Which exercise do you do first? Cardio or strength training?

rjo921

I switch it up, one day I start with cardio, the next time start with strength.... I stretch before doing anything always! Iv'e been told to switch up your workout routine that way?? idk

Normally I have been doing cardio first and then strength....but today I tried the strength first and then the cardio....for me I burned more via cardio and had more endurance to muddle through cardio. It really is all up to what you are comfortable in doing.

wk9t

Most people recommend doing the strength first and cardio after.

I do the cardio first myself. 20 minutes of intense cardio on the elliptical or rowing machine then 45-60 of weight training. I like to make sure I'm really warmed up and the blood is pumping before I start lifting. 36 years old and want to make sure I don't injure myself. Have not noticed a difference in strength doing it this way.

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This! I am 64 and I really need that warmup to prevent any injuries. I do 15 min of cardio and 45 - 60 min of weight training.

mgmlap

I do a cardio warm-up for about 5 minutes...about an hour of weights..then 15 minutes of interval training...

jennieth

My trainer has me do 45 mins of cardio first thing in the morning before breakfast. I then go back later in the day and do a 10 min warm up of cardio then 60 mins of weights.

RmYWarrioR

I normally strength train to start the day and then mix in between 1 to 3 cardio workouts. My wife and I do a rotation of Insanity, 30 Day Shred, Elliptical trainer and we have just recently started a walk/run regimin of interval training. We have both seen some great results.

nikkijoshua

I've read recent recommendations to do strength first, but I pretty much do whichever one I feel like doing first on that day if I'm doing cardio and strength on the same day. Most of my workouts that include both are circuit workouts alternating cardio and strength so it's not something I usually have to consider.

adamb83

I've been told the first workout should be the one you care about the most (the results you're most seeking) because your first workout will be your best one.

Sometimes, I do Cardio first because I'm in an "I need to blast a bunch of calories" mode. Sometimes I do sterngth first because I'm in an "I need to build muscle!" mode.

I should point out, though, that if you are trying to build muscle/tone up - most of the reading I've come across says that the best time to strength train is in the afternoon/early evening. SO... that would leave mornings for Cardio. At least in my schedule.

angelapolite

BUMP

meshashesha2012

i've started doing complexes as warm up to my strength training. so i grab a 10 pound weight plate and do 2 rounds of the following (6 reps) : overhead squats, swings, upright row, reverse lunge with twist, reverse wood chops.

this gets my heart pumping and my muscles warmed for the strength training

Seanb_us

Now I read this:
http://healthnews.ediets.com/fitness-exercise/ask-raphael-cardio-or-weights-first.html

You should do weights before cardio...UGH...

So, what if my target is 114-148, and I regularly exercise at about 155-160 but 7-8 RPE (shortness of breath http://healthnews.ediets.com/fitness-exercise/ask-raphael-cardio-or-weights-first.html)? What's wrong with going a wee bit over?

Cheers.

mfpcopine

Another reason you would do strength training first if you are doing both in the same session is you will probably be able to concentrate better at the beginning of the session and you need to think about your form. You shouldn't ever do cardio mindlessly, but running on a treadmill or using the elliptical requires less attention than lifting heavy free weights.

Many people do a brief cardio warmup (5 to 10 minutes) before they lift.

Seanb_us

Okay. Great thread. My thoughts.

I do 45 minutes of cardio first, usually an elliptical on a high resistance. 15 minutes of this is to get my heart rate up. 30 minutes is to burn calories.

Then I do 30 minutes of weights. I do four reps of the most I can handle, 75% of the time machines. I figure I might be tired, because of the cardio, but I will lift the heaviest weights I can and this will make me stronger.

Occasionally, I will end with 15 minutes on the treadmill or 30 on a crosstraining elliptical.

Does that seem like a good plan?

Cheers,

Sean

MsQt

I do strength training for an hour first and then cardio for an hour!

angelapolite

I just got done with my workout, doing weights first for 30 minutes, then cardio (HIIT) for another 30 minutes.

I feel awesome doing it this way!

hbody2012

yes, I tried it several times and by time I was training I couldnt give my 100%. My trainer does hours of cardio and it great to do either way. It was works for you. She also see the difference in me during session. I gonna start doing kickboxing, and zumba for the extra cardio.

angelapolite

Another reason you would do strength training first if you are doing both in the same session is you will probably be able to concentrate better at the beginning of the session and you need to think about your form. You shouldn't ever do cardio mindlessly, but running on a treadmill or using the elliptical requires less attention than lifting heavy free weights.

Many people do a brief cardio warmup (5 to 10 minutes) before they lift.

I agree

Coombester

Nooooo!
The reason you are supposed to do cardio AFTER high intensity workouts (such as weight training) is because the high intensity workouts release fats into the bloodstream, the lower impact cardio afterwards then burns the fats that are released into the system (otherwise most of them stay in the body and are restored as fat).

It's just the most effective way to burn the most fat is why (there's no harm done if you do it the other way, it's just less effective).

So, warm up properly (could be on a cardio machine for 5-10mins)
Do your weights/ high intensity workout
Follow up with medium/ low intensity cardio
Stretch!

Et voila
Claire
London

Jeff92se

Nooooo!
The reason you are supposed to do cardio AFTER high intensity workouts (such as weight training) is because the high intensity workouts release fats into the bloodstream, the lower impact cardio afterwards then burns the fats that are released into the system (otherwise most of them stay in the body and are restored as fat).

It's just the most effective way to burn the most fat is why (there's no harm done if you do it the other way, it's just less effective).

So, warm up properly (could be on a cardio machine for 5-10mins)
Do your weights/ high intensity workout
Follow up with medium/ low intensity cardio
Stretch!

Et voila
Claire
London

What? Study that confirms this?

Seanb_us

I generally do cardio first. But Google knows of some reasons not to, such as this http://www.builtlean.com/2011/11/07/cardio-before-or-after-weights.

chuisle

Nooooo!
The reason you are supposed to do cardio AFTER high intensity workouts (such as weight training) is because the high intensity workouts release fats into the bloodstream, the lower impact cardio afterwards then burns the fats that are released into the system (otherwise most of them stay in the body and are restored as fat).

It's just the most effective way to burn the most fat is why (there's no harm done if you do it the other way, it's just less effective).

So, warm up properly (could be on a cardio machine for 5-10mins)
Do your weights/ high intensity workout
Follow up with medium/ low intensity cardio
Stretch!

Et voila
Claire
London

What? Study that confirms this?

Agree....never heard of this. Sounds bogus to me.

Seanb_us

I found this online: http://www.fitness-nutrition-weightloss.com/if-you-think-cardio-alone-burns-more-fat-think-again.html and this http://dynamicduotraining.com/wordpress/fasted-vs-fed-cardio.

Nooooo!
The reason you are supposed to do cardio AFTER high intensity workouts (such as weight training) is because the high intensity workouts release fats into the bloodstream, the lower impact cardio afterwards then burns the fats that are released into the system (otherwise most of them stay in the body and are restored as fat).

It's just the most effective way to burn the most fat is why (there's no harm done if you do it the other way, it's just less effective).

So, warm up properly (could be on a cardio machine for 5-10mins)
Do your weights/ high intensity workout
Follow up with medium/ low intensity cardio
Stretch!

Et voila
Claire
London

What? Study that confirms this?

teagin2002

I jog before lunch then in the evening I lift, sometimes I just feel like doing more cardio so I will ride my bike after I lift for about 30 to 40 min :flowerforyou:

Seanb_us

I like how this article is constructed supporting cardio before weights:

http://weighttraining.about.com/od/techniquesandstrategies/a/cardio_weights.htm

Cheers,

Sean

scribb

For me I change it up. M, W, F I do 60 + of cardio. On Tu and Th, i start out with 45 to 50 of Strength and then finish with 15 to 20 of cardio.

JustJennie1

It's really up to you. I do 30 min of cardio and then I do my weights. If I do it in the reverse I am more inclined to skip the cardio portion.

angelapolite

For me I change it up. M, W, F I do 60 + of cardio. On Tu and Th, i start out with 45 to 50 of Strength and then finish with 15 to 20 of cardio.

I like this

nyama1

I generally alternate days . But when i know i am going to skip a day of exercise I do cardio then strength training the day before.

marci423

bump

Sheila_Ann

I work out with my trainer 2x wk. We do a slight warm up. I swing either the 35lb kettlebell or 50lb (50x) just to get things warmed up and then we do weights. I used to do cardio first and then got "yelled" at for doing them first. My trainer told me that by doing cardio, my body would get tired half way into the strength training. Good luck!
Sheila