Swimming after weight lifting - not a good idea?

michelleturner · Jun 9, 2009

Hi.

I was told at the gym the other day that going swimming after lifting weights will waste all the work I have just done. ie. I won't get any bigger becuse the blood has been pumped to different parts of my body when swimming.

Is this true? The guy who told me was just another gym go'er like myself so I don't want to take JUST his word for it.

Any advice appreciated.

CHUCK U. FARLEY · Jun 9, 2009

I used to swim for 30 min after every workout. Got great pumps and good way to stretch after working out. I love swimming.

BULKING_N · Jun 10, 2009

Love swimming too.. It depends on your goals. It will be great for the cardio benefits post workout. I usually eat a bit of fruit or a protein shake if I ever did weight training/swimming. Same applies with other forms of cardio post workout. You dont want to get catabolic. Keep up the swimming though. Its great.

Pharm_Fed · Jun 10, 2009

I would think swimming would be better. Instead of most other cardio like the treadmill/elliptical/stairmaster/ etc where your legs do most of the work, with swimming it's more total body cario, if that makes sense. Plus swimming is low impact, better for the joints. If I had access to an indoor pool, I would swim all the time.

BULKING_N · Jun 11, 2009

I agree.. Swimming is low impact and then when you compare the amount of calories you burn per hour and MET's for varying forms of cardio , swimming comes in high. But the only challenge with swimming is the technique which you need to havew to really have an efficient workout. The average person who doesnt swim can easily jump on a threadmill or hit the road and start a brisk walk without thinking about it. As compared to swimming, it takes time to really build the stroke technique to get the most out of it and where you're not struggling with the water.

I have also done HIIT type cardio in the pool and its awesome. My lung capacity builds amazingly fast with swimming and this helps with the gym workouts most definitely.

ericraven2003 · Jun 11, 2009

Well, I do 15 mins of swimming after my weights. It not only made me lean, but I put on 9lb s of muscle too. Swimming rules. Boo ya.

olded · Jun 14, 2009

swimming is a great recovery tool to help the body grow and get rid of sorness so you can train more. who ever told you that doesn't know what they ae talking about. yea I wouldn't swim for hours, but 1/2 hour or 45 min is enough to help recovery. Make sure you have your protein drick after the workout and they swim. recovery is the name of the game.

BULKING_N · Jun 15, 2009

Swimming will also help releive alot of the tensiosn in the back muscles and vertebra when u are in that stretched out position.. So after a heavy back workout, it is wonderful..