So here I sit at day 18, no noticeable odor underneath my arms and no odor anywhere else. This has been confirmed by multiple sources, including my wife. I have, at times, had a bit of odor, but nothing that's noticeable in any other than jamming your nose into my arm pit. Also, the two days where I did have odor were days following sugar consumption. Both days prior I ate a bowl of soy ice cream with chocolate topping. I wonder if the sugar was causing the odor?
Someone asked me why I don't update daily and the answer is, frankly, I don't have anything to report. Everything is going as described in the blogs and on Free the Animal. I am extremely pleased with the results so far.
It's interesting to look at my hands, the only body part that I use soap on. They are extremely dry, cracking, and red. The rest of my body, however, has no dryness, no redness, and feels great. This time of the year in the Southwest deserts is extremely dry and previous years I have been forced to use lotion on most of my upper body. This time is different.
I will attempt to post more frequently and am happy people are finding this interesting.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Day 13 Report
I am on day 13 and I am pleased to report I am virtually odor free. I spent time dancing, playing Kinect, and kicking ass at the arcade this weekend but still remain odor free. My body has began stabilizing. My skin is not oily in any way either. So far so good. I would consider this experiment a big success so far.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Tea Tree Oil
Last night when my wife came home, we hugged hello and her first comments were, "You smell like a homeless person!".
We decided to go out last night dancing. She refused to go with me unless I dabbed some Tea Tree Oil under my arms.... it worked like a charm. Odor disappeared, I danced quite a bit, working up a sweat and this morning as I sit here typing, I have no odor. Interesting.
We decided to go out last night dancing. She refused to go with me unless I dabbed some Tea Tree Oil under my arms.... it worked like a charm. Odor disappeared, I danced quite a bit, working up a sweat and this morning as I sit here typing, I have no odor. Interesting.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
"You smell today"
I got this comment from a co-worker today. She commented that I didn't smell bad, like b.o., but oily like someone who had hadn't bathed in awhile. I promptly went up to 5 co-workers and asked them if I smelled (at the same distance), and all 5 replied "no". Either her nose is extremely sensitive, or perhaps, knowing of this experiment, she's creating her own reality.
Day 9 - AM Report
Yesterday I was pretty stinky, today seems much better, so far. My face was feeling a little greasy yesterday, but after a great shave using essential oils, I know feel great. I also shaved my head yesterday, a weekly ritual for me, which has eliminated the greasy head feeling as well.
My wife again expressed her concern and discomfort about this entire experience.
A lot of people (5 so far) have come out of the shadows and have admitted to not using soap and deodorant for decades. I guess given the social constructs we adhere to, these topics have been somewhat taboo. Even though they live their lives in this manner, most still request that I keep their habits confidential. It's interesting to me that so many people have admitted to the same practices.
I can't wait for this underarm odor to disappear.
My wife again expressed her concern and discomfort about this entire experience.
A lot of people (5 so far) have come out of the shadows and have admitted to not using soap and deodorant for decades. I guess given the social constructs we adhere to, these topics have been somewhat taboo. Even though they live their lives in this manner, most still request that I keep their habits confidential. It's interesting to me that so many people have admitted to the same practices.
I can't wait for this underarm odor to disappear.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Day 7 - PM Report
Day 7 - 1/11/2011 - PM Report
As I had hoped, my under arm odor appears to be subsiding as the day goes on. I was pretty rough on the ride home, but as soon as I got home, I took my shirt off as usual and let myself air out. The underarm odor is extremely minimal at most, bordering on undetectable. I think a lot of the stink has to do with the funk getting into the shirt material. Perhaps I will wear an undershirt tomorrow (thanks Chris) in an attempt to quell the odoriferous emanations. No one has complained yet, except my wife, but she's still getting used to this whole experiment. :) Face is not as oily today as it was yesterday, nor does my scalp feel itchy.
As I had hoped, my under arm odor appears to be subsiding as the day goes on. I was pretty rough on the ride home, but as soon as I got home, I took my shirt off as usual and let myself air out. The underarm odor is extremely minimal at most, bordering on undetectable. I think a lot of the stink has to do with the funk getting into the shirt material. Perhaps I will wear an undershirt tomorrow (thanks Chris) in an attempt to quell the odoriferous emanations. No one has complained yet, except my wife, but she's still getting used to this whole experiment. :) Face is not as oily today as it was yesterday, nor does my scalp feel itchy.
Day 7 - AM Report
Day 7 - 1/11/2011 - AM Report
This is day 7 of my No Soap Experiment. I feel this is a crucial time during the experiment because I am beginning to have under arm body odor and my face feels a bit greasy. Two weeks seems to be the magic number of days until your body begins to normalize. I have 7 more days to go. I hope my wife and friends can put up with me for another 7 days. :) Last night my wife (a saint, btw) commented that my face looked oily and I noticed my scalp began to itch a bit. My underarm odor is not too bad that others would notice unless they were hugging me. I have to put my nose under my arm to smell the funk, but it has been getting progressively worse over the last few days. The good news is my skin feels great. My hands and wrists usually get very dry (and were very dry prior to starting this experiment) during this time of year. One week ago I was using lotion multiple times a day to combat the dryness of the harsh desert.... today, my wrists are soft and moist.
It's only 10:20am and my arm pits are pretty ripe. I hope it calms down as the day progresses.
This is day 7 of my No Soap Experiment. I feel this is a crucial time during the experiment because I am beginning to have under arm body odor and my face feels a bit greasy. Two weeks seems to be the magic number of days until your body begins to normalize. I have 7 more days to go. I hope my wife and friends can put up with me for another 7 days. :) Last night my wife (a saint, btw) commented that my face looked oily and I noticed my scalp began to itch a bit. My underarm odor is not too bad that others would notice unless they were hugging me. I have to put my nose under my arm to smell the funk, but it has been getting progressively worse over the last few days. The good news is my skin feels great. My hands and wrists usually get very dry (and were very dry prior to starting this experiment) during this time of year. One week ago I was using lotion multiple times a day to combat the dryness of the harsh desert.... today, my wrists are soft and moist.
It's only 10:20am and my arm pits are pretty ripe. I hope it calms down as the day progresses.
Welcome to my Experiment
Inspired by this post and fueled by further reading, I have decided to go soap free and only shower with water for at least 30 days. I will journal my experience here daily for your reading enjoyment. I will only wash my hands with soap prior to preparing food, or after going #2 and I will not use any deodorant, creams, or anything of the sort. My hair is usually shaved, so the shampoo part won't be an issue. My activity level during the week as a software developer is fairly low sprinkled with some intense Kinect game play, usually owning (Matt) at Table Tennis or breaking it down on Dance Central. On the weekends I may hike or dance. The point is, I will work up a sweat during this experiment.
Who Am I?
I am just a regular, every day guy with an overactive brain. I subscribe a lot to the Paleo way of life. Inspired by an onset of a multitude of food allergies, my journey into health, wellness, and alternative therapies began over 4 years ago. I have cut out gluten, dairy, eggs, corn (gmo), soy (gmo), corn syrup, alcohol, most all processed foods, and all fast food. I have noticed such an amazing improvement in my life by eating this way I would never go back. I have shed about 40 pounds (was always the "big boned" guy previously), have "cured" my ADD and stopped taking my prescribed Adderall and can concentrate better now than ever before, and most importantly cured what I thought was a lifetime of chronic, severe pain associated with the nerve disease Charcot Marie Tooth. I am now 100% pain free and 100% prescription drug free. I have personally seen the way healthy and clean living can improve one's life. I see this experiment as a natural extension to my journey.
Why am I doing this?
The Paleo way of life is becoming increasingly more logical to me the more I learn about it. I am of the mindset that our bodies can take care of themselves. I do not believe we need 95% (random number picked by me) of the crap we're marketed and sold daily. Our skin is our largest organ, do we really want (and need) to slather gallons of creams, soaps, shampoos, etc. all over our bodies to stay clean and nice smelling? I hypothesize, No. I hypothesize that, perhaps, it's actually the multitude of "cleansing products" that are negatively effecting our skin. That our bodies are perfectly capable of taking care of themselves. That our bodies were designed to not need soap.
Most of my friends think I'm crazy and my wife thinks I'm gross. I guess time will tell.
Who Am I?
I am just a regular, every day guy with an overactive brain. I subscribe a lot to the Paleo way of life. Inspired by an onset of a multitude of food allergies, my journey into health, wellness, and alternative therapies began over 4 years ago. I have cut out gluten, dairy, eggs, corn (gmo), soy (gmo), corn syrup, alcohol, most all processed foods, and all fast food. I have noticed such an amazing improvement in my life by eating this way I would never go back. I have shed about 40 pounds (was always the "big boned" guy previously), have "cured" my ADD and stopped taking my prescribed Adderall and can concentrate better now than ever before, and most importantly cured what I thought was a lifetime of chronic, severe pain associated with the nerve disease Charcot Marie Tooth. I am now 100% pain free and 100% prescription drug free. I have personally seen the way healthy and clean living can improve one's life. I see this experiment as a natural extension to my journey.
Why am I doing this?
The Paleo way of life is becoming increasingly more logical to me the more I learn about it. I am of the mindset that our bodies can take care of themselves. I do not believe we need 95% (random number picked by me) of the crap we're marketed and sold daily. Our skin is our largest organ, do we really want (and need) to slather gallons of creams, soaps, shampoos, etc. all over our bodies to stay clean and nice smelling? I hypothesize, No. I hypothesize that, perhaps, it's actually the multitude of "cleansing products" that are negatively effecting our skin. That our bodies are perfectly capable of taking care of themselves. That our bodies were designed to not need soap.
Most of my friends think I'm crazy and my wife thinks I'm gross. I guess time will tell.
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