Dear Lucy: My workout partner usually stinks, even just after he’s taken a shower and put on clean clothes. I think I once read that large amounts of B vitamins can cause this kind of body odor, and he does take a lot. He claims that he needs them to help him stay focused. Can this be true? He’s a good partner, except for the stink. Any suggestions? —Stink Bombed
Dear Lucy: Your answer to the question about basal metabolic rate just raises another question in my mind: Let’s say, just hypothetically, that a woman has been consuming fewer calories than her “total daily energy expenditure,” or TDEE, and still is not losing weight. What should she do? Talk about frustrating! —T-weedle-DEE
Dear Lucy: Lately, I’ve occasionally been waking up at night with a “Charley horse” in my legs. What causes this, what should I do when it happens, and, more importantly, how can I prevent it? —Back in the Saddle
Dear Lucy: How do I figure out my basal metabolic rate (BMR)? When it comes to the number of calories I consume each day, should I aim for this number to maintain my weight? —Calorie Counting Cutie
Dear Lucy: I’m a 22-year-old male. A few years ago, I got a pain in my middle chest from doing too many deep push-ups. I don’t know if the pain was in my bones or muscles. In any case, the pain came and went, lasting for a few minutes each time, once or twice a week for a few weeks. I haven’t had any pain for a long time, but now, when I spread my arms, I can crack my chest the same way people crack their fingers. It even makes the same sound. It doesn’t hurt when I do it. Is this related to my previous injury? Should I be concerned or get it checked out? —All I’m Cracked Up To Be
Dear Lucy: Sometimes after strenuous exercise, I get a headache that lasts for hours. I feel like I’m drinking enough before, during, and after exercise, so I can’t figure out what might be causing these headaches. It takes three to four ibuprofen every few hours for the headache to subside. I don’t want to give up exercising. What can I do about this? —Exercising Caution
Dear Lucy: I was sitting at my desk last Thursday, and it felt like both of my feet fell asleep. They had that buzzing feeling and ached a little bit. Well, here it is five days later, and the feeling hasn't gone away. It is a constant buzzing, tingly feeling. I’m a 37-year-old male, and I consider myself to be in good health, for the most part. Any ideas or suggestions? —Tingle Toes
Dear Lucy: I have recently taken up running again after some time off and am again wondering about a problem that I’ve had for years. I run maybe three miles at a comfortable pace on a treadmill about three or four times a week. After a run, my face turns bright red for an hour or so. I’m not particularly red when I’m running, only when I stop. Someone told me that I’m a “red sweater.” Should I be concerned that this indicates a physiological problem? —Rosy Runner
Dear Lucy: How can I prevent shin splints from running? I understand “pronators” are particularly subject to this problem. Are there special shoes I should buy? —Pain In The Shins
