Fit Villains: Selfish, Shameless, Sassy, Fitness.

Fitness and body odor. Oh boy.

Hey, it happens, right? To be expected? Part of the game?

While the VAST majority of people go to great lengths to minimize their own stink at the gym, sometimes you have to deal with those who could use a little Body Odor 101. And it can be VERY uncomfortable to have that conversation whether you’re a friend, trainer, instructor or just another regular at the gym.

Thought I’d shed a few tidbits about what I’ve learned about B.O., hygeine, how to tell if YOU smell and how to tell someone else they smell… when you REALLY don’t want to.

Dealing With Body Odor As A Trainer

First off, being a personal trainer is AWESOME. I get to watch people get stronger, faster & more confident. I get to see change first hand and teach people new things. I get to be a part of someone’s transformation, and I love being able to witness the speed bumps and triumphs along the way.

But there are downsides to being a trainer. And one of them is dealing with other people’s odor. 99% of the time, it’s cool. I don’t mind it and it doesn’t even faze me. Most of the time, I don’t even notice or think about it. But that other 1% of the time? I sometimes feel a little nauseous. And uncomfortable. And awkward.

I’m sorry if that offends you. But it’s true. And every, single trainer or instructor out there will tell you that it’s one of the MOST uncomfortable topics when it comes to training someone for the first time.

I get it. It’s a workout. It’s also YOUR workout. And I feel TERRIBLE for noticing it, or for letting it bug me. Even I don’t smell like a bouquet of roses after a hard session at the gym and I know that. But while I don’t expect most of my clients to smell great, I also don’t expect them to smell awful. The kind of awful that borders on ‘offensive’. The kind of awful I know that they work their best on avoiding when they go to work, school or social engagements. So where’s the courtesy when it comes to your trainer time?

Aside from medical issues (which DO exist and which I am incredibly sympathetic and tolerant of), there’s very little reason for most people to smell atrociously within the first few moments of a workout. The vast majority of people who end up falling into the ‘smelly’ category simply aren’t employing proper hygiene. Hands down. It’s a little rough, I know, but it’s the truth.

I understand it’s your workout. And I truly am blessed to be helping you and guiding you through it. But I am also a professional, who’s working and your body odor is part of my work environment. A little is perfectly normal, and not something anyone should be concerned about. But when I can smell you before we’ve started, and it’s so bad that I get a headache? Yeah… that.

I had posted a question a little while ago when a friend was dealing with a particularly smelly client, asking for advice on how she should handle it. And I was kinda surprised by the response. While most people were sympathetic and offered clear, solid advice, there were some people who didn’t get what they big deal was. To them, a workout and body odor seemingly went hand in hand, as if the trainer was the one who should suck it up and deal.

I can tell you from first hand experience, I disagree.

While there is some range of acceptability when it comes to B.O. (and it’s true that some smells will bug some people more than others), it’s YOUR responsibility to make sure that your hygiene is decent and that you’re making sure to take precautions to keep it that way. If you’re working out alone at home? Who cares! But when we have to play with others, it’s a courtesy to make sure you’re not making them ill with your stink.

Not sure you smell? Some Things To Consider.

1. Get an objective opinion. Go ahead and ask someone who you think will give it to you straight, even your trainer or instructor. Sometimes it’s really not our fault: we can’t always smell our own brand of sweat. Personally, it helps if the client brings it up first: it’s REALLY uncomfortable to tell people they smell out of the blue and most people will suffer in silence, afraid to offend you. Most trainers will be happy to let you know if you’re doing okay or if they’ve noticed a more intense smell than typical, especially if YOU bring it up. Nothing wrong with double checking!
2. Your workout clothes may have grown bacteria. It might not be YOU, but your clothes than stink. Failing to wash our clothes (or letting them sit in our sweat) can cause smelly bacteria to grow, and it’s often not ‘activated’ until we start to sweat again (hence why it smells fine out of the wash, but starts to stink when we get sweaty). Sometimes clothing can be saved with baking soda, intense detergents and hot water. But sometimes NOT. Give your clothes a sniff post workout and if they REALLY stink, it may be time to ditch them. Sports bras too. Undies too.
3. You may need to re-apply more than you think. Sometimes, especially if I’m training someone in the evenings/afternoons, they’ve only applied deodorant/antiperspirant once in the morning, then had a full day at work getting a little sweaty. While I don’t expect a full shower before a session, a quick wipe and a swipe can help LOADS. (If you’re anti-deordorant, which many people are, even just a wash cloth before hand can help rid yourself of the full day before you start). If you’ve had a particularly sweaty day, take 3-4 minutes and rinse off before you show up for your session. It’s REALLY appreciated.
4. There may be something hormonal going on. So you’ve showered, applied your favorite non-stink spray or stick, and somehow you still smell? Time to check in with the doctor. Hormonal imbalances and changes can wreak havoc on our systems and many are treatable. Mention it at your next check up.
5. You might need to tweak your routine. Life wise, sometimes people like to shower the night before, wake up, go to work, then get their sweat on. By the time you hit the gym, it may have been about a day since your last shower and yes, that can sometimes be the only reason you smell more than usual. Consider a quickie shower pre-workout, switching to morning showers or re-applying deodorant a few times during the day if that’s the case.

Some Tips For Dealing With Smelly Gym Goers (Body odor, perfume or otherwise)

1. Don’t judge. Smells don’t mean someone’s gross or disgusting and you don’t always know the reason (anyone who’s ever forgotten to apply deodorant before the gym by accident knows that they aren’t in the best smell shape… but should go anyways). If it’s a one time thing, let it go. If it becomes a habit, it may be something you’d like to address. 
2. Make sure it falls into the offensive category, and not just your normal array of body smells. People don’t always smell great, and that’s okay. But if it’s truly bothersome, it’s not fair to those around to have to deal with an overly smelly individual. If it’s truly offensive, chances are you won’t be the ONLY one who notices it. If you’re the only one, the problem may be you.
3. If you’re in class with someone who smells, you always have the option to speak to the instructor about it if you don’t want to mention it yourself. It’s tough to pass the buck, but ultimately, the instructor is responsible for the class environment. Smells are part of that.
4. Be KIND. Above ALL else.
5. Blame it on yourself… even if you’re lying. Your over-sensitive nose, your fast gag reflex, a medication you’re taking that makes you more sensitive than normal to certain body smells etc. It allows you to help make them aware that they ARE being smelled without blaming them outright. Most people will make changes to their routine the MOMENT they know it bothers someone else, even if the other person is ‘oversensitive’.
6. Don’t talk about it behind their backs. We’re not in Mean Girls. Think about it as something they probably should know, something that will benefit them to know. Talking about it behind their backs is just mean and helps no one.
7. Don’t be afraid to offend. When it comes to body stuff, SPECIFICALLY SMELLS, it can be tough to hear that someone else thinks you stink. Many people get VERY defensive. Be prepared to back off and apologize, be kind when you tell them and validate their feelings. Remind them you thought it was kinder to let them know. Remind yourself that it WAS kinder to let them know.

Has anyone else been in a smelly situation? How did YOU deal with it?