How long after a meal can you exercise?

　　How long does it take to exercise after a heavy meal? Please see the detailed introduction below.

　　If you start doing strenuous exercise during this period, your body's priorities will change to redirect blood flow to the muscles; this also happens when the body is under stress, setting off a chain reaction that prepares the body for strenuous exercise (the fight-or-flight response).

　　The worst situation usually occurs when swimming shortly after a meal, because at this time blood must not only supply the muscles and digestive system at the same time, but also must maintain a certain temperature of the body in the water. Therefore, the most conservative result is: insufficient blood supply to the muscles leads to cramps, and you cannot swim again for the time being!

　　The length of time between after a meal and before exercise depends mostly on the meal and dosage. Other decisive factors include age, physical condition and exercise intensity. Let’s assume this reader is an average middle-aged person! If you eat a large meal before exercise, and most of it contains high amounts of protein and fat, the interval should be more than two hours; if the meal is small and contains mainly carbohydrates, the interval can be shortened to 30 minutes to 1 hour. It's best to make any changes gradually, but pause if any muscle or digestive problems arise.