A swim before work out or after?

Ricochet J · 16 May 2009 at 20:41

I've been thinking of doing swimming as my cardio before I work out, but have been recommended to do so after I work out. I was told swimming will work out all my muscles in my body and improve my stamina.

What would you recommend?

Hxc · 16 May 2009 at 20:50

I tend to do it after, very refreshing. Admittedly I still do pure cardio in the gym so it's not much different.

georges · 16 May 2009 at 20:53

I find doing it after loosens my muscles up and makes me less sore the day after.

Morba · 16 May 2009 at 20:57

Why would you swim then have a shower then workout then shower? Silly idea and a waste of time!

What do you mean by workout? Are you doing a decent weights routine? If so, i wouldn't do any cardio before the weights.

DSherry · 16 May 2009 at 21:14

It seriously doesn't make a difference. You aren't a proper athlete, and swimming like the way 100% of the public swims (ie head up easy breaststroke for 20 lengths) will give you no benefit for anything.

Morba · 16 May 2009 at 21:30

Doing cardio before a weights workout won't make any difference?

Hxc · 16 May 2009 at 21:39

DSherry said:
It seriously doesn't make a difference. You aren't a proper athlete, and swimming like the way 100% of the public swims (ie head up easy breaststroke for 20 lengths) will give you no benefit for anything.

I can't understand how the public finds a head up breaststroke easy. It's so much harder than doing it the proper way.

I tend to do 40 with alternating front crawl, proper breast stroke at a fair pace, hitting averages of about 27mins now. It's not super quick but then again, I'm not super fit.

DSherry · 16 May 2009 at 21:42

Hxc said:
I can't understand how the public finds a head up breaststroke easy. It's so much harder than doing it the proper way.

I tend to do 40 with alternating front crawl, proper breast stroke at a fair pace, hitting averages of about 27mins now. It's not super quick but then again, I'm not super fit.

LOL

You aint got a clue tbh

Morba · 16 May 2009 at 21:47

DSherry said:
LOL

You aint got a clue tbh

and neither do you

DSherry · 16 May 2009 at 21:51

Erm yes I do?

1) Swimming like a moron won't help anything at all
2) "Cardio" before or after weights actually does not make a difference unless you are actually a real body builder or high level athlete

Hxc · 16 May 2009 at 21:54

DSherry said:
LOL

You aint got a clue tbh

What? I know what I do isn't the best way of doing things or whatever. I don't try to pretend that it is! I just do what I enjoy

Jonny L · 16 May 2009 at 21:55

DSherry said:
Erm yes I do?

1) Swimming like a moron won't help anything at all
2) "Cardio" before or after weights actually does not make a difference unless you are actually a real body builder or high level athlete

Well, as we've seen before DSherry I don't think anyone will be able to convince you of anything other than your own opinion. However, all of the advice I have received and read points to the optimum time for cardio to be after the workout, as it loosens you up and means you don't impede on your weights routine through fatigue.

Buffman · 16 May 2009 at 22:00

Ricochet J said:
I've been thinking of doing swimming as my cardio before I work out, but have been recommended to do so after I work out. I was told swimming will work out all my muscles in my body and improve my stamina.

What would you recommend?

I'd recommend doing after, if for none of the above reason that getting a wash in the showers/swimming then going and sweating in the gym seems a bit of a waste of time.

richard104 · 16 May 2009 at 22:50

DSherry said:
Erm yes I do?

1) Swimming like a moron won't help anything at all
2) "Cardio" before or after weights actually does not make a difference unless you are actually a real body builder or high level athlete

Yeah i tend to do a half marathon before my leg routine, not that has any effect on the amount of energy or strength i have before i start to squat.

It depends what your goals are OP. If can barely walk or drive after my workouts so depends how your routine and aim is.

dun · 16 May 2009 at 23:18

Haha what's that joker on about?

Op if I were you I would swim after, purely because anything you do pre workout will be detrimental to your intensity.

Chong Warrior · 17 May 2009 at 14:22

DSherry said:
LOL

You aint got a clue tbh

Oh please do enlighten us.... pretty please

DSherry said:
Erm yes I do?

1) Swimming like a moron won't help anything at all
2) "Cardio" before or after weights actually does not make a difference unless you are actually a real body builder or high level athlete

1) Where as posting like a moron will....
2) So only high level athletes and pro bodybuilders get pre fatigued from cardio??

Pigeon_Killer · 17 May 2009 at 14:29

Got a question for you DSherry, do you like Pasta?

Chong Warrior · 17 May 2009 at 14:30

LMAO

Mr-White · 17 May 2009 at 14:32

Morba said:
Doing cardio before a weights workout won't make any difference?

For me cardio before would reduce the total amount I was lifting during my work out. I'm not a big lifter I do it to keep in shape but my total lift was around 6-6500kg but skipping the cardio i'm lifting nearer 8-8500kg. I believe the cardio was affecting my energy levels so I now either do it afterwards or alternate my sessions at the gym.

MW

Morba · 17 May 2009 at 15:22

Mr-White said:
For me cardio before would reduce the total amount I was lifting during my work out. I'm not a big lifter I do it to keep in shape but my total lift was around 6-6500kg but skipping the cardio i'm lifting nearer 8-8500kg. I believe the cardio was affecting my energy levels so I now either do it afterwards or alternate my sessions at the gym.

MW

Exactly :]
Thanks for a real life example of why DSherry is talking out of his rear end