My sweat smelled like piss

[Dos Perros]

On my recent elk hunt I noticed at night I would be sweating even though I wasn't really warm, and my sweat smelled like piss. It was strong enough that, for a moment, I honestly wondered if I'd had an 'accident.' But, this happened each night for days.

Once home I did some Googling, turns out when you're in a steep calorie deficit your body will burn muscle for fuel, and then if dehydrated will sweat out byproducts that smell like urine. Lesson learned: eat more, drink more water. I felt like I ate well and wasn't hungry, and from my Garmin watch data below it seems like quite a challenge to eat 4000 to 5000 calories a day. Anyway, just thought this was interesting and worth sharing.

	Date	Calories	Steps	Climbed Floors	Descended Floors	Miles (derived from Steps)
Half day hunt	22-Sep​	2662​	7788​	81​	9​	3.8​
Full day hunt	23-Sep​	4006​	19769​	66​	144​	9.5​
Full day hunt	24-Sep​	4995​	23650​	81​	126​	11.4​
Full day hunt	25-Sep​	4181​	28018​	143​	137​	13.5​
Full day hunt	26-Sep​	3452​	19738​	117​	125​	9.5​
Full day hunt	27-Sep​	2767​	21201​	99​	102​	10.2​
Full day hunt	28-Sep​	5144​	26650​	123​	124​	12.9​
Full day hunt	29-Sep​	4188​	33853​	143​	163​	16.3​
Full day hunt	30-Sep​	3627​	33053​	130​	133​	15.9​

 

[MallardSX2]

I guess we wont be sharing a tent together any time soon! lol

 

[jofes]

Is that the same as rhabdomyolysis?

 

[stephen_seeks]

Is that the same as rhabdomyolysis?

No. Rhabdo is where damaged muscle tissue is being broken down and absorbed into the blood. This is different from the body burning primarily protein (whether dietary or from muscle) for fuel.

 

[5MilesBack]

Interesting. I average 1 pound of weight loss for every day of elk hunting every year. This year was no exception, as I lost 17lbs in 17 days of hunting. I'm generally right around 220lbs at the start of every archery elk season, and I'm 6'6". If I had to guess, I'd say that my daily calorie intake is about 2k calories out there. I lose my appetite at altitude, and I really only eat one meal a day with other snacks and stuff thrown in occasionally. I've never experienced this sweat smelling like piss thing.

 

[FLATHEAD]

When i was jogging regularly I would get an Ammonia like smell, but not pee.

 

[trophyhill]

Stop drinking out of wallows without a filter? Jk hope you are ok

 

[Gutshot007]

 

[Dakota Dude]

Thats a lot of miles.

 

[WoodrowCall]

Sounds like you need a little more fat on your body going into season to use for fuel? Excuse for a few extra cheeseburgers leading up to the hunt...

 

[Marble]

I'm the same as @5MilesBack . I average 1 pound daily.

However, I know that at altitude your body does a few physiological things you cannot control. It suppresses appetite, expells more water through respiratory processes and your body also creates some type of chemical that as a result, it pages more water through your kidneys and thus dehydration occurs.

This is why I switched to a Nalgene and water bottles. It's easier for me to regulate my water intake. In cold weather on a normal day, I'll drink 3 liters during the day, one overnight.



Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

 

[Ucsdryder]

Thats a lot of miles.

Steps don’t equal miles in elk country. Lots of 1/4 steps as you’re stepping up hills, over obstacles etc. get in some deadfall and it’ll look like you did a mile based on steps and you’ll go 100 yards.

 

[SuspiciousFish]

Steps don’t equal miles in elk country. Lots of 1/4 steps as you’re stepping up hills, over obstacles etc. get in some deadfall and it’ll look like you did a mile based on steps and you’ll go 100 yards.

I would be very curious on the elevation loss and gain for each day.

 

[svivian]

I would be very curious on the elevation loss and gain for each day.

10ft for every floor per Garmin

 

[Dakota Dude]

Oh I see that you did a calculation using your steps. My 20,000+ step days on the mountain are usually between 8 and 10 miles.

 

[Brooks051]

what was your average calorie intake?

 

[IDspud]

Watch for rhabdo. I had this happen even eating 3500 cal a day. For several weeks I smelled ammonia seeping out of my skin with every workout. Ended up in the ER.

 

[KOK]

Ketoacidosis

 

[Hnthrdr]

Saw this frequently in the army, especially ranger school or longer training ops in warm weather Your body is eating itself and you get the really strong ammonia smell. I’ll forget to eat and drink sometimes when I’m into elk. It’s impossible to replace all the calories you are burning in the mountains, but I try to remember to stop for snack/ water breaks and keep a disposable water bottle for mixing electrolyte drinks in

 

[Maverick1]

Just admit it. You pissed yourself. It’s ok. LOL. Joking. Interesting, though. I’ve never heard of such a thing happening. I’ve experienced loss of appetite at altitude, losing toenails from hiking, losing weight, etc. Not sharing a tent with you though!