Not sweating during exercise can be caused by a few factors. In some cases, not sweating is due to a medical condition. In many cases, not sweating enough during a workout just means that you have to exercise longer and more intensely.
Why Your Body SweatsSweating is your body's way of regulating its temperature. Your body excretes fluids through your sweat glands when your body temperature increases due to hot weather, exercise and nervousness. Sweating is, therefore, a healthy and necessary bodily mechanism.
What It Means When You Do Not SweatIf you're not sweating during your workouts, it may be due to a variety of factors. At the most extreme, those who do not sweat, even in intense temperatures, may be suffering from a condition called anhidrosis. This condition is problematic because it can lead to overheating, dizziness, a rash and even fainting. If you are working out intensely and are still not sweating at all, you might want to consult a physician to determine the cause.
In other cases, some people just have fewer sweat glands than others. You might be working out with a good friend and find that she is sweating a lot and you are not sweating much. This could be due to fewer sweat glands; it's also possible that you are in better physical shape than your friend. A workout that is strenuous for her and raises her body temperature may actually be easy for you.
Ways to Increase Sweating During Your WorkoutThe best way to determine whether you are exercising hard enough is to measure your heart rate during your workout and make sure that you are exercising at your target heart rate. If you are not certain how to determine this number, use a target heart rate calculator. These numbers, however, are to be used as a general gauge and are not always accurate, so pay attention to your body. Is your heart beating quickly enough? Do you feel that you are exerting yourself enough? Are you feeling warm and just not sweating? Each of these questions can give you a clue as to whether or not you need to intensify your workout.
If you do find that you are simply not working out hard enough, begin intensifying your workout. If you walk every day, walk a longer distance, faster. If your daily exercise is riding your bike, try pedaling up hills and shifting to a more difficult gear. It may be that your daily workout consists of a dance class. Try taking a more advanced level dance class. Adding weights to your cardio activity is also a good way to intensify your workout. Walk with hand weights or jump rope with ankle weights.
Not sweating can be an indication of multiple factors. The important thing is to figure out what it means for you. If you never sweat, not even in hot weather, you will want to speak with a medical professional. If you do sweat in a sauna but not in your daily workout, intensifying your workout should help you to reach your exercise goals.