Women sweat differently than men

[Biciclista]

I see people at the gym who don't sweat, too, especially those tiny women who look small but not really muscular or "fit." I figure they aren't working hard enough. Maybe they aren't working hard enough often enough. Maybe I just want to hate them because they are small.

that was ME! my husband and I used to hike, and he'd be just dripping and I'd be dry and cold. Then i got fit. Now I sweat too!

[colby]

Well, I am a small woman who sweats buckets. I mean, buckets. I have a hard time regulating my temperature in cold weather riding; I often end up feeling too hot, because I am afraid of feeling too cold! But, I am getting better. It just means that a few pieces of cycling wear that I bought years ago are really too heavy for me to wear as a mid layer. I'll end up wearing them x country skiing at really low temps, though.

Thanks, Crankin, you just lent credence to the "(most) small women who don't sweat are probably wimps" theory, since you're certainly not a wimp

(I should add that of course there are going to be small fit women who don't sweat buckets because not everyone is built the same, and I'm just kidding.)

[Crankin]

I mentioned it, because I think there is some credence to the stereotype. I noticed this when I taught at a gym. There were certain women who looked fit, in shape, and were often quite thin. Yet, when they came to my class, they never sweat, and often never had the endurance to make it through my class. This was during the time I was very thin, from just too much exercise, so I really noticed it. I still sweat buckets then, and I always wondered how these women managed to look like they never lifted a finger when working out.
I used to have "names" for all the types I would see when I taught and this was definitely one of the types.

[colby]

So, another interesting connection. While on our bike trip in Italy I got bit by mosquitoes way more than anyone else there. I had them all over and got hit by them FAST. There was one other guy who also was a mosquito attractant, and he was one of the stronger riders.

I was reading up on why mosquitoes love some people more than others, and apparently lactic acid from sweat, an increased body temperature, and carbon dioxide from heavier exhalations all are potential mosquito attractants. The How Stuff Works articles on mosquitoes actually says: "people who don't sweat much don't get nearly as many mosquito bites."

So, if you get fit.... mosquitoes want you. :P

[zoom-zoom]

So, another interesting connection. While on our bike trip in Italy I got bit by mosquitoes way more than anyone else there. I had them all over and got hit by them FAST. There was one other guy who also was a mosquito attractant, and he was one of the stronger riders.

I was reading up on why mosquitoes love some people more than others, and apparently lactic acid from sweat, an increased body temperature, and carbon dioxide from heavier exhalations all are potential mosquito attractants. The How Stuff Works articles on mosquitoes actually says: "people who don't sweat much don't get nearly as many mosquito bites."

So, if you get fit.... mosquitoes want you. :P

Oh, man...mosquitos LOVE me! I'm full of hot air and sweat a ton...that makes sense.

[emily_in_nc]

I sweat like crazy if I'm exercising, but otherwise it takes a migraine for me to feel too hot.

Me too, except that I don't get migraines. Just a cold-natured person except when I exercise. And I'm one of the small gals and am here to say (along with Crankin') that size has nothing to do with amount of sweat. It's fitness, I tell ya!

[emily_in_nc]

So, if you get fit.... mosquitoes want you. :P

Uh-oh.

[runningcyclist]

Well, I am a small woman who sweats buckets. I mean, buckets. I have a hard time regulating my temperature in cold weather riding; I often end up feeling too hot, because I am afraid of feeling too cold! But, I am getting better. It just means that a few pieces of cycling wear that I bought years ago are really too heavy for me to wear as a mid layer. I'll end up wearing them x country skiing at really low temps, though.

Hey twin!

When I first started cycling I used to wear too many layers in the winter and roasted within 10 mins. Now, 2 years later, I've managed to figure out I need two layers at most and carry one or two more for when I've cooled down off the bike.

It doesn't take much to get me sweating whether I'm walking, running or cycling.

[Jolt]

I think the "fitter people sweat more" thing makes sense too...I'm another small woman who sweats quite a bit, and my sisters who are slightly thinner than I am always give me a hard time when we run together about how sweaty I get compared to them. They don't do as much running etc. as I do. In addition to sweating a lot when it's hot, I also have a lot of vasodilation (read: I turn bright red!)...but I still find the heat really uncomfortable to run in and do much better when it's cool out. I don't know how those of you who live in southern climates do it!!

As for the mosquito thing, I do find that being "sweaty and full of hot air" attracts them--on buggy trail runs, I'm OK as long as I'm running but if I stop for any reason the bugs immediately find me and are a royal pain!

[pll]

Interesting article. I still think some of the sweating is genes at work, but it is more pleasant to think I'm fit.... All family sweats a lot and they are not always fit. I have a very tough time during hot summer days -- my personal best in a 5K was during a 32 degree day. I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt! The flip side is that once exertion is over, my temperature drops precipitously and I get cold.

[GLC1968]

The How Stuff Works articles on mosquitoes actually says: "people who don't sweat much don't get nearly as many mosquito bites."

Unless you are Greek?

I'm actually not a big sweater, even when I'm fit. I'm also NEVER cold when exercising - even in extreme cold (but I cannot handle extreme heat). Funny thing is, I'm frequently cold when I'm sedentary and even when I'm not actually feeling cold, I am cold to the touch. My husband calls me 'cold miser'.

Mosquitoes do love me though. I'm the best bug repellent my family knows - if either me or my father are around, bugs don't bite anyone else.

Came back to add after reading the article:

I'd be curious if birth location or season/temperature has any affect on the study. I have a theory (based purely on my own observations) that the conditions when you were born affects how your body handles temperature. In my case, I was born in Feb in MN when the temp was -27F...and I'm a person who can handle extreme cold but suffers greatly in the heat. My husband was born in May on the gulf coast of MS when it was hot, steamy and over 90F every day. He rarely has issues with heat or humidity but cannot handle the cold (physically, when exercising...not just living in cold areas)or very dry conditions. I've seen many cases that this also fits though it may be more obvious for people who were born in some type of extreme as opposed to those born in July in Maine or October in FL where temps might have been mid-range.

[jessmarimba]

I'd be curious if birth location or season/temperature has any affect on the study.

Hmm. I was born in Virginia at the end of July and I've lived in VA, TN, FL, SC, and GA and still refuse to turn on the a/c unless I'm driving and glued to the seat of my car. I'm always the first person in CO to wear a jacket and gloves now.

But I also have Raynaud's so I'm not sure how much that has to do with my hatred of being cold.

[Cataboo]

I think it has more to do with where you grow up and what you're acclimatized to...

I was born in Feb in VA - it was a year that had a lot of blizzards, and summers are always hot & humid. I don't typically use the AC and don't mind the heat - but I also love to ski and after a couple days of skiing, I'm talking around in long sleeve shirts at the base of mountains 'cause it feels hot to me compared to the temps at the top.

I do overheat easily while exercising.

[JennK13]

But I also have Raynaud's so I'm not sure how much that has to do with my hatred of being cold.

I, too, have Raynaud's, and it kind of scared me when I moved to CO from CA. I notice it more in my hands than my feet, but I think only because I'm using my hands and they hurt. It can be 85 degrees out, and we're hiking and my hands get cold - even if I'm sweating, my hands and feet are cold.

I don't know about the where you were born theory, but I was born and raised in Southern California for 32 years. I like "mild" temps, 50-75 are perfect for me. While I do get cold (Raynaud's and Hashimotos make me cold ALWAYS), I do sweat when working out, even if I'm not hot. So I'm always cautious about dressing appropriately, especially in the fall and winter, to make sure I'm warm enough even though I sweat. And cotton is rotten, and I've gotten cold from sweating, so I wear moisture wicking clothes to help keep me regulated, which is tough when you sweat buckets!!!

[jessmarimba]

So if I ever see someone else in gloves at the grocery store I'll assume it's you