Fe trail. We started and finished 7 of the 10 days. She gets itchy, and I figure if she carries my butt she can itch on it!!

Laura

[ginny]

I do eventing! It's cross country galloping with big old scary non movable fences, dressage, and show jumping (not in that order)... I think this thread has now been totally hijacked - sorry

My office mate just googled washing soda - I am SO buying that! My running clothes are just barely acceptable, maybe the washing soda can remedy that...

[aicabsolut]

It is really a funk you're smelling an not an ammonia smell, right?

If you smell ammonia when you sweat a lot or afterwards when you shower, that means you probably should be taking in more carbs (or you have a high protein, low carb diet), because you're using more amino acids for fuel than carbohydrates. That could be dietary proteins primarily, but if your metabolism has changed at all or if you're doing high intensity workouts, you may just be burning through your carb stores more quickly than you're used to. it could also indicate muscle cannibalism, though I believe your body would turn to dietary protein sources first.

Just something to throw out there--but unless you're on Adkins or something, it's unlikely you'd smell like that from moderate to light workouts.

[Funhog]

It is really a funk you're smelling an not an ammonia smell, right?

If you smell ammonia when you sweat a lot or afterwards when you shower, that means you probably should be taking in more carbs (or you have a high protein, low carb diet), because you're using more amino acids for fuel than carbohydrates. That could be dietary proteins primarily, but if your metabolism has changed at all or if you're doing high intensity workouts, you may just be burning through your carb stores more quickly than you're used to. it could also indicate muscle cannibalism, though I believe your body would turn to dietary protein sources first.

Just something to throw out there--but unless you're on Adkins or something, it's unlikely you'd smell like that from moderate to light workouts.

Nah, it's just funky BO - like a guy. No ammonia smell to it. I don't do Atkins, don't even promote low carb diets (as a personal trainer).

I've sprinkled in some HIT into my training lately, but also do a lot of aerobic rides. Did 2 months of primarily aerobic base building in Jan/Feb. For the moment, all my rides are indoors - it just snowed today again only a few hundred feet higher than our elevation, which is 7,600 feet - Augh, I'm about to go crazy from the weather here!

Could be I won't notice this as much outdoors - I'll keep an eye (nose?) on it as we are driving to Boulder this weekend to ride. Also, maybe I'll keep a log to see if it's primarily from higher intensity rides or not (I kinda think not). But a log might also help me to see if it points to any dietary issues. Got my first test tonight - I teach a Spin class in 2 hours and had a big steak dinner last night and meatloaf for lunch (carbs too)!

Horsemom, Endurance rides are what I meant - from your photo that's what it looked like. I rode dressage and did some jumping as a teenager and in college, and always dreamed of 3-day eventing, but couldn't do it (back issues kept me off horses after that). But back in 1986 in Palo Alto, I took part in a combined human/equine "triathlon" that consisted of a cycling segment, a running segment and then one person on a horse for their endurance ride segment. It was done as a team, I did the bike part. Very fun!

[BeeLady]

After my complete hysterectomy and "instant menopause" (no HRT), I can tell you that my body odor changed. Now, four years later and still no HRT, the BO has calmed down (or I'm totally use to it!) so my vote would be hormonal changes that are beginning to take place.

A little BO never hurt anybody, and its probably not as noticeable to others as it is to you.

[cyclinnewbie]

I'm thinking it's hormonal.

[horsemom]

'washing soda' here in the US is 20 Mule Team Borax. Kills fleas also, if you sprinkle it on your rugs and vacuum up later.

Laura

[aicabsolut]

Could be I won't notice this as much outdoors - I'll keep an eye (nose?) on it as we are driving to Boulder this weekend to ride. Also, maybe I'll keep a log to see if it's primarily from higher intensity rides or not (I kinda think not). But a log might also help me to see if it points to any dietary issues. Got my first test tonight - I teach a Spin class in 2 hours and had a big steak dinner last night and meatloaf for lunch (carbs too)!

For riding outdoors, since you're going to get better sweat evaporation, you'd notice the smell if it's a metabolic thing when you first get into the shower.

I didn't mean to say that you don't eat carbs, but some people try to fight the ammonia smell by eating more protein which can just make it worse. Instead, it just means they need to eat more carbs closer to or during their workouts.

[DDH]

I'm only 43, but I too have noticed a definate body odor change. I swear profusely and am hot all the time. I don't notice the smell unless I am exercising am sweating really heavily, but I don't notice my under arms being so bad as I do just an all around smell.

I hope it's something like you all are suggesting and I'm not going to be smelling like this the rest of my life.

[jesvetmed]

I'm 41, but noticed a change in last 2-3 years.
I also noticed several times that deodorants / anti-perspirants that worked fine for me for 1-2 years, suddenly stopped working at all

The last two years I've been using Mitchum -- heavy duty, but OTC. Works great so far. Unscented, gel clear. Love it, but takes a while to dry prior to dressing.

KNOT: Great info on the baking soda. I may just try it and see if I notice any difference in our hot office. Maybe I'll tell my co-workers about it!

[OakLeaf]

I swear profusely

...



Ya know, I find the more I sweaT, the less I sweaR

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

My office mate just googled washing soda - I am SO buying that! My running clothes are just barely acceptable, maybe the washing soda can remedy that...

"Office mate"? "Washing soda"?....ok you must be in England.
So....for the benefit of us yanks- is washing soda=baking soda?

[VeloVT]

Lisa:

You can find this in the laundry aisle at the grocery store, right here in the states:

http://www.mylaundrybasket.com/Our_P...shing_sod.html

It DOES leave laundry very fresh and helps with stainlifting too.

[OakLeaf]

I just use baking soda.

[KnottedYet]

I just use baking soda.

I dip my deodorant (no aluminum salts, no alum crystal) into baking soda and apply. Doesn't matter what deodorant I use, it's just a carrier for the baking soda which does the real job.

A friend's mom gently told me about that trick, cuz I was (and still am if I don't use baking soda) a very stinky critter.

I've used Borax washing soda to rescue my stinky clothes, but for some odd reason never thought of using my baking soda in my wash.