Post Workout Ammonia Smell?? page

[GUN5LING3R]

Anyone else experience an ammonia smell after a workout? What is up with that?? Thanks.

[GUN5LING3R]

come on people, you are starting to make me worry, lol! After a fasted 20 minute HIGH INTENSITY circuit workout this morning I noticed a strong ammonia type smell while i was taking a shower. NOBODY here has experienced this before or even heard of it? I guess I will have to Google, =((

[Coach Palfrey]

Initial response would be to look at your dietary intake and hydration levels - what are these like?

[GUN5LING3R]

Initial response would be to look at your dietary intake and hydration levels - what are these like?

I dont count calories but i have been strictly primal, lots of chicken, fish, meat, avocados, butter, asparagus, brussel sprouts, brocolli, coconut milk, eggs. I sweat ALOT, so I am constantly hydrating and drinking alot of water. This has happened to me a handful of times in the past couple of weeks and always after a very intense but short (20 minutes) circuit workout. I feel fine when this happens it is just weird. My body is sweating ammonia????

[GUN5LING3R]

Also, I have been primal for about 3 months but have always been in decent shape. Since going primal i have lost 12 lbs of fat and love the way i look and feel. I am 6ft and 183lbs. ??

[Coach Palfrey]

I remember reading a few years back about this - something to do with breaking down amino acids for energy. Apparently it can be quite common on low carb diets. You mention that you hydrate - how much are you talking? As an example, i'm 85 kg and I drink 4-5 litres most days. You might find that increasing your carb (unprocessed) intake slightly a couple of hours before exercise helps.

[theholla]

I get it too sometimes. It basically means that your body is burning protein for energy in a process called gluconeogenesis. It could be either dietary protein or muscle tissue. Ammonia is just a chemical byproduct. You can avoid it by having some extra carbs before working out - sweet potatoes are awesome for that.

[denise]

yep - i get this!!! Like cat pee!!! VILE. Even my loving husband used to keep his distance after I came back from a long run!!

I had no idea it was me breaking down protein - that sounds BAD???? I do eat a lot of protein and fat and not much carbs at the moment - but on CW (in fact even more on CW now i think about it, not noticed it SO much recently) this would happen!! Maybe its my preferred fuel or something??

[zoebird]

yes, it can be part of being in ketosis.

[zoebird]

if you are eating enough protien to build muscle and you need more calories for energy, the body will break down protein -- either in your muscle or from your food.