Do you Weight Lift or Do Cardio First?

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SPNLuver83
SPNLuver83 Posts: 2,050 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
On days you do short cardio (30 minutes or less) AND strength training, which would you do first?
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Replies

  • Toddrific
    Toddrific Posts: 1,114 Member
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    I personally strength train then do cardio as I don't like being dripping wet while before lifting weights.
  • Blessedmommy_2x
    Blessedmommy_2x Posts: 419 Member
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    Strength Train, then cardio
  • tnrunningnurse
    tnrunningnurse Posts: 549 Member
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    Weights first, then cardio, for two reasons: 1) I don't want to be dripping wet with sweat, and 2) My legs can't handle weights after doing an intense cardio workout.
  • JustJennie1
    JustJennie1 Posts: 3,843 Member
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    Cardio then strength. Mostly because if I don't do my cardio first when I'm done with my lifting I'm not going to want to do cardio nor will I have the energy to do it. I do it, get it out of the way and then hit the weights. I do 30 minutes of cardio every day then supplement a long, vigorous walk in the afternoon. It's all a matter of preference and what works for you.
  • hesn92
    hesn92 Posts: 5,967 Member
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    cardio then strength. I don't think my legs would be able to handle running after doing a bunch of squats and stuff.
  • delmc1
    delmc1 Posts: 331 Member
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    always strength first ,use up all your stored energy on weights .so its all fat burning doing cardio
  • SPNLuver83
    SPNLuver83 Posts: 2,050 Member
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    I've always done cardio first as well, because I thought warmed muscles would benefit more from lifting... but some of you are saying I will burn more fat if I do cardio last... It seems to be 50/50. Not helping!!!! lol
  • Monkee_Magic
    Monkee_Magic Posts: 32 Member
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    When doing weights, I prefer to do light cardio cycle or jog to gym to warm up. Then into the weights, after that I generally do some intervals on the X-trainer to increase the burn. Seems to work ok that way, I only tried doing cardio first once and it had quite an impact on my strength, but perhaps I'm just weak!
  • Taoism
    Taoism Posts: 1
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    There should be a distinction here... Doing a light cardio warm-up before lifting is beneficial (like 5-10 mins light jog on a treadmill) because it gets more blood out to your muscles before you start lifting. Then do your heavy lifts because the muscles are primed with more blood flow, and then follow up with your more intense cardio.

    Just my $0.02...
  • diabolica
    diabolica Posts: 2
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    always strength first ,use up all your stored energy on weights .so its all fat burning doing cardio

    this is absolutely correct :)
  • WildFlower7
    WildFlower7 Posts: 714 Member
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    I do strength then cardio.
  • gazerofthestars
    gazerofthestars Posts: 255 Member
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    30 minute weights > 5 minute light warm-up > 30 minute intense cardio.
  • Elizabeth_C34
    Elizabeth_C34 Posts: 6,376 Member
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    I usually do a 3 stage workout: 1/2 cardio, then weights, then 1/2 cardio.
  • joejccva71
    joejccva71 Posts: 2,985 Member
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    Nothing wrong with doing a 5 min warmup before lifting, but you should do your 30 min cardio sessions always AFTER lifting.
  • Picola1984
    Picola1984 Posts: 1,133
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    Interesting

    I always do cardio first, whether it is intense or light

    I may try strength first now!
  • Di3012
    Di3012 Posts: 2,250 Member
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    Nothing wrong with doing a 5 min warmup before lifting, but you should do your 30 min cardio sessions always AFTER lifting.

    Why?
  • joejccva71
    joejccva71 Posts: 2,985 Member
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    Nothing wrong with doing a 5 min warmup before lifting, but you should do your 30 min cardio sessions always AFTER lifting.

    Why?

    1. Improved Recovery
    2. Maintaining Conditioning / Work Capacity
    3. Improved Calorie Partitioning
    4. Keeping Fat Burning Pathways Active
  • DFWTT
    DFWTT Posts: 374
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    The consensus is.....light cardio warmup, strength, cardio. I agree as well.
  • mznisaelaine
    mznisaelaine Posts: 2,262 Member
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    Strength training first then cardio
  • chevy88grl
    chevy88grl Posts: 3,937 Member
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    Well. I'll be honest... each time I've hurt myself it was from doing weights first (even with a warm up) and cardio last. So, I've gone back to how I used to do it when I first started losing weight - cardio first, weights last and haven't had any issues. It works for me (and has worked in the past), so I'll keep doing what works. :)

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