Is Sweat an Indicator of a Good Workout?

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Dear Sarah,

It takes me upwards of 30 minutes to work up a sweat when I am doing cardio exercise (I usually use the stationary bicycle). Does sweating mean that I have reached the point where I am exercising hard enough? Am I working hard enough if it takes me that long? Basically, is sweating an indicator of a good workout?

Beth

Dear Beth

Many factors dictate whether or not you break out in a sweat. Your body is happiest at a temperature of 37C, but when you exercise your temperature rises above that and in response your brain has to do a bit of work.

You see, there is a gland in your brain called the hypothalamus that controls your internal temperature. When your body is too hot, the hypothalamus sends a message to your nerve cells to contact your sweat glands. When these glands are stimulated, they secrete sweat.

Why sweat is not a good indicator of working out hard enough after the jump:

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