Strength training before or after cardio?

kristinathenina

I am about to start a self made workout schedule, that is made to fit my work schedule and allow me to get 4 days of strength and 4 days of cardio- I intend to have a day off of both, so obviously I will need to double up on some days, my question is- which should I do first? I will have some days where I will do one workout in the morning and the other in the evening. There will also be a day where its one and then 10 minutes later the other- when should I do strength and when should I do the cardio? Thanks

TheMrsFitnessGeek

Before. Use most of your energy for strength training.

Metalhead187

In my opinion, Strength training first then Cardio. It works for me, it might work for you too

poustotah

On the days that I do strength training, I do a 10 minute warm up and then hit the weights. On my cardio days, I ONLY do cardio and I never try and double them up. I find that it wears me out for one or the other.

DKBelle

Actually I am keep changing it up :P, but most of the time I do cardio and after strength training Whichever works for you

Nikstergirl

From everything I've read and been told by trainers, you should do a 5-10 min light cardio warm up (light jog/walk) and then do weights/strength BEFORE you hit the cardio hard. You need all your energy stores to do the weights correctly without injuring yourself. Use whatever's left to hit the cardio for 30+ minutes... of course you need to work up to all this. Start easy and add minutes/weight/intensity/time as you go. Don't just hit the gym for 90 minutes your first time out!!!!


Good luck! There are TONS of resources online and in magazines/books to help you find a good routine... but asking a trainer is awesome too!!!!

Elleinnz

Yep - other than a "light" cardio warmup - strength before cardio

It also has something to do with how your body burns "sugar" before it starts burning fat..... sorry don't have access to the technical article that explains it all...

MarieNevada

strenght before cardio but that's only when you're diong one after the other. on the days that it's split so one workout in the mornign and one in the afternoon, do whatever you feel like doing. i tend to do cardio in hte morning and weights in the afternoon, mostly because i don't eat before i work out in the morning and that's good for cardio but not so great for weights.

cavaaller_85

I am a cardio first gal. For me, it takes a lot more energy to maintain a rigorous effort than to do just do short bursts, such as with weights. I tend to agree with one of the previous posts, though. This is my schedule:

Mon: run 1 mile (fast as I can); then do weights
Tues: jog 3 miles (medium pace)
Weds: off
Thurs: jog 3 miles (medium pace)
Fri: run 1 mile (fast as I can); then do weights
Sat or Sun: jog 4 to 5 miles (slow pace); I take the other weekend day off.

Hope that helps! Good luck!

rosaidamiddleton

I woul agree with everyone else here, strength training first then cardio

borichfan

I do cardio first, then weight/strength training

kellyscomeback

I prefer cardio first then strength.

MarieNevada

Ultimately, as long as you do it hard and with effort, it hardly makes a huge difference. there are technical reasons why you should do strength first (glycogen depletion, proper form, etc) but as long as you're moving, it's all good. Don't get hurt, maintain proper form, lift heavy and go as hard as you can. if that means do cardio first, then do cardio first. Just move. Everything else is icing on the cake.

Eve1972

I prefer my to do my cardio first and get it out of the way! *lol*