Cardio and Lifting

nedtoloseme

I'd like to do more lifting this year. I have one question. I looked on another topic that was posted and someone said that they don't recommend doing weights after cardio. Is there a problem with that? I usually do the cardio first and then weights. I felt like my body would be warmed up that way. Is this wrong? Also I read where some people don't do cardio on the same day they lift. I usually start with some cardio and then move to the weights, but do the weights every other day. Also I mix the weights with the weight machines. Is this a problem? Just need to know if I'm headed in the right direction or should I switch up my routine a little. What has worked for you? Thanks in advance!

nedtoloseme

Actually I think I had more than one question!

grimendale

The only real concern with doing weights after cardio is the risk of injury, particularly with free weights. If you start with cardio, your body will be more tired before you lift heavy things, which increases the odds that you will drop something on yourself. Also, it ups the chance that your form will suffer to try to make reps since you are already tired, which decreases effectiveness and increases the risk of injury. If you want to warm up before lifting, it is recommended that you do a few warm up sets (same exercise, but with significantly less weight). Cardio isn't going to do much to prepare you for, say, squats or bench press. I personally prefer to break my workouts into either cardio days or weight days, but if you want to do both, either leave some significant recovery time between or start with weights. Just my two cents.

TexasOFT76

I do all cardio now and plan to do weights as well in the coming weeks. I'll likely do machines at the beginning. From what I've read it's fine to do both but I think I'll have to alter the cardio. Meaning instead of a full treadmill/elliptical session I'll keep it to 25 minutes or so on those days. Plenty of time to warm the body up then move to some weight exercises. As far as doing both on same day it should be ok. Just may have to alter what you're used because your body will need the resources

contingencyplan

The main issue here is that you need to be fresh--not fatigued--when starting your strength training session. Primarily for safety reasons, but also because you won't be able to push hard enough to see the results you're looking for if you're already fatigued when you start.

cwolfman13

If you're really wanting to get the max benefit from your lifts then you should lift first while your body is fresh. To get the most benefit from lifting you have to be lifting pretty much at capacity and constantly over loading...you can't do that if you're tired from a cardio session.

I try to do my cardio on opposing days but if I do cardio on a lifting day I either do it hours before my lifting session so I have recovery time or after my lifting session...never right before. At most I might warm up with a 5 minute jog or something before my lifting session...but not an actual cardio session.

nedtoloseme

Thanks everyone. I figured I needed to change what I was doing. I lost the weight but it seems as if I just have alot of loose skin! I do weights at least 3 times a week, but I don't see the results that others seem to have. Also, my cardio is anywhere from 35 to 60 minutes average, so I thought maybe that was too much to try to do before the lifting. Thanks again!

Mr_Knight

I looked on another topic that was posted and someone said that they don't recommend doing weights after cardio. Is there a problem with that?

There is no "problem" with that, all kinds of super elite athletes do it exactly that way.

What it comes down to is which one is your area of focus, because whichever one you do second will be done with a body that is already a bit (or a lot) tired.

So the one you are most focused on, that's the one you should probably do first.

revkhyler

The trainer I consulted with at the little gym I go to has us mix it up and do both, with a cardio warm-up first and the cardio as a cool-down at the end. He had me vary it and split it up. He said the same thing as others who have responded - that the muscles need to be awake and ready but that you don't want to overdo either weights or cardio. I was recently taught some exercises that combined both.