Cramps from Swimming After Eating: A Myth?

You've heard that old saying, "Wait one hour after you eat before you get into the water or you'll get cramps." I used to think it was bunk. After tonight, I'm not so sure.

Now, I've eaten plenty of times before going into a pool, but it was to just be in the pool, not for any rigorous swimming or playing in the water. I never had any after-effects. People would repeat that old saying to me. I got the impression they believed that just stepping into the water after eating would cause all my muscles to convulse in a major cramp just because there was food in my stomach. Needless to say, I'd just blow it off and go about my business.

Tonight was water aerobics night. I was hungry and wanted some food before changing clothes for class. I stopped at the local KFC and got the three-piece chicken strip dinner. When I got home, I ate my dinner, talked to the 'rents and the dog, then changed into my bathing suit. Got the new suit from Making It Big, and it's going to take some time getting used to the cut of the style.

I arrived at the YMCA and got to the pool area where they were having swim classes. It was right at 7:00, so I wondered if we were going to have our classes tonight, especially since yesterday's class was cancelled due to the lighting storm. Finally, we were able to get into the pool and do our warm up exercises.

Our instructor couldn't join us in the water tonight, but she was able to tell us which exercises we would be doing. Then we started our cardio routine. We had four sections of six exercises: ankle touch front, ankle touch back, frog jog, side straddle hop, cowboy kick, and jogging in place.

Then they hit! Both legs just above the ankle area! Cramp city! I was hurting, but I knew that if I stopped, they would hurt even more. I slowed my routine down some to try to walk out the cramps. Once we got to the jog in place routine, I felt relief.

Once the cardio portion of the class was over with and we started doing the upper arm waterboard exercises, I forgot all about the cramping. That is, until classes were over and I headed toward the shallow-end ladder. Then my left calf wants to cramp and the right leg just above the ankle wanted to join in on the fun. Remembering what my sister told me, many cramps happen because the person inflicted with the cramp hasn't been drinking enough water. The instructor was nice enough to get me a couple of cups of water to drink to make the cramping go away. Five minute later, I was able to climb the ladder and get out of the pool.

I sat on the bench doing a lot of thinking as I dried off. I'm still debating as to whether or not that old saying is true. I do know, however, that tonight's experiences have made me see the old saying in a different light.