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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think you shouldn’t stink of sweat at the gym?

200 replies

Allthestarskendrick · 03/05/2018 13:38

At the gym this morning, finished my workout on the treadmill and there was a man there that smelt so badly of BO, he wasn’t even that close to me.

Fresh sweat doesn’t smell. Stale sweat does.

OP posts:
BunnyColvin · 04/05/2018 09:17

People seem to be deliberately misunderstanding this, or else haven't experienced the vile assault on the senses of someone who has washed neither themselves nor their clothes for a very long time.

Fresh sweat smells but it's not offensive; it may be strong but it's normal enough and especially in a gym context.

The other smell is beyond vile, and to be honest, if someone walks into a gym area and that level of vileness is the first thing that hits them, it's time for the gym staff to have a chat with the offender.

Maybe people feel they can get away with wearing sweaty clobber a few times in a row. People don't usually smell themselves though. I just find the clothes will last longer if they get a quick wash each time. It delays the whole thing of putting on a clean but oft-washed tee and finding that as you heat up, it starts to smell of old sweat a bit.

Idontdowindows · 04/05/2018 09:20

Fresh sweat smells but it's not offensive

I would like to invite you to come smell my sweat when I've had an hour's exercise.

It is vile. Even I can smell it. I wash before I exercise and after. If I want to not smell, I have to use an industrial strength antiperspirant.

Not everyone is the same. Some people smell lovely when they sweat, some people smell sexy, some people don't smell, some people, like me, smell vile within 10 minutes.

BunnyColvin · 04/05/2018 09:24

The typical smell of 'clean' sweat, by which I mean sweat on a washed body in clean clothes, is strong. I'm not saying it's pleasant, but it's a strong bodily smell that I've smelled often and consider normal.

I'm talking about the smell of unwashed pits and genitalia and feet etc. in someone who doesn't shower and doesn't wash their clothes. That's a different beast entirely.

Earthwindnfiya · 04/05/2018 09:54

It’s my business when my nostrils are getting invaded by someone’s lack of hygiene.

Honestly, if it bothers you that much why not just move to another machine instead of shaming a random stranger on the internet and acting like your shit doesn't stink? There are always tons of free treadmills at the gym, just move to another one. Its literally that easy.

RoseWhiteTips · 04/05/2018 10:03

The typical “only on Mumsnet types” are out early in this thread. 🙄The person stimid because he is skanky and does not wash his kit. Or himself.

The OP is perfectly correct. Other users should not have to endure this.

RoseWhiteTips · 04/05/2018 10:03

...on this thread

RoseWhiteTips · 04/05/2018 10:04

The person stinks

trojanpony · 04/05/2018 10:05

YANBU

I’m with the OP...

I know several guys who turn up for park run and before they start running smell offensive.

They wear the same kit multiple times because they are dirty rotters and I don’t believe they “can’t smell” something that makes others eyes water

I try to use the assault on my nasal passages when downwind as motivation to run faster but it’s fucking grim and frankly quite thoughtless for grown adults to do this

BunnyColvin · 04/05/2018 10:24

but it’s fucking grim and frankly quite thoughtless for grown adults to do this

I have to agree. It's just part of living socially acceptably as part of a group isn't it? The whole notion of thinking 'oh I'll wear this sweaty top because all I'll be doing is sweating again' without thinking about how it might affect others is bizarre to me.

Granted if you feel it doesn't stink and you'll get away with it fine, but dear god if you go into an indoors gym and your stench pervades the whole area, well why stop there? Why not just drop your keks and have a dump on the floor?!

MumofBoysx2 · 04/05/2018 14:23

Haha, if you don't like sweat go to the library instead of the gym!

Lordamighty · 04/05/2018 14:28

I have noticed this too & I definitely think it is unwashed kit.

TheStoic · 04/05/2018 14:31

Can’t say I’ve noticed it at my gym. We must be a clean, civilised bunch.

rookiemere · 04/05/2018 14:33

Can I just check something ? There are posters making reference to people not showering before they go to the gym - If I am going to the gym or a class in the morning, or indeed parkrun, I wouldn't have a shower before that, however I do wear clean kit and would have a shower after exercise. Is that still manky ?

TheStoic · 04/05/2018 14:42

Where should one stink of sweat, OP, just out of interest?

pinkhorse · 04/05/2018 14:55

I noticed it at the gym earlier this week. It was rank, I had to move in the end. Just couldn't bare it any longer and didn't want anyone thinking it was me!

You really shouldn't wear gym clothes more than once before washing. All the sweat/ bacteria/ smells etc are disgusting.

Gwenhwyfar · 04/05/2018 18:47

"I couldn't go out without a shower first even if it means I have a second one after the class"

That's silly. Bad for the environment and bad for your skin, not to mention a waste of time.

Gwenhwyfar · 04/05/2018 18:58

"Generally the more healthy bacteria you have in your body, the more your sweat will smell. "

So the smellier your sweat the healthier you are?

userofthiswebsite · 04/05/2018 19:49

When you exercise hard you start to sweat, pretty quickly you start to smell a bit stinky because of it.
Unless of course you're a special kind of human...
If I'm going to feel guilty about getting sweaty in the gym, what's the point of going. To now sweat in the gym, you'd have to dawdle along on the treadmill and I could do that out on the pavement.

dementedpixie · 04/05/2018 20:40

I couldn't go out without a shower first even if it means I have a second one after the class"

That's silly. Bad for the environment and bad for your skin, not to mention a waste of time

But I smell a bit like BO already when I get out of bed and feel unclean if I don't shower before dressing. No way would I put clean clothes on if I haven't washed first.

Almostfifty · 04/05/2018 20:49

I have a quick shower before I go to the gym. I definitely smell sweaty after a class.

I wash my gym stuff every time I exercise. I couldn't wear it again, it smells horrid when I get it out of the basket to wash it. It really isn't that hard to wash it, it's probably the easiest clothing to do, as it takes so little time to dry. I just shove it in with a dark wash.

Beansonapost · 04/05/2018 20:53

It's a gym...

😐

What are you supposed to smell like?

Also I didn't know people went to the gym for nose exercise... interesting

BlueBug45 · 04/05/2018 21:06

You aren't suppose to smell of stale sweated in gym clothes you make other people sick.

blackheartsgirl · 04/05/2018 22:09

A fresh sweat kind of smell on a man I find quite attractive Blush. It's that kind of I've been working out, you can sense and smell the heat coming off them, been working hard kind of thing

Stale sweat..B.O etc ewwwwww

19lottie82 · 05/05/2018 08:43

What are you supposed to smell like?

Not of B.O.

Also I didn't know people went to the gym for nose exercise... interesting

Eh? What does that even mean? Confused

Smeddum · 05/05/2018 08:46

A fresh sweat kind of smell on a man I find quite attractive

I do too! When DP has been working on a car and is all sweaty and oily Blush