"Dear Edie..." Page Seventeen

HEY LADY,

I absolutely love your web site, and I need help here. You probably have put some advice on this already. I did read up on the taking a small towel with you when you go out dancing, but what is a Salsera to do when she is the one that sweats up a storm?

I’ve read somewhere a while back that taking a certain vitamin or something can prevent one from sweating so much, y como a mi me encanta tirar los pasos ya tu sae......... bueno sweat sweat sweat it is for me so any advice pleaseeeeee send it to me I'd appreciate it big!!!!! Thank you...........Salsera lost in Washington dc (smile)

Respetamente, Ms. Sweat

Dear Ms. Sweat,

I hear you! There would be some nights when I sweat so much that it looked as though I had just climbed out of a swimming pool – wet, wet, wet from my head to my feet. I’m not kidding, the drips of sweat were running down my legs and into my shoes! It was unbelievable. At the time, I remember thinking to myself, "This sure beats the Stair Master!". I lost a ton of weight that year.

If there is such a thing as an anti-sweat pill, I certainly would like to know about it, so I could tell people not to take it. Anything you do to your body that prevents it from natural bodily excretion is bad for your health.

Some people just naturally sweat more than others, especially if you’re heavier set (overweight). Sweating is healthy. When I was heavier, I used to sweat more than any women I knew. As a lady, this is sometimes embarrassing.

Here is what I’ve learned over the years:

  • Don’t use Anti-Persperants! They’re prone to cause cancer!
  • Although it is very healthy to drink lots of fluids, do it outside of the club, and in the mornings and afternoons. But if you don’t want to sweat while dancing, don’t drink too much liquid right before you go out, nor during the evening.
  • Bring extra clothing with you to change. Depending on how much you sweat, you can change up to three times a night. That’s what I used to do,.
  • Don’t wear silk or satin or plastic. These are nightmare material that don’t soak up water that well.
  • Make sure you go to the restroom often to change, wipe down, change, and freshen up. It’s a fact that if you don’t urinate often, your natural body water comes out of your pores.
  • Carry a small bag of rolled-up extra clothing with you.
  • Carry a fan with you.
  • Carry a black towel with you.
  • Suck on lemon or lime slices to avoid taking in any more liquids than you have to. (They usually have them already sliced and available at the bar)
  • Try to get to within 10-15 pounds of your ideal weight. I have a section on Salsaweb Magazine where I explain how I lost several inches and body weight healthfully, and was able to keep it off.

I certainly hope you can apply at least three of the above. It shouldn’t be too hard. Take care, and happy dancing! Let me know how everything goes.

- Edie, The Salsa FREAK