Last Updated on July 30, 2021
Just this week, I met up with an old friend after his workout session in the gym. Personally, I enjoy workouts late at night when there are less people in the gym- and then taking a bath right after workout.
He commented, “you can’t do that. Do you know that this is very damaging to your system? Your body’s looking to shutdown for the day and you tax it with intensive exercise. Are you crazy?”.
I have to agree with him. Bathing right after gym workout, especially if you chose to work out at night would do your body more harm than good. This is especially so if you also wash your hair. Even if you blow dry your hair, the damage is already done the moment you turn on that shower tab on your body.
I know many people enjoy taking a nice shower right after workout- especially in the gym where you are sharing equipment and that yucky feeling from sweating. Despite mentioning earlier that bathing at night or right after workout could led to future health complications, convenience sometimes rule out.
Recently during these few weeks, I have been going to the gym late at night for workout. As I do not enjoy hanging out at the gym, I will proceed to shower right after my workout. My face and arms would have red little dots- signifying that the pores are open due to sweating. I never wanted to wait 1/2 hour for my body to cool down.
Here are the changes I noticed in my body:
- I remembered one night as I ran a warm shower after workout, I sensed that my body was in shock. As I reached home, my insides felt cold.
- After about a few consecutive times of doing that, my hands and feet felt cold most of the time. I remembered a Chinese physican told me that if the hands and feet are cold, it means the immune system is not good- they will advise to stop night bathing and stop taking certain type of ‘cooling food’.
- Then, my morning sinus (and sometimes at night) came back. Even though it was not as bad as before, but I had not been having running nose for a while.
- Not only that, allergy reaction flared out more easily than before.
There has not been any other changes in my lifestyle (except, ok, I am taking lattes again- the company provide free lattes and I couldn’t resist it) except late night workouts so I attribute the weaker feel due to compromised health of showering at night right after workout.
Actually, if you are really conscious of your body and sensitive to its changes, you’ll probably feel those things that I do too. Those are not good indications- I always near people sniffing or having puffy nose in the gym- if your immune system is good, this could not be a common occurrence.
As such, I am considering changing my workout schedule from night, back to morning. Will report more on how it goes.
erm may I ask something, i heard from people around me, said that night bathing can lead to congestion of lung, is it true or not?
Hi Aty, it’s not surprising because with the cold and damp air on top of bathing, it would create a lot of dampness around- and if it gets to the lungs, it can bring congestion. Most of us are already in air con rooms all day.
so hav to avoid takin a bath at that time??
taking a bath after a workout is bad??is it has a medical bases?
Hi Eeunne,
Don’t take a bath right after workout. Wait for at least 30 minutes. Medical bases? All traditional practices that had been adopted for thousands of years said the same thing. Not bathing when the body is real hot from workout.
very very good suggestions
Most of this belief came from unconfirmed nonsensical Chinese people who have nothing better to do, so they just think of things like this all day. If they were right, swimming is bad for you since you are working out your muscles in water. They even spread these false information to surrounding countries such as the Philippines. It’s ridiculous how many superstitions and fake medicines come out of China. People are even misled to believe that Chinese people live long healthy lives. Why is it that there is so much virus and diseases coming from there? And people believed that they live longer because of the times they felt they’re politicians were Gods. Propaganda is to blame. It’s sad that people who don’t even live in the country falls for it. They also use things in make-ups, jewelry, eat-ware and much more that aren’t good for humans.
Hi Michael,
Where there is the genuine stuff, there would always be the fakes. Just like no one would say an iphone or branded stuff is lousy because the fake ones they are using give them a bad experience.
But thanks for taking the time to write and type this comment. I feel a bit sad on what you say on our Chinese healing system which I held in high regards for. What I can say is time will prove who is right. When we are young we feel invincible and strong that nothing- like pain or arthritis can touch us. But when age catches up- one would know. Only time would tell.
Based on my personal experience, I agree to not taking shower right after every workout. Most of the symptoms the author said, I’ve been feeling when ever I take shower immediately after gym, whether hot, warm or cold, especially about allergic reactions. Well, there may be no exact science about it, but author’s right by saying that you know how to protect your body better. So if you feel taking shower immediately after without brings more harm than good, then you should know the answer. More of a case to case basis. For me, I tend to bring myself in an immuno compromised state, every time I do the subject.
Thanks Mark for sharing. After a sweaty workout, many cannot wait to get under the shower immediately. The effects would be felt not now but years down the line.
Hi same tng hppened to me i went to shower firevtly after intense wrkout i felt cold inside my feet are cold and nw im sweating.
Just wanna ask after u experience it do u get sick?? Hw did u cope up??