I Smell Like Ammonia When I Sweat

[snacker]

Anyone else have this issue? I drink a bunch of water still have this problem. Sometimes so bad I have to take my shirt off and lift with a towel. I sweat profusely Maybe it's 90+ degree garage I lift in?

Just wondering what I should do. It's like lifting in ammonia fumes at times. Not kidding.

[Plateauplower]

Anyone else have this issue? I drink a bunch of water still have this problem. Sometimes so bad I have to take my shirt off and lift with a towel. I sweat profusely Maybe it's 90+ degree garage I lift in?

Just wondering what I should do. It's like lifting in ammonia fumes at times. Not kidding.

Might want to bring it up to your doctor to rule out any medical condition first. If you are very low carb dieting and in ketosis the increased urea from excess protein breaks down to ammonia. Dietary intake can make you smell odd as well, my wife backs me off the homemade garlic hummus after I start to get garlic funk going on. I smelled like a campfire the other day at the gym after camping for a few days, had showered first and didn't smell like a burning log until I got a good sweat worked up...

It would be wise to check with your doctor before charging ahead with advice from an Internet forum for any possible medical issues...

[MartinMaggie]

This is result of lots of proteins in metabolism. Eat more carbs.

[PersonaNonGrata]

This is result of lots of proteins in metabolism. .

This

Ammonia is a by product of the conversion of excess/unwanted protein into glucose. If you are actually smelling ammonia in your sweat, this is extreme. You are massively over-supplementing with protein. It's not dangerous per se, but it does put a significant extra load on the liver, which is not good for you.

You dont need to eat more carbs as suggested above, but you should reduce your protein intake - if only because you're wasting your money

[cryoung]

It's ironic I said the same thing to my wife the other day. After a run, my shirt smelled like ammonia. Great answers and it makes perfect sense as I think I'm overdoing the protein. When I track my macros, I'm always over in protein....awesome thread.

[Flounderbout]

Either that or you have wet yourself.

[larrysmojo]

Either that or you have wet yourself.

Are you sure its your sweat, or is it your shirt?? I have several shirts that smell great after being washed but quickly smell like that after I get a good sweat going. Most of them are my fav gym shirts.. which makes sense because I wear them the most. Try a new shirt and see if you still smell.

[scullin]

The protein thing is legit. I've had it before but not recently. I'm sure I'm actually using up the protein I eat these days and I"m getting consistant results for a while now.

[Flipperman2a2w]

Are you sure its your sweat, or is it your shirt?? I have several shirts that smell great after being washed but quickly smell like that after I get a good sweat going. Most of them are my fav gym shirts.. which makes sense because I wear them the most. Try a new shirt and see if you still smell.

I have the same issue- I started tossing some of my older shirts that reek of ammonia. To be fair, though, I'm sure I'm also overdoing it on the protein...

[gainleanmuscle]

how much protein are we talking here?

[1fapalldey]

Thanks op you just helped me srs I was looking for awnsers about this cuz I'm cutting so it makes sense

[snacker]

how much protein are we talking here?

I've been trying to stay around 220 grams per day. Eating 1 gram for the the weight I wish to be at. Dropped the 1/2 scoop of whey in my oatmeal in the morning, ate 6oz less chicken today and dropped my pre workout shake. I noticed it wasn't as strong already tonight during workout. Tried to drink even more water today too. Replaced cals with more fat and carbs today.

I don't think it could be the shirts. I wear a fresh one daily and always wash them. I don't like wearing stinky clothes. lol

Already had bloodwork recently too. Liver enzymes were elevated and doc thought possible fatty liver. Went in for ultrasound and everything was normal with it.

[gainleanmuscle]

I've been trying to stay around 220 grams per day. Eating 1 gram for the the weight I wish to be at. Dropped the 1/2 scoop of whey in my oatmeal in the morning, ate 6oz less chicken today and dropped my pre workout shake. I noticed it wasn't as strong already tonight during workout. Tried to drink even more water today too. Replaced cals with more fat and carbs today.

I don't think it could be the shirts. I wear a fresh one daily and always wash them. I don't like wearing stinky clothes. lol

Already had bloodwork recently too. Liver enzymes were elevated and doc thought possible fatty liver. Went in for ultrasound and everything was normal with it.

honestly that doesn't sound too high. i did a google search and this is what came up

http://www.youbeauty.com/body-fitnes...-ammonia-sweat

There are several reasons that your sweat might smell like ammonia. Most of them are nothing to worry about, but it could be a sign of something more serious.

When you exercise, your body uses carbohydrates for fuel. That’s why you often hear about people carbo-loading before a marathon. But during long, strenuous workouts, such as marathons, or even a full-tilt day at the gym, sometimes the body needs to dip into its protein stores for added energy. When the amino acids in proteins are broken down, one of the by-products is ammonia, which is then excreted in your sweat. Hence the stench.

If you are on a low-carb, high-protein diet, you increase the chances that your body will turn to amino acids because there aren’t enough carbohydrates in your system to sustain the activity. Eating starches before a workout will give your body adequate reserves to meet your energy needs without breaking down protein. In addition, dehydration can exacerbate the problem by increasing the concentration of ammonia in your perspiration. Drinking more water while you exercise will dilute the ammonia and minimize the odor.

If neither what you eat nor what you drink has any effect, you should probably get checked out by your doctor. The smell could signal an electrolyte imbalance, or damage to your liver or kidneys.

[JWoodCF10]

I've been trying to stay around 220 grams per day. Eating 1 gram for the the weight I wish to be at. Dropped the 1/2 scoop of whey in my oatmeal in the morning, ate 6oz less chicken today and dropped my pre workout shake. I noticed it wasn't as strong already tonight during workout. Tried to drink even more water today too. Replaced cals with more fat and carbs today.

I don't think it could be the shirts. I wear a fresh one daily and always wash them. I don't like wearing stinky clothes. lol

Already had bloodwork recently too. Liver enzymes were elevated and doc thought possible fatty liver. Went in for ultrasound and everything was normal with it.

I guy I used to train with had this problem big style. But his was his shirts. I think after a while something in the fabric reacts with the sweat. When he took the shirt off he himself did not smell.

If I remember corruptly it was the Nike base layers that were the worst.

He also was seriously OCD about showering and washing his clothes, after training outside we used to have to queue up to use his shower before he would let us in the flat LOL.

[sytun]

Either that or you have wet yourself.

Always funny! - still can't rep you.

My sweat often smells of semen - what does this mean?

Also......... my gym buddy sweats in the colour brown :P

[mtpockets]

son of a bleach

[Old Bob]

Anyone else have this issue? I drink a bunch of water still have this problem. Sometimes so bad I have to take my shirt off and lift with a towel. I sweat profusely Maybe it's 90+ degree garage I lift in?

Just wondering what I should do. It's like lifting in ammonia fumes at times. Not kidding.

I have that problem too and I think I'll try a new shirt next time I work out and see if that helps. I read recently on a forum that talks about T R T that the T can cause this but I'm not so sure it's right. I do supp with T (from my doctor and legally) but not in excess at all.

I think it's a pretty widespread problem and a lot of men suffer with it...

[vivienstar]

OP is a *******

[snacker]

I have that problem too and I think I'll try a new shirt next time I work out and see if that helps. I read recently on a forum that talks about T R T that the T can cause this but I'm not so sure it's right. I do supp with T (from my doctor and legally) but not in excess at all.

I think it's a pretty widespread problem and a lot of men suffer with it...

Same here with the TRT. The shirt guys might be on to something though. New shirt no problem tonight. Never thought that could be the solution. Going to wear old one tomorrow and see what happens.

[Plateauplower]

Same here with the TRT. The shirt guys might be on to something though. New shirt no problem tonight. Never thought that could be the solution. Going to wear old one tomorrow and see what happens.

If that's the case, the regular wash cycle doesn't get the job done for my sweaty gym clothes, the wife started using the sanitation steam cycle and it really gets the funk out of the clothes. It seems certain synthetic blends would have the hidden funk and as soon as I would start sweating they start smelling.