Swimming & Bodybuilding?

Hi all,
 
Quick question about swimming as your cardio workout. I'm trying to get bigger whilst also keep body-fat % down. I'm around 156lbs and around 5'11/6ft. I was wondering will swimming prevent me putting on more muscle, if not when is the best time to do it. Would swimming right after weightlifting have a negative effect?

Matt.


Hi all,

Quick question about swimming as your cardio workout. I'm trying to get bigger whilst also keep body-fat % down. I'm around 156lbs and around 5'11/6ft. I was wondering will swimming prevent me putting on more muscle, if not when is the best time to do it. Would swimming right after weightlifting have a negative effect?

I've used swimming as cardio and it won't stop you gaining muscle so long as you eat enough - like any cardio really. I like it because it takes stress away from your legs, which landbased cardio tends to use the most. Use it as per you would any other form of cardio, although I found if I swam after an upper body workout it can be quite difficult!

As above as long as you're eating enough then the swimming wont be a problem at all

Thanks for that guys, should there be any rest between lifting and then the swimming. I dont think that there will be a problem with finding the cardio workout hard after a hard upperbody workout as i used to be a competitive swimmer for a number of years competing at national level. 
 
I just wasnt sure if it would hinder muscle gains, but again thanks for your information and clearing that up :)

Great posts by gingernut and beast, a cardio that dont hammer your legs so in theory will get better leg results with weight lifting while still getting a great cardio session. The only down side to swimming (for me any way) is that I cant seem to do high intensity swimming, no interval training in the pool for me.

I used to be a swimmer in my younger days too Matt (Barnet Copthall), still love it but don't get down to the pool nearly enough. You could treat it as a stand alone interval cardio session, but if done immediately after weights I'd just have a relaxing/moderate paced  swim and use it as a cool down. of course if you're sore in certain areas from weights you can use the aid of a pull buoy or kickboard.

I still swim. I use it as a kind of "finisher" on back/shoulder days.