Strength or Cardio first? Overall consensus?

mommabenefield

Alright so whats the overall verdict?... I feel nuts if i leave the gym without some for of strength done. That being said, I started
SL 5x5 and am doing at least 30 minutes of cardio on strength days and on 'rest' days and then i have 'true' rest days twice a week.

Strength or Cardio first? Does it even matter? and Why?

caseythirteen

Always strength first for me. I ride the bike for about 5 minutes to warm up but then I put my all in to my strength routines 3x a week. Sometimes I will do 15 minutes of HIIT after that, sometimes not - depends on I feel. About once a week I will do a straight up cardio session with no strength.

JustJennie1

Oh boy.

You opened up a big old can of worms.

While you *should* do cardio after strength training it really and truly depends on you and what you will stick to.

I personally have to do my cardio first other wise I'm not going to do it.

micheleb15

I don't do cardio in the sense that I get on a machine for 30 min. I will incorporate circuits into my strength training that get my heart rate up for interval training. It's easier for me that way and I am out of the gym in 30 min.

joleenl

I would only do cardio first as in a warm up. Like tops 5 mins of light effort. I always give most of my energy to lifting so I do it first then if I have anything left then I do cardio after lifting.

stumblinthrulife

Whichever you do first, you'll probably do better. So do whichever is more important to you first.

If your primary goal is to get strong or big, and you are just doing cardio for the heart benefits, then lift first.

If your primary goal is to run a marathon, and you are just lifting to protect LBM and for the sustained calorie burning effect, then do cardio first.

If both are equally important to you, then either do them on different days, or alternate which one you do first.

ksy1969

I will do a 20 to 25 minute warm up some times before strength training. Usually results in 2 miles on a treadmill. This morning I just rode my bike to the gym as a warm up. I noticed my heart rate was not as elevated during my work out like it is when I get that 20 to 25 minute warm up.

phjorg1

are you training specifically for something where cardio performance matters? like a race or marathon? If so then you do cardio first...

Otherwise do weights first. there is a point to lifting. To go intense enough to damage muscle fibre. The more rested you are, the harder you can push to accomplish this goal.

One thing you will read on here is people saying they do cardio first and it works fine for them. Well that is indeed true. Anything can work. But what works and whats best can be two different things.

GetSoda

with linear progression, do any intense cardio on off-days.

mommabenefield

Thanks everyone I figured i would get these answers :happy: ... and that works for me.. i don't like cardio very much but i do it because it needs to be done... strength is where im happy....

This is what i read that made me decide to go ahead and see where the votes lay...

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/ask-the-ripped-dude-cardio-before-or-after-weights.html

Lol and the worms can stay in the can!! :laugh:

matyoung125

If doing Cardio on strength days do a 5 min Cardio warm up then the strength work.. That way your muscles won't be tired and you can do more challenging sets. Cardio work afterwards also gets the blood pumping and aids recovery.

glin23

Given that I'm a runner, I do my cardio first.