# Swimming after weight lifting.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swimming-after-weight-lifting/175038>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 13, 2003, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swimming-after-weight-lifting/175038 "2003-05-13T20:15:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![beajerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@beajerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beajerry)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swimming-after-weight-lifting/175038/1 "2003-05-13T20:15:39Z")

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For once and for all, is it detrimental to swim a few times a week in the midst of a weight-training schedule (a bulking-up regimine)?  
How about amidst a toning-up regimine?

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**Author:** ![metroshane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@metroshane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/metroshane)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swimming-after-weight-lifting/175038/2 "2003-05-13T20:22:28Z")

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depends. I’d think the weights would make you sink to the bottom.

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**Author:** ![Fuel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Fuel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuel)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swimming-after-weight-lifting/175038/3 "2003-05-13T20:52:29Z")

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For bulking: I would try to do it as far from lifting as possible, time-wise. Recovery is important and rigorous swimming would be detrimental to recovery. However, you could take your shake and sugar after you lift and go out for a light swim. This actually would be good, increasing, or sustaining blood flow to get the nutrients where they need to be and flush out any lingering acids or ammonia that might be still in the muscles. A good cool down too for the joints and a good stretch which some people think is good too.

Do this and see if your soreness decreases.

For toning: I would think rigorous swimming on top of weight training while cutting would be too much of a muscle “burning” activity, what with the calorie deficit and all. Work the muscles and keep as much strength as you can and leave them alone while that fat drips off.

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**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swimming-after-weight-lifting/175038/4 "2003-05-13T21:43:44Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by metroshane \*  
> \*\*depends. I’d think the weights would make you sink to the bottom. \*\*

Oh man that made me laugh! Thanks for that. 😃

Interesting info **Fuel**. I like to swim sometimes after the gym, I find it a good warm-down. Guess it depends how vigourously you swim?

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**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swimming-after-weight-lifting/175038/5 "2003-05-13T22:37:24Z")

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One thing that’s interesting is that swimming causes your metabolism to spike. It’s theorized that this is because you’re working in water that’s generally about 20[sup]o[/sup] F colder than you.

Check [this](http://www.thefactsaboutfitness.com/research/swimming.htm) out for more detail.