Is it ok to cardio on weight lifting days?

ojell

^

itsuki

Yup.

Some people recommend doing the weight lifting first, in case being tired from the cardio effects your lifting form.

But go for it. Just make sure you're getting the proper nutrients.

ojell

Okie Dokie. Makes sense! THANKS!!!

jamiesadler

Sure is I do it all of the time. I do my cardio after my weights though. Have fun

doonesbury

I do cardio first thing in the AM, before I eat or drink anything. That way I am not weighed down. I follow this with minimum 5G protein breakfast to "allow" my body to begin burning calories. I do weight training later afternoon, before dinner.

Debbe2

Yes of course. I prefer strength train then cardio.

TheUnwritten

If you have the energy go for it.

gsarro

I am currently following Jillian Michael's 30 day shred and we do cardio and strength together.

IpuffyheartHeelsinthegym

I do, but on strength days, I just decrease my cardio a bit

swordsmith

Always do cardio after weights... but other then that I do it all the time too.

I can vouch from personal experience that doing a 4 mile run first then lifting makes your muscles laugh at you as you struggle to curl a feather never mind 35 pound dumb bells!

nooodll

Absolutely, and I find that when I do both, the weight comes off faster.

ojell

Always do cardio after weights... but other then that I do it all the time too.

I can vouch from personal experience that doing a 4 mile run first then lifting makes your muscles laugh at you as you struggle to curl a feather never mind 35 pound dumb bells!

LoL

BrianSharpe

Yes, lots of people will lift & run on the same day (myself included)

ojell

Absolutely, and I find that when I do both, the weight comes off faster.

Now that's what I like to hear! hehe

will010574

It is completely fine...I see a lot of folks have recommended doing weights first to get a better weight workout.

I do my cardio first thing then eat to start my metabolism and fat burning for the day. I wait a few hours and then do weights and still have no issue with my strength building.

Whatever works for you, but yes cardio and weights is a great program.

Enjoy

PositivePower

ojell ~ Thanks for asking the question!!!! I have turned into kind of work out freak! The scale hasn't moved for me lately and I was told to increase my strength training....I enjoy it but sometimes I want to take a long hike or run after and wondered if that was too much. When I can't make a classs at the gym I have just started doing some P90X...then taking a walk..........This is going to be a good summer for me:bigsmile:

Good Luck!!!!! Push Hard :happy:

LuLuRunner1

Wait....I have a question. Weights, then cardio? But the poster in the gym says 10-20 min warmup on cardio; 10-20 min of weights, etc, etc.

Do I not need to do a quick warm up first before doing weights? I have to agree, the days that I have done 30 minutes of cardio, my body doesn't seem to want to push as hard on the weights, but I was thinking just 5-10 min of treadmill running, then weights.

Help! I'm confused!

thanks :ohwell:

Helloitsdan

HIIT cardio is better on lifting days than straight steady cardio due to HGH output and some may even say to split the routines by hours as to not add stress to the body.

krivedal

I do 5 to 10 minutes of cardio as a warm up but that is not my "cardio workout" for that day - I come back after weights to do the full cardio work out. Others are right - my form suffers if I do the full cardio before I do the strength training.

FunandFitMom

Go for it! Just make sure you're properly fueled.

Dennis781

I do the same thing.. Light cardio to warm up, IE 20 mins on the bike or elliptical before hitting the weights. Works wonders to get the blood flowing and get you ready for weight training. Every other day it's 30 mins vigorous cardio, followed by abs, followed by another 30 mins of cardio.

BobbyDaniel

I always do cardio when I lift. Usually a warm up on the spin bike or stair climber and I also jump rope periodically through out my workout.

leannems

I do a 5 minute cardio warmup before weights, then weights, then 20 or so minutes of cardio after (if I'm stiff, I'll also add in stretching after warmup and after weights).

I really feel like the post-weights cardio loosens me back up again after the heavy lifting.

On days I workout, but do not do weights, I do between 45-60 minutes cardio.

mes1119

Always do cardio after weights... but other then that I do it all the time too.

I can vouch from personal experience that doing a 4 mile run first then lifting makes your muscles laugh at you as you struggle to curl a feather never mind 35 pound dumb bells!

THIS>>>> When I was in college we had swim practice (2 hours of rough cardio) and dry land (usually a 3 miles run) all before weight lifting due to scheduling issues. It was absolutely impossible and awful.

SavageRabidBeast

absolutely! I now burn 200 calories on the elliptical before my workout and then another 200 after my workout. Doing cardio after your workout is preferred. I read in my Men's Health Book that you can increase strength up to 19% by doing cardio after your workouts. So my suggestion is to always do some cardio after your weight lifting.

jbrinda1

Sometimes do both, love those days.

mes1119

Wait....I have a question. Weights, then cardio? But the poster in the gym says 10-20 min warmup on cardio; 10-20 min of weights, etc, etc.

Do I not need to do a quick warm up first before doing weights? I have to agree, the days that I have done 30 minutes of cardio, my body doesn't seem to want to push as hard on the weights, but I was thinking just 5-10 min of treadmill running, then weights.

Help! I'm confused!

thanks :ohwell:

There is a difference between a 10 minute warm up (basically "get your body warm") and 45 minute run (85% max heart rate). Long cardio depletes your body of glycogen, which you need to lift heavy.

maybethistime70

how can people workout on an empty stomach? i get all dizzy and lightheaded if i don't eat first.

KristyJoy123

I hear that a lot --- that you should do weights, then cardio so you don't get worn out and sacrifice your form -- but I HATE doing it in that order. I don't feel like my form is sacrificed. I do my cardio, cool down a bit and then hit the weight room. I've never had any problems. I think it's mental, but I feel like after I do weights, my workout is over so if I do the weights first, I find myself skimping on cardio.

UrbanRunner81

I do 20-30 minutes of cardio then weight lift. I feel my muscles are warmed up perfectly if I do cardio first and I do better at it too. Also I never do high intensity or really long cardio sessions when I lift.

boggsmeister

I've only been at this a month or so. I used to just do weights and go home. Lately I am so energized after weight training that I go for a 2-3 mile hike afterwards. As a general rule I greatly prefer to do my cardio outdoors. Gym cardio bores me to tears.