Shower after workout?

pandamars

My mom always reminds me not to take a shower after workouts. That I should need to take a rest for an a hour at least, but I really want to hit the shower already. So, is it okay to really take a shower after workout or not?

mrsamanda86

Ewwwww... no. I take a shower as soon as I'm done. If not I get a rash from letting the sweat just hang out all over my body, not cool.

jennifer_417

What's her reason? I've never had any trouble with getting in the shower immediately after working out.

cafeaulait7

I like to take a hot shower (going to colder at the end) to help my muscles. I get more tendon or pain issues (that I get already from exercise) if I don't do it after working out. I don't know how that holds true for normal folks, but I figure it might be the same for some.

VastBreak

I would love to know the reasoning as well??

Showering or not it is important to remove sweaty or damp clothing pretty quickly after completing a workout!

Anita_hoar12345

I have my protein shake first and it gives me a few minutes for my heart rate to lower and stop sweating. I don't know why you need to wait an hour i don't think it's good to wait too long cause you can get ringworm and **** on your skin from the sweat

webbeyes

You do need to wait *at least* until you've "cooled down" (i.e. stopped generating more sweat), or else the shower is kinda useless. Some people do take longer than others to stop generating heat. Of course, if you have a proper cool-down routine after your primary workout, then it starts the process of cooling down, obviously.

Hellbent_Heidi

I suspect your mom was fed some crazy information from someone who doesn't know what they're talking about. You can shower whenever you want, but if you've just finished intense cardio, its probably a good idea to let your body temp cool down a little bit at least.

edited to add..I've been working out in the mornings before work for a long, long time, and have never waited to shower, (never have that kind of time to waste).

jimmmer

I always wait until I've stopped sweating first. How ever long that might take.

If I get into the shower/bath still sweating from training, I'll come out still sweating (and still be sweating for ages afterwards). SO that's my reason for waiting a bit.

Anyway, a bit of honestly-earned dry sweat on your skin for a little while won't kill you....

sisdunbar

I've just read about a basketball player who died after an intense session and having a shower
immediately after. Experts suggests a cool down session of at least 20 minutes per session of any types of workouts. Plus, you don’t need to shower into a very hot nor icy cold water. Either way would dilate your blood vessels, which will make you prone to sudden stroke and heart attack. So there is some truth in what your mother said. Personally, by the time I walk home and log my
exercises for the day, 20 mins have gone by anyway.

__Di__

My mom always reminds me not to take a shower after workouts. That I should need to take a rest for an a hour at least, but I really want to hit the shower already. So, is it okay to really take a shower after workout or not?

Just have your shower, why the hell would you have to wait??

Cait_Sidhe

I always shower after a workout, I don't understand why you wouldn't.

I don't know why you need to wait an hour i don't think it's good to wait too long cause you can get ringworm and **** on your skin from the sweat

What?

pandamars

For those who are asking what's her reason, she says that the body is tired and it's kind of bad to take a shower because you might go numb or something. She says I just might freeze right then and there because my body can't take the sudden shower.(I think it's an old belief from way back)

hellakitties

My parents also discourage any sort of bathing (or even hand-washing) while feeling tired. They worry about "pasma" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasma), which is a Filipino folk illness. The explanation is that when you're tired, your muscles are "hot," and will therefore react badly to the "cold" (any wetness). There are also extra explanations such as "mixing" the temperatures will constrict (or dilate?) the blood vessels (or something?)...

I used to argue with them, citing that there are no studies regarding this phenomenon, but I have since given up. My parents are educated people (my mom is a registered nurse, even), but cultural beliefs can be really powerful, especially if you've been raised with them. I'd liken it to something like Korean fan death (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fan_death), if you've heard of that.

Anyway, I like to rest for a few minutes after workouts in any case. Not because I think I'll get sick if I shower right away, but I find it nice to relax after getting so tired.

(Edited the links.)

__Di__

For those who are asking what's her reason, she says that the body is tired and it's kind of bad to take a shower because you might go numb or something. She says I just might freeze right then and there because my body can't take the sudden shower.(I think it's an old belief from way back)

It's an old wives tale, just take your shower

pandamars

Yeah, that's what my mom refers to. Pasma

pinkraynedropjacki

I've just read about a basketball player who died after an intense session and having a shower
immediately after. Experts suggests a cool down session of at least 20 minutes per session of any types of workouts. Plus, you don’t need to shower into a very hot nor icy cold water. Either way would dilate your blood vessels, which will make you prone to sudden stroke and heart attack. So there is some truth in what your mother said. Personally, by the time I walk home and log my
exercises for the day, 20 mins have gone by anyway.

Actually an ice bath has been proven to help muscles recover more than just a warm shower.

hellakitties

If you do not shower after working out you will breakout more. Ewwwwwwwww.


Sorry but your mum is an idiot. No offense. Damn, what makes her think you have to wait an hour?

It's a cultural idea of illness that's been prevalent for generations. Believing it makes someone wrong, but not necessarily an "idiot." I think that most people would have a difficult time breaking out of old beliefs that they've had since childhood. Perhaps even you.

pinkraynedropjacki

If you do not shower after working out you will breakout more. Ewwwwwwwww.


Sorry but your mum is an idiot. No offense. Damn, what makes her think you have to wait an hour?

It's a cultural idea of illness that's been prevalent for generations. Believing it makes someone wrong, but not necessarily an "idiot." I think that most people would have a difficult time breaking out of old beliefs that they've had since childhood. Perhaps even you.

I think the only thing I was ever 'told' that was a belief was if you got pregnant outside marriage you HAD to get married...no excuses. I never believed that one at all. I still thought the people telling me that were idiots.

webbeyes

If you do not shower after working out you will breakout more. Ewwwwwwwww.


Sorry but your mum is an idiot. No offense. Damn, what makes her think you have to wait an hour?

Calling someone's mum an "idiot" really isn't appropriate anywhere ...

majica8

I wait a little while, until I've cooled down a bit and stopped sweating. Sometimes it's 5 minutes, sometimes it's 30, just depends.
I don't see problem with jumping straight in the shower though.

pandamars

Thanks for all your replies (except the "idiot" part. It made me sad)

I actually took a shower after my workout today )
I guess I'll wait to cool down for a few minutes but not an hour (it makes me itch) before taking a shower in respect to my mom's thoughtfulness.

hellakitties

If you do not shower after working out you will breakout more. Ewwwwwwwww.


Sorry but your mum is an idiot. No offense. Damn, what makes her think you have to wait an hour?

It's a cultural idea of illness that's been prevalent for generations. Believing it makes someone wrong, but not necessarily an "idiot." I think that most people would have a difficult time breaking out of old beliefs that they've had since childhood. Perhaps even you.

I think the only thing I was ever 'told' that was a belief was if you got pregnant outside marriage you HAD to get married...no excuses. I never believed that one at all. I still thought the people telling me that were idiots.

Congratulations on your amazing enlightenment, I guess. Maybe you could use your brilliant wisdom to avoid going around calling people's parents idiots without any consideration of cultural context or people's feelings. Oh, but of course you're "sorry" and meant "no offense." Uh huh.

MissMormie

It's a cultural idea of illness that's been prevalent for generations. Believing it makes someone wrong, but not necessarily an "idiot." I think that most people would have a difficult time breaking out of old beliefs that they've had since childhood. Perhaps even you.

I think the only thing I was ever 'told' that was a belief was if you got pregnant outside marriage you HAD to get married...no excuses. I never believed that one at all. I still thought the people telling me that were idiots.

That is the only thing you know of... Just like the OP's mother doesn't realize that not showering thing is not true. There's for example the 'you need to eat breakfast' which loads of people belief in, but isn't true. And like that there are hundreds of other things you get 'told' that are based on nothing.

pandamars

If you do not shower after working out you will breakout more. Ewwwwwwwww.


Sorry but your mum is an idiot. No offense. Damn, what makes her think you have to wait an hour?

It's a cultural idea of illness that's been prevalent for generations. Believing it makes someone wrong, but not necessarily an "idiot." I think that most people would have a difficult time breaking out of old beliefs that they've had since childhood. Perhaps even you.

I think the only thing I was ever 'told' that was a belief was if you got pregnant outside marriage you HAD to get married...no excuses. I never believed that one at all. I still thought the people telling me that were idiots.

Congratulations on your amazing enlightenment, I guess. Maybe you could use your brilliant wisdom to avoid going around calling people's parents idiots without any consideration of cultural context or people's feelings. Oh, but of course you're "sorry" and meant "no offense." Uh huh.

DearCatastrop, thanks for standing out for me.

MarineCodie

If you do not shower after working out you will breakout more. Ewwwwwwwww.


Sorry but your mum is an idiot. No offense. Damn, what makes her think you have to wait an hour?

How DARE you call someone else's mother and idiot!? Who the hell do you think you are? She's asking for advice on a freaking shower not for people to judge her FAMILY. People grow up differently with different beliefs. That does not make them idiots.

Anyway, I usually wait about 30 minutes because I drive to work after the gym and then shower there. I hate showering right after because I won't stop sweating for a while.

MelodyandBarbells

Wow, you guys must be doing some real stuff to keep sweating for so long afterwards! If you turn down the water temperature, could it stop you from sweating faster? I shower right after most days, on other days I have about a 15-20 minute drive back home, so I shower then.

jofjltncb6

Is this like the advice to wait at least 30 minutes after eating before you swim?

_SABOTEUR_

I just get one of my gimps to lick the sweat off.

suziepoo1984

I think i am safe here as i take showers only at home. So by the time i reach home from gym, some time has already passed
But, i have heard this too from my parents! They do not say anything now as i end up doing what i feel like anyway.

ellskiNZ

I drive about 5 minutes home from the gym, take my shoes and sweaty gear off, and by then my heart rate has usually returned to normal and I have a cool shower.