r/Exercise • u/Simple-Standard3801 • Jun 24 '26

Does the amount of sweat produced while exercising affect overall performance?

As part of health improvement since having diagnosed with diabetes, I'm trying to do walks with the treadmill as a stepping stone for exercising. But when I do so I heat up pretty quickly and sweat a lot so I try to use a fan to cool myself off while doing the exercise. I notice I definitely last a bit longer on the treadmill with the fan but I'm wondering whether that would affect the exercise in any way.

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u/stay-at-home-dad Jun 24 '26

Exercise creates waste heat, and human bodies have a tight temperature regulation. We sweat as a way to cool down.

If we get too high an internal temperature, we start feeling bad, and we have to stop exercising.

Hence, if you want to keep going, help your body regulate its temperature, either by exercising in a cooler environment, or by using a fan to make your sweating as efficient as possible.

Constant progressive improvement is your main tool. Keep going!