# Swimming after eating

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swimming-after-eating/256151>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 21, 2004, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swimming-after-eating/256151 "2004-07-21T05:57:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![daffyduck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ec9cab/32.png) [@daffyduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/daffyduck)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swimming-after-eating/256151/1 "2004-07-21T05:57:58Z")

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When I was a kid, my mother always made us wait an hour after eating before we were allowed to go swimming. We were told we would get stomach cramps and drown if we didn’t wait. I’m wondering if this is really true. I could see how it might be possible with a large meal, cold water, and vigorous swimming, but I live in a place that has a heated pool and I often swim (more like gently paddle around and float a lot) to relax not that long after eating. I’m guessing that the temperature of the pool and how vigorously you are exercising makes a big difference. Wadda ya think?

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**Author:** ![Little\_Cloud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@Little\_Cloud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Cloud)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swimming-after-eating/256151/2 "2004-07-21T06:20:21Z")

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Try this link.  
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5\_087.html

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**Author:** ![Little\_Cloud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@Little\_Cloud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Cloud)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swimming-after-eating/256151/3 "2004-07-21T06:22:03Z")

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Sorry, I’m a techno idiot. :smack: Search the classics. Cecil has spoken about this in detail.

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**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swimming-after-eating/256151/4 "2004-07-21T10:00:14Z")

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This should work: [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5\_087.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_087.html)

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**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swimming-after-eating/256151/5 "2004-07-21T13:46:12Z")

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Some people do get cramps if they swim right after they eat, namely me. I would say that if you don’t know yourself then don’t try to swim to Athens. Anything else should be ok.