stop sweating and start living

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Stop Sweating and Start Living™ • © 2007 Mike Ramsey

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Stop Sweating and Start Living © 2007 Mike Ramsey All rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced or copied without written permission from the author. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of the information contained herein. Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the author assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Nor is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein. All terms mentioned in this book that are known to be trademarks or service marks have been appropriately capitalized. The author cannot attest to the accuracy of this information. Use of a term in this book should not be regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark or service mark. Every effort has been made to make this book as complete and as accurate as possible, but no warranty or fitness is implied. The information provided is on an “as is” basis. The author shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damages arising from information contained in this book.

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Preface Ever since I rid myself of my sweating problem, I knew that I would eventually write a book so that others could benefit from my experience. The only reason that I waited more than ten years is that I don’t consider myself a great writer. I labor to put words together. When I was struggling with my sweating problem, I would have willingly paid hundreds of dollars to learn this simple solution. I now gladly share it with you and thousands of others who live in frustration every day.

It’s not a pretty subject I don’t like writing words like “armpits” and “underarms” any more than you like reading them. Unfortunately there is no nice way to describe that region of the body, so you’ll see these words used interchangeably throughout this book.

Yes, it’s a thin book As a busy professional, I appreciate a book that gets to the point. I have shelves of books that I have read a few chapters of, and then never picked up again. It frustrates me when authors don’t just get to the point. As such, I’m not going to waste your time. Before I started writing this book, I told my wife that my goal was to write it in a way that someone could read it in one sitting. The reason you bought this book is so that you can end your underarm sweat problem - plain and simple. You’ll know how by the time you finish this book.

What this book is not Here are a few things you won’t find in this book:

• Copious amounts of research, philosophy and jargon. What I recommend in this book is not backed by research. Therefore I did not write chapter after boring chapter of why my three-step process works. I am sure that there are health professionals that can tell you exactly why it works. But in the end, all that matters is that you follow my steps – day in and day out, to successfully stop your underarm sweat problem.

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• Bad mouthing of other remedies. I’ve seen only a handful of suggested remedies for underarm sweat. I’ve tried a few of them, but with no success. There are surgeries, injections, treatments and lotions that I have no experience with, nor desire to try. After seeing how simple and effective my solution is, I’m positive you’ll have no reason to pursue other remedies either.

Disclaimer I am not a doctor. I do not intend to cure or treat any disease. I am simply sharing the experiences I have had with underarm perspiration and the things that worked for me and others who have read this book. This information is provided for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for a health care provider’s consultation. I shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss, damage, or injury caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the information in this report.

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I’ve been there I’m going to quickly tell you a little bit about myself so that you’ll know where I’m coming from. I’m 37 years old. I have a wife and three beautiful kids. I am a business professional working in an office environment. I play occasional sports and get moderate exercise. At the time I cured my excessive sweat problem, I was 27 years old, six foot tall and about 230 pounds. I had been married for two years and was working in an office environment. This is when my problem really started having its toll on me. Earlier in my life, starting in high school, it caused a lot of frustration. I avoided social situations and backed down from potentially embarrassing events such as dances, dates and parties. And now I was in an office eight to ten hours a day, surrounded by and interacting with colleagues continuously. I was constantly concerned about my underarms – a distraction that caused me to lose hours of productivity every week. I was desperate for a solution. Below is a list of many ways I tried to deal with the problem. You’ve probably tried some of these yourself.

• I tried more than a dozen types of antiperspirants.

• I tried applying antiperspirants several times a day.

• I wore undershirts to soak up the sweat before it reached my outer shirt.

• When one undershirt wasn’t enough, I tried wearing two

undershirts.

• When I was in my car (alone) I would hold up my arms, aligning them with the air conditioner vents, allowing cold air to flow up my sleeve to cool and dry my armpits.

• When sitting at my desk I tried to keep my arms away from my

sides so that my shirt had less contact with my underarms and not soak in the sweat so quickly.

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• I took showers morning and night. Sometimes I would come home during lunch to shower as well.

• I wore oversized shirts for better ventilation and to keep my

underarms from contacting my shirt. (This didn’t work because the sweat would just drip down to my sides and create wet marks near my waistline.)

• I brought clean undershirts to work and changed several times

daily.

• I purchased a device that pushes electric currents through your skin and supposedly stopped underarm sweat for a period. I never found out whether it worked or not because it was incredibly uncomfortable to use, and I knew this was not the solution to my problem. (I don’t know if they still sell these, but I would not recommend them to my worst enemy – ouch!)

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The simple 1-2-3 step solution My real breakthrough came shortly after my wife and I attended a local seminar on natural health. The expert spoke extensively about not using products that could harm your body, dry your skin, or clog your skin’s pores. As I was sitting in that seminar, I was focused on one thing – my problem with underarm sweat. (I couldn’t help it because my underarms were getting wet just sitting in that classroom.) While the speaker never specifically addressed underarm sweat, all of the pieces to the puzzle began to come together for me. I quickly constructed a plan in my head to stop my problem once and for all. Within a few weeks, the excessive sweating stopped and has never come back. In fact, in the ten years since, I have never been self-conscious about raising my arms in public. I have never worn an undershirt to soak-up my sweat, and I have never had a sweaty armpit (except during intense physical exercise). Why? Because the same method I used to stop the sweat is the same method I still use every day to keep the sweat away. It’s part of my lifestyle now and I’m sure I’ll use it the rest of my life. And when my kids reach their teenage years, I’ll instruct them on how to do this as well, so that they can avoid the frustration and embarrassment that I had growing up.

Here’s what I did The following is exactly what I did to stop my underarm perspiration problem, and what I am still doing to prevent it. There are three simple things that you need to do. None of them will dramatically alter your daily routine. They are all aimed at “unclogging” the pores in your underarms and letting them “breathe,” if you will. You may initially think that the steps fly in the face of conventional wisdom, but trust me – they work. Read the rest of the book entirely – maybe even twice. It is important that you follow these steps carefully and choose the right types of products to use.

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Step 1: Stop using soap to clean your underarms. I can’t say it more clearly than this. When you are taking a shower or bath, avoid using any type of soap, soap product, or gel to wash your underarms. This one was tough for me. How could I not use soap on one of the most nasty, smelly parts of my body? How could I possibly feel clean without using soap? Step 2 answers that question. But for now, know that soap is part of the problem – avoid it. Step 2: Use a loofah. When you shower or bathe, scrub under each arm with a natural loofah sponge for about 10 seconds, and then wash with a wet wash cloth. This is an important step in the “unclogging” process. A natural loofah sponge is a cleansing sponge that exfoliates dead skin cells and improves circulation of the blood. It revitalizes the skin and helps make your sweat glands start working like they should. It is important that you don’t use any type of soap, gel or any other product during this process (or any other time). It is also important to choose the right type of loofah sponge. The type of loofah sponge that you should use is pictured below. Do not use a plastic or synthetic loofah sponge. Only use natural loofah sponges. The texture of the sponge is also very important. If it is too soft, you will not achieve the results you want. Try to find one that feels somewhat rough and slightly uncomfortable when washing.

I suggest that you buy several different sponges from different companies to find one that works for you. I’ve found that the harder/rougher/scratchier they are, the better they work – but this is different for everyone. If after using the same loofah for two weeks, you aren’t getting the results you would like, try switching to a different loofah and try it for two weeks.

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I’ve had the best luck with the ones that are 7 or 8 inches in length. They tend to have the best rough/scratchy texture. Over time they can lose these qualities, and you will have to replace them. I’ve found that loofahs cost $1 to $8 (United States Dollar) depending on where you buy them. Stores such as Wal-Mart, Target, natural health food stores, department stores and some drug stores carry them. They are also abundantly available on the internet. Just type in “loofah sponge” at Google.com and you’ll see what I mean. Several vendors at Amazon.com carry them as well. That’s where I buy mine. Just search for the phrase “Nens Loofah Sponge 8in.” and you’ll find it. At the time of this writing you can purchase them for $2.75 each on Amazon.com. Here’s how I use the loofah when I shower: I thoroughly wet the loofah, and then wet my armpit under the showerhead. I then bend the loofah in the middle slightly so that it curves to fit under my arm, lift my arm, positioning it under the running water, and scrub in several directions for 10 to 15 seconds total. I then do the same under the other arm. Scrubbing under the running water alleviates some of the discomfort. Then I grab my wet wash cloth and wash under each arm for a few seconds - also under the running water. (For those who do not know what a wash cloth is: A wash cloth is a small towel, typically about 5 inches wide by 5 inches tall.) This is really just to ensure I’ve got my underarms clean – no major scrubbing here. When I’m done, my armpit is typically a little red from the scrubbing. (If your underarms get irritated, adjust your scrubbing. Don’t scrub as aggressively or too often. Once a day is plenty.) Be sure not to scrub too aggressively, especially kids and teenagers. After my shower, I squeeze and shake the loofah a few times to remove the excess water. I’ve found that they last longer this way. Expect to replace your loofah every couple of months. Once you’ve found one that works for you, I recommend stocking up on them. I actually use the loofah and wash cloth on most of my body – it leaves my skin feeling great. Remember that once you find a loofah that works well for you, stock up on them. I’ve noticed that some retailers switch brands that they offer occasionally – so you might find one that you like at your local grocery store one day, but a few months later they may sell only loofahs from a totally different manufacturer.

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Step 3: Quit using antiperspirants. If you are applying an antiperspirant under your arms, switch to a transparent or semi-transparent deodorant stick - preferably a natural one. Avoid any type of white, pasty or opaque product. The type of deodorants that I have the best luck with list propylene glycol as the first ingredient. Ensure that the product you use does not contain Aluminum Ziconium Tetracholorhydrex or Aluminum Cholorohydrate or any other ingredient with the word “aluminum.” This item will typically show up as “Active Ingredient” above the ingredients area and is common in antiperspirants, but not deodorants. Another ingredient that has recently started showing up in deodorants is di-propylene glycol. Ensure that your deodorant doesn’t contain this ingredient as one of the main ingredients. It can be detrimental to results. As an example, here are the ingredients and active ingredients of an antiperspirant:

Active Ingredients: Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Gly 17.8% WW/ Glycine. Inactive Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, PPG-14 butyl ether, Stearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-8 Distearate, Talc, Fragrance (Parfum), Hule Vegetale (olus), Oleate glceryle, Propylene Glycol, BHT, T-Butyl Hydroquinone, Citric Acid.

Note that Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex is listed in active ingredients. Avoid products like this.

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And here are the ingredients of a stick deodorant (not natural) that has worked well for me in the past.

Ingredients: Propylene Glycol , Water , Sodium Stearate , Sodium Laureth-13 Carboxylate , Fragrance , Tetrasodium EDTA , FD&C Blue No. 1 , Ext. D&C Violet No. 2

And this is an example of the ingredients of a deodorant (natural) that I currently use:

Ingredients: Propylene Glycol, Purified Water, Sodium Stearate, Witch Hazel Extract, Cocamide DEA, Oak Gall Extract, Glycine, Arginine, Leucine, Extracts of Eucalyptus, Sage & Myrrh, Fragrance Oils

Note: Just because a product is clear or semi-transparent does not mean that it is alright to use. There are many “clear” products on the market that still contain Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex or di-propylene glycol. Remember, the underarm product that I’ve found work best:

• are listed as a “deodorant” and NOT an antiperspirant

• are clear or semi-transparent (it’s OK if there is a color tint to them)

• contain propylene glycol as the first ingredient

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• don’t include any ingredient or active ingredient that contains the

word “aluminum” or di-propylene glycol. Having propylene glycol in your deodorant is not a necessity, and I am not recommending it as something that is good for you. It just happens to be a common ingredient in products that have worked for me. In fact, you’ll find that most deodorants contain it. I have tried other “more natural” deodorants that were even milder and did not contain propylene glycol. They make the claim that their products are propylene glycol-free. I just didn’t care for them. You may like them. They typically don’t control odor as well. I prefer the deodorant stick as opposed to the roll-on or spray type and would urge you to use the stick-type deodorant at first and experiment with a roll-on or spray type later if you prefer those types. During the first few weeks you may need to apply deodorant a few times throughout the day. You’ll eventually settle on applying it once or twice a day. I apply mine after my shower in the morning and just a little before going to bed. The stick-deodorant I use is Nature’s Gate Deodorant Stick. I’ve tried several different types and this is the one that I’ve been using for a few years. I prefer the “Spring Fresh” scent, but they have other scents available.

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It is widely available at health food stores like Wild Oats Market or can be purchased from many places online including:

www.amazon.com – search for: Nature's Gate Deodorant

www.vitaminshoppe.com Or just go to Google.com and type in: Nature's Gate Deodorant You’ll find dozens of retailers selling this product.

One thing to note: the only reason I use the deodorant I do is because it is lightly scented and I like the smell. I’d encourage you to use a natural deodorant like this if you don’t have an odor problem, but if you have a problem with odor, find a deodorant that effectively controls your odor – even if it is not a “natural” product. There are a couple of deodorants that I have tested that work well if you have an odor problem. Right Guard Sport and Adidias Brand deodorants work great for men. For women, Crystal Clean Deodorant by Lady Speed Stick works well. Don’t hesitate to use these if you have an odor problem at first. No need to suffer with odor. Women: if you use a shaving cream or lotion when shaving your underarms, I encourage you to either stop using these products and shave under running water or clean your underarm thoroughly after shaving – preferably under running water with a wash cloth or loofah.

Make it a part of your normal routine Using this simple three-step method should stop your underarm sweat problem in less than two weeks. But it doesn’t end there. Make the three steps a part of your everyday routine to ensure that your sweat problem never comes back. You have to admit, there’s not much to it … that’s the beauty of it. It’s so simple to use day-in and day-out.

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Going Beyond If you are overweight, and you sweat excessively from other areas of your body, I would encourage you to begin a weight loss program. Excess weight can cause excessive sweating. Even small reductions in weight can have a dramatic impact on sweating. This book is not about weight loss, and I’m definitely not an expert in the area, so I won’t detail any diets or exercise regimes here. If you need to lose weight and want to do it quickly, I recommend following Tom Venuto’s plan in Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle at http://www.reflecthealth.com . I lost 40 pounds using his plan. In fact Tom’s book helped inspire me to write Stop Sweating and Start Living.

The Results The results of these three changes in my routine have made a dramatic change in my life, my self-confidence and my job. When put into perspective, it’s been a minor investment for such a rich reward. If you just skimmed through the book, I encourage you to read the book in detail – including the Frequently Asked Questions at the end. To achieve success with this program, it is important that you use the right products and follow the steps correctly. The amount of sweat your underarms produce should drop dramatically within two weeks – maybe sooner. Your scrubbing routine in the shower or bath will become a normal part of your routine and shouldn’t take much more time than your normal routine. You took the first step in purchasing and reading this book, now implement what you’ve learned and start living your life again – free from underarm sweat forever. I believe that I’ve delivered on my promise to give you exactly what you need to cure your underarm sweat problem. But if there is something that I have failed to mention or if you have a question, please don’t hesitate to e-mail me at [email protected] and I’ll get back to you right away. I’d like to ask one simple thing of you. Would you please write to me and tell me about your experience with my solution? I’d love to know how quickly (or slowly) it worked for you. If you find a particular product or

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method that works best for you, please share. If you have questions, I’d be honored if you’d ask. Just e-mail me at [email protected] Keep Reading! – There’s more essential information in the Frequently Asked Questions section below. Please read the entire section.

Frequently Asked Questions “Since I stopped using antiperspirant I’m having a problem with underarm odor. How can I control this?” The Stop Sweating and Start Living program will also help diminish underarm odor, but it typically diminishes over time, not right away. If you have an odor problem, be sure to find a deodorant that controls the odor effectively. Don’t worry about whether the deodorant is natural or not. Just be sure it is a deodorant that meets the criteria I listed above, and is not an antiperspirant. The only reason I use the one I do is because it is lightly scented and my odor problem has diminished greatly over time. When you first start the program, you may opt to use a deodorant that has a stronger scent that will control the odor. This won’t affect your results. You’ll find that after a few weeks or months, your odor problem will diminish. “How long does it take to see results?” If there is one thing I’ve learned since writing this book, it’s that the results are different for everyone. Incredibly, some stop sweating the very next day (I wish it was this way for everyone). Others stop sweating after just a few days. For others, the sweating diminishes gradually. Others don’t see any reduction in sweating for days and then one day it just disappears. My advice is to do the program for a full two weeks. Do the same exact thing for two weeks. Read the book carefully (including this section) to ensure that you are doing everything correctly. If after two weeks you aren’t seeing results, try a different loofah. Also, make sure you use common sense when scrubbing with the loofah. Don’t scrub more than once a day or scrub too aggressively. It can have an adverse affect if you aggravate the skin too much. You can expect your

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armpits to be a little red after showering, but if they burn or itch you are scrubbing too much. If you do scrub too much and cause irritation, quit using the loofah for two days or more and just use the wash cloth until your armpits don’t hurt. Then go back to using the loofah, but don’t scrub as aggressively. “I scrubbed using the loofah this morning, didn’t use soap, and applied the deodorant, but I was still sweating. Did I do something wrong?” None of the three steps, by themselves or together, will stop the sweating immediately in most cases. Don’t expect immediate results. It is most often a process that takes several days or weeks. Please don’t try to rush it. Remember, if after two weeks, you aren’t seeing the results you want, try a different loofah. This is often the culprit. Also, don’t do the three steps several times a day. This won’t help your results and will probably make things worse. When you scrub with the loofah, you are exfoliating the skin cells. The cells need time to repair and recover, so don’t scrub more than once a day. “Is it alright to skip a day from using the loofah?” Yes. I often travel for a week or more and don’t bring my loofah with me. I just use a wash cloth with no soap. I don’t see any difference in the amount of sweat. If you are just starting the program, it could slow your results, but it is not detrimental if you don’t use a loofah for a few days. Just make sure you follow all of the other steps. As soon as you are able, start using the loofah again daily. “I have compensatory sweating. Will the loofah method help?” First, for those that are reading that don’t know what compensatory sweating is, let me explain in simple terms. When one opts to have surgery to cure their excessive sweating problem, it may often lead to sweating in other areas of the body. I’m not an expert on this topic, but I have heard from a few people that have used this method to relieve compensatory sweating. I recently came across someone discussing what they did on a message board. Here are the abridged comments:

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I've dealt with sweating my whole life. I had the surgery about 3 years ago and have bad sweating if it’s over 75 degrees. I've tried medications and Odaban and it just doesn't work well. I recently got a book by Mike Ramsey that has changed my sweating. I did what he advised for my whole body, and started taking magnesium pills (250 mg capsules, one every other day). I seemed to sweat about the same for about 2 1/2 weeks and was about to give up, when I started noticing the difference. I seem to be able to take being outside when its 90 degrees and I don't feel as hot. I might be that my pores are not clogged with Odaban. I still use soap on my underarms, groin, and feet and its weird those places seem to sweat more now. I still sweat, but I would guess about a third of what it was. My shirt and pants were normally soaked and now I still feel the sweat but its not seeping through my shirt. Believe me I know what a burden this is. I don't think there will ever be a total cure, but this is worth a try for you. I have given up caffeine completely, and I run once a week on a treadmill to get my whole body sweating not just my back, abdomen, and thighs. Just try using the method on your whole body like I did. I think it makes your body sweat more evenly and you may be able to tolerate the heat better without your pores being clogged. I wish I could have tried this before I had the surgery. – Author unknown. “My hands sweat. Will the loofah method help?” I never had a hand sweating problem so I don’t have personal experience with this. However, I have heard from a few people that they were able to find some relief using the loofah. Following is some advice about this from someone who read my book: This method has reduced my hand sweating considerably: First, get a loofah sponge (a rough one preferably), then open the tap of the sink and wet the loofah. Then start scrubbing your hands under the running water. Now, here’s how to do it, because it has a trick, each hand has 7 different areas. These are the palms, the fingers (same side as palms), the fingers (the other side), the thumb, the side of the hand covering the thumb and the forefinger, and the other side of the hand (of the small finger).

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On each area, scrub with circular movements, softly but firmly around 25 times clockwise, then 7 anticlockwise, then use the other side of the loofah, and scrub another 10 times anticlockwise. It is important that you cover every surface of the hand (except between the fingers because it can’t be done). This should take you 20 minutes and you should do it every day. Notice that the number of times to scrub is approximate, and it’s what has worked for me. Just do it, and if you don’t see results right away (you probably won’t) just keep doing it and take it easy. If it doesn’t work you don’t lose anything. – Author unknown

stop sweating and start living

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