Weight Training Help??

WTF7

When is it best to do weight training? Before, after or in between cardio? When is it the most effective?

Nitachi

Definitely before cardio. You want to have as much energy available to push/pull the most weight with perfect form.

judgejava

It is all opinion based with arguments for and against both.

It really comes down to you and your goals, if you do it right after cardio you will lack the energy to carry out heavy exercises which build muscle for example.

Is your goal to burn fat, lose weight, gain muscle, tone up, really bulk up muscle wise, etc etc

djones3815

Always remember to do your strength training first to utilize your food stores (sugars, calories) in order to build muscle, then do your cardio last to burn fat once your food stores are exhausted.

snkeller24

It can go either way - if I do them in the same gym visit I do weights then cardio. If I crossfit and then go to the gym I just lift (crossfit is usually in the morning).

You need to find what works for you - either doing 2 a day's or lifting then cardio and vice versa.

I prefer to lift first so that I'm not fatigued and I can focus on form so I don't injure myself.

SuperSnoopy

Ive been told that you should do a little bit of cardio first, maybe ten to fifteen minutes, to get loosend off and the blood flowing and then, as mentioned above do the weights to use up the energy and sugar then back to cardio for as long as you want/can. DRINK plenty of water to keep hydrated.

Huffdogg

Assuming that you are weight training to gain strength and burn fat, lift before cardio. In the extremely unlikely case that you are training for athletic-level muscular endurance, yet don't know the answer to this, then it might make sense to reverse them

snkeller24

Snoopy brought up a great point - take the time to warm up, whole body and specific muscle area that you're lifting. Stretching and warming up those muscles are important!