Q I SWEAT PROFUSELY EVERY TIME I EXERCISE. IS THIS A SIGN OF UNFITNESS?

ANDREW, LEIGHTON BUZZARD

Quite the contrary, Andrew. This kind of visible exhaustion is more likely a sign of good fitness, as it shows your body’s cooling response is working effectively. While it’s true that excessive sweating can be a result of having more body mass to cool down, very fit people react in the same way, as their bodies have adapted to deal with regular exertion.

But if the effects of your workout are dampening spirits as well as your shirts, there is a way to stem the flow. Studies from the University of Ottawa found that people who drank ice-cold water during exercise perspired less, thanks to thermoreceptors in the abdomen, which detect temperature changes and tell the brain to decrease sweat output. Pop a bottle in the freezer ahead of your next session and it’ll be easy to keep your professional cool back at the office.