Sweat Equity

Today I dispel the myth of "I'm sweating so I must be working hard." Sweat is simply the body trying to dispel heat. So you sweat in order to cool your body just as a dog does with panting. Just because your body temperature is elevated does not mean that you are working hard. It also means that it is not a good barometer of exercise intensity. Ever wonder why you barely sweat while you are training your biceps? And guys, you mean to tell me you don't work out your biceps hard and with every bit of effort you can muster to grow those "BIG GUNS." The biceps simply isn't a large enough muscle to need the same heat dissipation as the back, chest or especially the leg muscles. Now this can be reversed as well. Sitting on the bike, (using your big leg muscles) will increase body temperature dramatically. Coincidentally, the reason "warm-up" exercises tend to be leg dominant. But increasing body temperature is not correlated to the elevation in heart rate necessary to be considered an intense workout. This is why thinking that if you are sweating it means you are getting a great workout is a false belief. If it were true then I am getting a great workout right now because it is hot in my house and I am sweating as I type this. The truest judge of intensity is heart rate so the purchase of a heart rate monitor is a great investment toward knowing just how hard you are working out. But taking your pulse effectively is a free option as well. Pay attention to your heart and you will always know if you are working out hard enough. Just like in love your heart don't lie and you can't lie to your heart.