Freshening up at the gym

[jhayx7]

Because of a change in my life schedule, I am now going to the gym during lunch time. I am doing very vigorous cardio during this time so I am usually drenched in sweat after the workout. I don't want to take a shower at the gym before I go back to work so does anyone have any tips on what to use so I feel less sweaty and sticky? I guess I am looking for some type of body spray (for the love of god not Axe).

 

[irishScott]

Why not shower? If you're really opposed, could always go for this stuff:
http://www.rei.com/product/746099
http://www.rei.com/product/746098

 

[StageLeft]

If you are doing real cardio you absolutely cannot go back to work without a shower. I will go back after fairly hard weights but that's really pushing it. Absolutely forget it, do not go back to work after cardio without a shower, and if you don't stink that bad it's because you're not working out properly. There is simply no way around this. A body spray won't cover that husky funk you have after a real workout, forget it!

 

[zebano]

shower.

 

[dealmaster00]

what's so bad about taking a shower at the gym. shouldnt take more than 5 minutes.

 

[rasczak]

i usually can go back to work without having to shower after a very intense workout, but i think i'm a rarity. i smell like roses.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

If you simply do not have the time to shower, try using scented baby wipes. Towel off, then use the wipes head to toe.

 

[conorvansmack]

Heh heh. Feeling not so fresh?

Seriously, if you have the time/freedom, take a quick shower.

 

[iluvdeal]

Please do not just try to just to cover yourself up with body spray as you'll just smell like sweat+deodorant rather than just sweat. A bum sprayed with axe smells like a bum sprayed with axe. Even if no one says anything to you and even if you try to convince yourself you smell okay, your coworkers WILL smell your BO.

Baby wipes are good to freshen up, I've used them for that purpose. However if you are really hot and sweaty from an intense workout, baby wipes will not be enough so I'd encourage you to take a quickie shower even at the expense of cutting your workout a little short. Showers also serve to get your core body temp back down so you won't still be radiating heat and sweating when you get back to the office.

 

[irishScott]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
If you are doing real cardio you absolutely cannot go back to work without a shower. I will go back after fairly hard weights but that's really pushing it. Absolutely forget it, do not go back to work after cardio without a shower, and if you don't stink that bad it's because you're not working out properly. There is simply no way around this. A body spray won't cover that husky funk you have after a real workout, forget it!

This is bullshit. Different people react differently. Some people smell like a sewage plant after sweating for five minutes, others, like myself, usually have no real "stink" to us. We smell like sweat as opposed to shit.

The scent of non-oxidized sweat is actually attractive to females. The scent of bacteria making its home in your sweat is what stinks. I can sweat my ass off at the gym for an hour, come back, change clothes and slap on some deodorant; and no one can tell I've worked out.

 

[gramboh]

I sweat an insane amount but don't really smell, but I would never consider going to work without a shower because I would look/feel disgusting and greasy even when the sweat dries, plus it takes forever to cool down and stop sweating. Just go into the locker room 5 min before you normally would and take a quick cool shower, I persnoally use flip flops because the floor is gross.

 

[Atty]

Doesn't have to a lot to do with your diet? That effects your level of stink too, onions, etc.

 

[nervegrind3r]

dood, thats not fair to your coworkers to smell your hairy ass sweat. do yourself a favor, and everyone else, take a shower.

 

[KingGheedora]

I was under the impression that sweat itself is not what smells, but rather the bacteria that like to feast on the sweat. I thought it takes time (several hours) for them to build up to the point that the smell is noticeable.

If you or your clothes were already dirty before the workout and then sweat that could cause you to smell immediately after working out.

I could be wrong though, I remember reading this somewhere when I was pretty young, so this could just be one of those things that I misread as a kid, or misremember from so long ago.

 

[Kipper]

Originally posted by: KingGheedora
I was under the impression that sweat itself is not what smells, but rather the bacteria that like to feast on the sweat. I thought it takes time for them to build up to the point that the smell is noticeable.

If you or your clothes were already dirty before the workout and then sweat that could cause you to smell immediately after working out.

I could be wrong though, I remember reading this somewhere when I was pretty young, so this could just be one of those things that I misread as a kid, or misremember from so long ago.

Yep, I've also read/heard this. The bacteria feast on the urea (nitrogen) in sweat, reproduce, and produce the telltale odors as byproducts. It is also a specific type of sweat gland (apocrine?) that increases susceptibility, and East Asians apparently don't have as many of them as Caucasians...which is why we don't smell.

I've been in the same position, but really the best option is to take a quick shower. Even if not soaping completely down, taking a couple of minutes to rinse the sweat off your skin will go a long way to preventing/removing the smell.

 

[KingGheedora]

btw, either take a shower or don't go during lunch. Or, find a way to work out in 45 minutes and stretch for the last 15 minutes so you can cool off before you change back into your normal clothes.

 

[TallBill]

Cool down, then take a shower.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: irishScott

Originally posted by: Skoorb
If you are doing real cardio you absolutely cannot go back to work without a shower. I will go back after fairly hard weights but that's really pushing it. Absolutely forget it, do not go back to work after cardio without a shower, and if you don't stink that bad it's because you're not working out properly. There is simply no way around this. A body spray won't cover that husky funk you have after a real workout, forget it!

This is bullshit. Different people react differently. Some people smell like a sewage plant after sweating for five minutes, others, like myself, usually have no real "stink" to us. We smell like sweat as opposed to shit.

The scent of non-oxidized sweat is actually attractive to females. The scent of bacteria making its home in your sweat is what stinks. I can sweat my ass off at the gym for an hour, come back, change clothes and slap on some deodorant; and no one can tell I've worked out.

Are you SURE? Because if I workout and change clothes I generally don't seem to mind it terribly whereas mrsskoorb says I spell horrific.

 

[kalrith]

Originally posted by: rasczak
i usually can go back to work without having to shower after a very intense workout, but i think i'm a rarity. i smell like roses to myself.

Fixed . My wife has coworkers who would make the same statement, but she says that it sometimes smells like a locker room after people's lunch workouts.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: kalrith

Originally posted by: rasczak
i usually can go back to work without having to shower after a very intense workout, but i think i'm a rarity. i smell like roses to myself.

Fixed . My wife has coworkers who would make the same statement, but she says that it sometimes smells like a locker room after people's lunch workouts.

I hope Irishscott comes back to affirm his earlier statement. People are extremely forgiving of their own odor, even if they even notice it at all.

 

[Deeko]

I don't stink when I work out - but I also don't sweat. I'm weird.

 

[coreyb]

don't sweat? how is that even possible.

 

[skace]

Just remember folks, it's not completely accurate to be your own judge about whether you smell after a workout. You need an honest 3rd party. And most people aren't honest. That's why it's best to be sure and fucking take the shower.