Cardio, then weights
soccerkon26
Posts: 596 Member
Does it matter which order you complete them? I've heard that you should do weights and then cardio. But I prefer the other way.
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Replies
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Which is your priority?
Are you doing either at a sufficient intensity that it compromises what you do second?
Personally I prefer to do them in separate sessions or separate days but for the majority of people it's just down to preference.3 -
It doesn't matter really. The main point of doing weight work then cardio is due to weight lifting being more taxing, so to optimize strength training you would do that first just to not have a "tired" workout. Also I could see it preventing injury from improper form due to exhaustion. Think it also plays a role in fat burning optimization when you do cardio post workout but im not sure if I read that from a scientific study or broscience stuff. But like I said it doesn't really matter do whatever works for you.
Somewhat curious whats your cardio before the workout?1 -
Agree with the previous posters. However, IIRC, the OP hasn't been lifting very long. Your preference may change once you're lifting a bit heavier...1
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The point of doing Cardio after weights is to work the lactic acid out of your muscles. If muscle soreness isn't really an issue for you, do what you like.1
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Warm up
Weights
Cardio
Stretch
That's what i do.5 -
Personally, I lift weights before cardio. I'd much rather put my energy into lifting than cardio. If you do cardio before, your muscles might be too tired and your form may be off when lifting. But it's a personal preference really, if you can maintain proper form in weight training after cardio then go for it.0
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I normally do running and kettlebells on different days, but one day last week I did a 4 mile run before my kettlebell class. I had a really good run but I had no energy to lift properly after and felt very tired and shaky. In the past I have run after doing kettlebells which was fine, so on that basis, weights first then cardio, but still preferable do them on different days altogether.0
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It's definitely personal preference. I do a lot of cardio. Sometimes I do cardio early in the day and lifting later in the day. Other times, if I only have time for one workout in the day, I'll do a 1 mile run warmup before lifting.
Off days from lifting are when I do longer runs. There's absolutely no way I could go all out on both cardio and lifting in one session. I'd likely keel over and pass out.0 -
If I can, I like to separate them into different sessions in the day. If I can't separate them, I prefer to do cardio second because, in my experience, if I'm fatigued to the point my form slips, cardio is a lot more forgiving than weights.0
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I prefer weights to cardio, so I'll do my weights first...that way if I run out of time in the gym, I just skip the cardio.1
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I'll do cardio right before weights if it isn't a leg day, usually about 40 minutes of cardio followed by 45-60 minutes of lifting moderately heavy weights. Never had an issue with being too tired before my lifting routine but I do use a pre-workout that gets me pretty pumped up. I need it because I go to the gym at 5 A.M. during the weekdays. On leg days, I skip cardio until the next day to work the soreness out of my legs and butt.0
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Leg day I usually do cardio after (15 to 20-minutes), upper day I do it before to get it out of the way (30 to 45-minutes)0
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MotherOfSharpei wrote: »I prefer weights to cardio, so I'll do my weights first...that way if I run out of time in the gym, I just skip the cardio.
Exactly my mind set2 -
MalcolmX1983 wrote: »Warm up
Weights
Cardio
Stretch
That's what i do.
This. If I do cardio first, I won't have gas to lift as hard as I need to be to reach my goals.1 -
I tend to do cardio first, but that's because I take a 5:15 am spin class. I get more sleep if I lift after. Sleep always wins.0
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I prefer weights before cardio, as I want to get stronger and I find I have the most energy at the beginning of my workout.1
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I prefer light cardio after weights. It helps loosen me up0
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I've changed it my routine from last week started doing my weights first then my 30 mins of cardio and maybe 10 mins of abs if I have time lol0
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I think the theory is that cardio depletes your glycogen so your lifting routine will suffer if you do it after cardio. I guess lifting doesn't deplete it as much but I'm no expert. Either way I find I get a better work out if I do my cardio after lifting.
Also, I don't fancy holding 100+ kilos over my face when I'm all weak and shakey after my run lol
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soccerkon26 wrote: »Does it matter which order you complete them? I've heard that you should do weights and then cardio. But I prefer the other way.
Depends on your preference...
And I would also say which area you wish to excel in....
If you prefer to be better w/ cardio/stamina etc....then do that first.
If you are wanting to get stronger, go up in lifts, etc...then do resistance first.
This way you can be fresh/have the most energy in which ever area you prefer.0 -
Separate days is best. If you do them together cardio first is probably best. Doing cardio afterward activates AMPK, which can inhibit mTOR (protein synthesis/muscle growth). For most people, though, it probably isn't a big deal either way.0
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I started Stronglifts 5x5 last week. I am currently doing about 40-45 min on the treadmill on my lifting days (after lifting) then 60-90 min on 2-3 off days with 1 total rest day. I may change this up as I get further along and my weights increase. I was able to tell this morning, thanks to my Fitbit, that my calorie burn during cardio was higher, by a small amount, than it was yesterday when I was just doing cardio. My inclines and speeds were a little less today than yesterday so if I had kept them the same I would have had an even bigger difference.0
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I do cardio first thing in the morning, then I move into body weight training. I don't lift right now so my opinion may be skewed, but if I were lifting again, I'd do it either in the evening after I've recovered from the cardio or on a separate day. I generally push myself pretty hard during cardio and afterward with body weight training so there's little energy left for lifting. Somewhere along the way I fell in love with body weight training and have not gone back to lifting. If I want to increase my muscle size later on down the road I may go back to it but for now I'm content. Body weight training, at least for me, seemed to yield better results on a deficit for me. Now in maintenance I'm seeing real gains from it. Slower, mind you (probably because I'm not at a calorie surplus), but gains none the less with body re-composition.0
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Lactic acid in the muscles recover fast on it's own and isn't due to performing cardio after lifting. If one ran uphill, lactic acid would build up even if it is a cardio exercise. Muscle soreness isn't due to lactic acid build up. It's due to muscle being micro torn and repairing.The point of doing Cardio after weights is to work the lactic acid out of your muscles. If muscle soreness isn't really an issue for you, do what you like.
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I used to do cardio first then lift when I was doing my cardio at the gym. Mainly because I knew I wouldn't do it other wise. I'm a bit more disciplined now and I go to the gym and lift then do my cardio right after I get home (If I don't then I'll get lazy and come up with a million excuses why I can't do it).0
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