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Aryn
New Member
| Joined: | 22 September 2005 |
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| Posts: | 139 |
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Posted: 7 December 2005 05:53 am |
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Sometimes when I am finished exercising I smell ammonia. Sometimes it is really strong and other times it is really faint but it usually happens a few times a week. I also think it is an internal thing because even when the smell is really strong my husband cannot smell it at all. I read once that it means that you are burning protein instead of carbs.
Does anyone know if that is correct? Does this happen to anyone else? Is it a bad thing? and if so, is there anything I can do to prevent it?
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Peter
Founder, caloriesperhour.com
| Joined: | 24 May 2005 |
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| Posts: | 4179 |
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Posted: 7 December 2005 06:19 am |
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I used to get that when running long distances, only I always thought it smelled like kerosene. I believe it's ketosis, and comes from burning fat!
http://www.caloriesperhour.com/faqs_lowcarb.html
Peter
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NevD
New Member
| Joined: | 26 October 2005 |
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| Posts: | 1536 |
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Posted: 7 December 2005 03:39 pm |
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I think what you smell is indeed 'ketones' as Peter suggested.
It does come from the body's metabolisation of fat stores, which sounds like good news...
... but is usually the result of a carbohydrates deficiency, so check your diet gives you enough carbs.
I used to get it when I'd done a long run (usually in excess of 40 minutes) when I'd exhausted all the carbs I had available for energy.
Do check your carbs though. They should not be much below 50% of your intake, generally speaking... And, if they are, that usually means you're eating too much fat!
NevD 
Last edited on 7 December 2005 03:40 pm by NevD
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Aryn
New Member
| Joined: | 22 September 2005 |
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| Posts: | 139 |
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Posted: 7 December 2005 03:56 pm |
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Awesome !!! That is pretty cool that you can actually smell fat burning.
Thank you Peter and Nevd. I do notice that the further (or longer) I run the stronger the smell is. I will definitely watch my carbs closer and I will make it a point to increase my carbs on days that I know I will be running for a long time.
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LosingBig
New Member
| Joined: | 16 November 2005 |
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| Posts: | 11 |
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Posted: 8 December 2005 09:38 pm |
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| Wow- I guess I should embrace my stinky sweat!!
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Krinkala
Member
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Posted: 10 December 2005 09:38 am |
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Maybe this is good, but maybe you need electrolytes. Maybe a sports drink would be helpful or how about orange juice?
Krinkala
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Peter
Founder, caloriesperhour.com
| Joined: | 24 May 2005 |
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| Posts: | 4179 |
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Posted: 10 December 2005 06:54 pm |
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I don't think they're related to ketosis.
Peter
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NevD
New Member
| Joined: | 26 October 2005 |
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| Posts: | 1536 |
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Posted: 10 December 2005 07:02 pm |
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Maybe a sports drink would be helpful or how about orange juice?
For showering afterward? :P
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NevD
New Member
| Joined: | 26 October 2005 |
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| Posts: | 1536 |
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Posted: 10 December 2005 07:04 pm |
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That is pretty cool that you can actually smell fat burning.
Happens every time you grill a pork chop...
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mommydoo
Member
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Posted: 11 December 2005 04:09 am |
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| That is so true :yumm:Nevd, but we should trim that fat off:D
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Krinkala
Member
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Posted: 11 December 2005 09:13 am |
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Wow, you have to be a chemist to understand all the info about the ammonia smell when exercising if you google the info. But what it seems to me from looking this up is that the ammonia smell is a byproduct of protein metabolism which is because you have depleted your available glucose. It also seems to relate to pH balance. The suggestions are to take in more water to dilute the concentrated ammonia smell and/or to increase carbohydrates, for example, have an apple before your exercise session. Just my suggestion, perhaps you could sip on a sports drink while you exercise or have some orange juice which would give you the fluids and the glucose and at the same time replenish your electrolytes.
It's been a very long time since I studied physiology, but I do not believe that fat can be directly burned as energy. It has to be converted to glucose first. I honestly think that understanding metabolism will be key not just to weight loss, but health and longevity. This is a complicated and difficult puzzle.
BTW, I think you are right to be curious about the smell and what it means. Doctors and nurses can walk through hospital corridors and know what disease a patient has based on smell. So good for you questioning this. Let us know how it goes.
Krinkala
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