Shirts or Skins?

[bekeselassie]

The recent "heat" threads brought back a memory. I had a coach who told us to leave our shirts on when they got drenched with sweat because he thought they would cool us. Naturally I always insisted on taking my shirt off and did so.

I always thought this was completely absurd! Take the shirt off and you can feel the immediate relief as the heat dissipates!

But when I'd tell this story to some people, I would be shocked when they responded that they not only agreed with the logic but that their experience was that keeping the shirt ON made them feel cooler!

I CANNOT argue with someone's experience, even though logically I know it doesn't make any sense. What do y'all think? Am I missing something? Or may I continue to scoff at this "gem" of coaching advice?

[SQUACKEE]

I guess your coaches thinking was as long as the shirt is wet it can hold more water and therefore more evaporiation.

I with you on this one though. I'll go with nature everytime. They even call me "nature boy."

[tlb747]

I keep my shirt on to protect myself from the direct sunlight. I am not trying to get a tan, nor get sun burned, so I keep by body covered. About the shirt being wet with sweat, I try to take my shirt off when I am home so I do not catch something bad. It sounds wierd for me to say it, but I sweat a lot. Whatever the season is, or where I am, it does not matter. That is why I think keeping wet clothes on your body can do more harm than good.

[DrJay]

Boy, in Louisville in the heat of the summer you'd be a fool to keep the t-shirt on during a workout. Besides, if your run took you down along Beargrass Creek, you'd miss out on finishing your run with a bunch of dead and dying gnats and mosquitos plastered right up against your sweaty, slimy, odoriferous torso.

[tafnut]

Re: Shirts or Skins?

The recent "heat" threads brought back a memory. I had a coach who told us to leave our shirts on when they got drenched with sweat because he thought they would cool us.

Bek, I hate to break this to ya, man, but asking you to keep your shirt on had nothing to do with evaporation or cooling - it was more the scaring of small children and animals with that pasty white skin and bony ribs sticking out!

[tlb747]

Re: Shirts or Skins?

Bek, I hate to break this to ya, man, but asking you to keep your shirt on had nothing to do with evaporation or cooling - it was more the scaring of small children and animals with that pasty white skin and bony ribs sticking out!

I do not know about that one. If he is smaller than myself (6'-175lbs), than the dude is skinny. My co-workers want me to take off my shirt so they can laugh at my bony ribs sticking out. They tell me if I am losing too much weight and will eventually fade away. But somehow, I bench press more than any of them (315lbs) so they can keep their boldging muscles.

[tafnut]

Re: Shirts or Skins?

all their boldging muscles.

That's what ya gotta like about this site; even an English teacher can learn a new word here!

[bekeselassie]

Actually, it is no longer the case, but at the time in question I was 5'11" and weighed about 150. So yeah, I was skinny. Oh, but the gams . . . !

BTW, I am still 5'11".

[tlb747]

Actually, it is no longer the case, but at the time in question I was 5'11" and weighed about 150. So yeah, I was skinny. Oh, but the gams . . . !

BTW, I am still 5'11".

No problem. If it makes you feel any better, I have gained weight since I stopped competing.

[bekeselassie]

It doesn't.

Thanks for trying.