To shower or not to shower that is the question...

So i was talking to my step mother about the gym she just started recently attending, shes been going for about two weeks now, i was asking her various questions about the equipment they have, how busy they are, ect. Amongst these many questions i asked if they had a shower and locker room.

She replied she didnt know and that she tans then heads home and showers, she then said it doesnt matter because you have to wait two hours to shower. I told her i didnt believe that and i continued with i usually shower right away after my workouts, she looked at me like i had just slapped her in the face with a wet fish.

She said i was hurting myself by showering so quickly because it raises your blood pressure, i responded with "Only if its hotter then The fires in hell, i take luke warm showers." She then continued to spout off about how i didnt know what i was doing blah, blah, blah.

So heres the question i have: Is it SAFE to shower after a heavy workout, OR do you need to wait for two or so hours before you wash your sweaty stinky self?
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Replies

  • stephaniecaine82
    stephaniecaine82 Posts: 117 Member
    Very interesting, never heard of that before. I would like to see the responses!
  • Amy62575
    Amy62575 Posts: 422 Member
    Seriously? I mean I'm not a fitness expert and not up-to-date on all the latest research, but ummm...it sounds absurd to me that you would need to time your showers.
  • ubermensch13
    ubermensch13 Posts: 824 Member
    This is a joke right? What would showering right after a workout have to do with anything??? I'd challenge your step mother to produce peer reviewed studies to prove any crap she is saying...
  • I do, but I usually wait about 15 minutes or so (after I'm done stretching). I'm sure it doesn't take your body 2 hours to cool down after working out.
  • I always shower after a workout and the only thing it does is relax my muscles....
  • MiniMichelle
    MiniMichelle Posts: 801 Member
    Maybe she got confused...you shouldnt shower for at least 2 hrs after you tan....if you use lotions when tanning
  • Ramberta
    Ramberta Posts: 1,312 Member
    Uh, my answer is not based in anything scientific, but if you're only taking lukewarm showers I don't see how that would affect your blood pressure at all. Really, even at a scalding hot temp it's a stretch, because you're showering for what, five minutes? Ten? Fifteen at the absolute max? Think of it this way... if you're hot and sweaty and sore, and you take a quick dip in a hot tub, is that going to kill you? Probably not, unless you've not drank any water during your workout and also taken some kind of stimulant. So a shower, where there is significantly less water involved, is not going to either. No offense, but I think your step mom is full of it on this one.
  • GasnotGas
    GasnotGas Posts: 54 Member
    This is a new one on me :smile: , reminds me of my old house mate who was convinced that washing your hair in hot water increases the chance of baldness. we used to hear him shrieking in the bathroom (from all that cold water presumably).
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    IMO it's better to shower straight away after a workout, especially if you get sweaty - the sweaty workout clothes drying on you is not good for you.
  • Amy62575
    Amy62575 Posts: 422 Member
    Maybe she got confused...you shouldnt shower for at least 2 hrs after you tan....if you use lotions when tanning

    Who said? And why?
  • Contrarian
    Contrarian Posts: 8,138 Member
    Well. This is a new one.
  • AngelsInThighHighs
    AngelsInThighHighs Posts: 247 Member
    This is a joke right? What would showering right after a workout have to do with anything??? I'd challenge your step mother to produce peer reviewed studies to prove any crap she is saying...

    I WISH i was joking it was a ridiculous 3 hour doscussion that ended in me faking an emergency shopping trip to leave her too her tangent lol shes a peach really...
  • Ramberta
    Ramberta Posts: 1,312 Member
    This is a new one on me :smile: , reminds me of my old house mate who was convinced that washing your hair in hot water increases the chance of baldness. we used to hear him shrieking in the bathroom (from all that cold water presumably).

    Hahahaha! Thank you for sharing that anecdote and giving me some laughs this morning!
  • Loves418
    Loves418 Posts: 330 Member
    I don't shower at the gym I live literally 7 mins away. I prefer my own house and shower. I don't know how clean it is in there nor do I care to find out. Perhaps your mom feels the same way and didn't want to tell you or maybe she isn't comfortable showering in a public place per say.
    To each his own..
  • Ramberta
    Ramberta Posts: 1,312 Member
    IMO it's better to shower straight away after a workout, especially if you get sweaty - the sweaty workout clothes drying on you is not good for you.

    Why is that? Is it bacteria-related...? I've not heard that, so I'm curious.
  • Docmahi
    Docmahi Posts: 1,603 Member
    Seriously? I mean I'm not a fitness expert and not up-to-date on all the latest research, but ummm...it sounds absurd to me that you would need to time your showers.

    ^ this expresses how i feel about this exactly
  • sunsnstatheart
    sunsnstatheart Posts: 2,544 Member
    I prefer not stinking, so I guess you could call me pro-shower, or a "showertarian" if you will. We are very much against the anti-showering crowd, or "showerists." They're quite the offensive and odiferous group.
  • thedescentofhope
    thedescentofhope Posts: 118 Member
    IMO it's better to shower straight away after a workout, especially if you get sweaty - the sweaty workout clothes drying on you is not good for you.

    Why is that? Is it bacteria-related...? I've not heard that, so I'm curious.

    You can catch a chill
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    IMO it's better to shower straight away after a workout, especially if you get sweaty - the sweaty workout clothes drying on you is not good for you.

    Why is that? Is it bacteria-related...? I've not heard that, so I'm curious.

    No - its the sweaty clothes getting cold and then drying on you - not good for your muscles.
  • Maybe she got confused...you shouldnt shower for at least 2 hrs after you tan....if you use lotions when tanning

    I agree!!
  • Lupercalia
    Lupercalia Posts: 1,857 Member
    I spend about 20 minutes doing cooldown stretching and foam rolling after my workouts. By then, I'm starting to get cold. I drink my pwo shake fast as I can and then hop in the shower. I've never heard anything about not showering after a workout! Not even from my mother, who is in her late 60s and has been going to the gym daily for the past 35 years or so.
  • cjcmrn
    cjcmrn Posts: 134 Member
    I know in my case, I actually do have to wait at least 30 min if my heart rate was up during a workout (which if I'm doing it right it will be) or else I will pass out because my blood pressure spikes. Same as going to a tanning bed, I cannot workout after this as my blood pressure has risen due to the heat.
  • Trilby16
    Trilby16 Posts: 707 Member
    I never get smelly and I don't shower all that much. Don't tell anybody!
  • nkyjennifer
    nkyjennifer Posts: 135 Member
    lol I guess I'm in trouble. I take ridiculously long (15-20 minutes) super-hot showers. Often within 30 minutes of finishing my workout. I just walked 7 miles and am about to go shower. If I don't survive it, it's been nice knowing you all!

    :laugh:
  • ancksunamun668
    ancksunamun668 Posts: 5 Member
    This is a new one on me :smile: , reminds me of my old house mate who was convinced that washing your hair in hot water increases the chance of baldness. we used to hear him shrieking in the bathroom (from all that cold water presumably).

    LOL thank you for sharing this - I think this was my laugh for the day... :)
  • meggonkgonk
    meggonkgonk Posts: 2,066 Member
    I don't think it much matters overall but I DO want to add a small anecdote:

    About two years ago I started 1/2 marathon training in January (outside) when I was still eating at a significant calorie deficit. I came in and hopped right in a very hot shower. I did end up passing out for about 30 seconds.

    Doctor's conclusion was that all the factors combined was not the greatest but not overall very harmful. He suggested I rest for about 10 minutes with a glass of water before my showers and not make them SUPER hot even though that's my preference.

    So your MIL is somewhat right- IF you are not eating to maintenence AND you do a super heavy work out IN extreme temps AND combine it with an extreme water temp, then yeah, there can be adverse effects. But the doctor's advice was just to moderate a couple of the factors- there's no need to wait 2 hours to shower. Just be sensible.
  • spidey11186
    spidey11186 Posts: 141 Member
    1) If you slap her in the face with a wet fish... SHE NEEDS to take a shower ASAP!

    2) What a crock of **** lol... That's like saying you should wait a minimum of 2 hours to brush your teeth after eating chicken curry, so that your breath can smell up the kitchen until your farts start to form -_-
  • AngelsInThighHighs
    AngelsInThighHighs Posts: 247 Member
    I never get smelly and I don't shower all that much. Don't tell anybody!

    Lmfao whats your secret?
  • DeliriumCanBeFun
    DeliriumCanBeFun Posts: 313 Member
    If you're female, it is very bad for bacteria reasons to stay in sweaty clothes. I'm a long distance cyclist, and i always change as soon after a ride as possible and use baby wipes to freshen up. I would shower right away, but that isn't possible unless I ride on the trainer at my house.