Cardio then strength, or strength than cardio?

angelacarmela0830

This may be an idiotic question but I was talking with a friend the other day and she told me that during my workout I should do strength training before I start my cardio. Does anyone have any input about this?

lpettibone

This may be an idiotic question but I was talking with a friend the other day and she told me that during my workout I should do strength training before I start my cardio. Does anyone have any input about this?

The trainer at my gym says that you should warm up first (5-10 minutes of cardio) and then do strength. After strength, you do cardio. Your body will be burning more calories after strength, so it is important to do a majority of your cardio afterwards.

bumblebums

Back when I did both on the same day, I found I had better results if I did strength first.

Now I just don't do them on the same day but alternate.

LJCannon

I always do about 10 - 15 Minutes Cardio to warm up my muscles. Some people do it opposite. Maybe it comes down to what is Best For You?

HeidiMightyRawr

Strength before, so that you're strongest and have the most energy for the lifting

Cardio afterwards.

angelacarmela0830

Thank you so much for the input! Definitely cleared things up for me!

Maximumresults

strength before cardio..you want as much energy available to direct toward your lifts...if you are going for maximum lean body mass..then your cardio should be seperate from your lifting ..8 hours apart..but in most regular worlds, this isn't a viable option..so doing it after would be the next best choice

barbi1281

I was told the same thing by a personal trainer... the reason for that is that you can work harder and do more/heavier reps if you don't deplete your energy on cardio. Also, cardio only causes a fat burn when you're working, strength continues to burn fat even when you stop (this lasts several hours) so you get double bang for your buck if you do your cardio after strength. I usually do short cardio after my strength on toning days and the other days I do heavy cardio and no strength.

xidia

Just to be contrary, I do it the other way around. Cardio tires my muscles less than lifting, so I'll do my 30-40min cardio session, then lift. If I lift first, I can barely walk home, let alone go for a run. I lift heavy, so that might make a difference.

Now I try to alternate days, or at least split it to weights in the morning and cardio in the afternoon (personal preference - some people prefer cardio in the morning and lifting in the evening).

SmartAlec03211988

If I have enough energy for cardio after lifting, I don't consider that session done well enough. Instead, I alternate between strength and cardio days.

But that could just be me, and not anything substantially valid.

Riemersma4

I do 10 minutes on the elliptical to warm up the body first.

Then lift.

Then do 20 minutes of HIIT cardio or 4 minutes Tabata (which usually makes me puke..)

Good luck!

kdcshesback

Strength before, so that you're strongest and have the most energy for the lifting

Cardio afterwards.

I'm inclined to agree with this line of thought.

Energizer06

I remember reading a few studies (its been a while, so can't remember the references), but they studied the effects of fat burn after strength training. They came to the conclusion that a nice 30 min cardio session immediately after strength training led to burning more fat cells. They referred to a cardio session as a nice 30 min. 3.5 + brisk walk immediately. If I recall it was due to the glycogen stores being depleted during the strength session and allowed the calories burned afterwards to be dedicated towards fat cells.

IndianCat3

[/quote]
The trainer at my gym says that you should warm up first (5-10 minutes of cardio) and then do strength. After strength, you do cardio. Your body will be burning more calories after strength, so it is important to do a majority of your cardio afterwards.
[/quote]



^^^i agree 100%

IndianCat3

This may be an idiotic question but I was talking with a friend the other day and she told me that during my workout I should do strength training before I start my cardio. Does anyone have any input about this?

The trainer at my gym says that you should warm up first (5-10 minutes of cardio) and then do strength. After strength, you do cardio. Your body will be burning more calories after strength, so it is important to do a majority of your cardio afterwards.

i agree 100%

JustJennie1

I will be a contrarian as well. I do my 30 minutes of cardio before I lift. If I don't then I will be too tired and sore from lifting to even think about doing my cardio. Case in point: Monday I did my 30 min. of cardio first then did a heavy leg day followed by abs. By time I was done I was tired and sore and had I not done my cardio first I would have skipped it.

A lot of people say that if you do your cardio first you won't have the strength to lift heavy but I disagree. I have always done my cardio first (for the reasons above) and I have never been too tired to lift heavy and believe me, I am not doing lazy cardio either. I'm dripping sweat, panting and my HR can sometimes get up to 170BPM which is a little over 90% of my max (220-age).

I just personally know myself and I know that if I lift first cardio will never be done.

xidia

If I have enough energy for cardio after lifting, I don't consider that session done well enough

Yes, this.

nexangelus

Hmmm...I cycle everywhere, which means to the gym and back and I sometimes run there and back...to do my heavy lifting session three times per week. So I do cardio, strength, cardio three times per week and then cardio on the other two to four days( have two full days' rest per week if I can)

If you have the energy, you are eating the right amount and feel like it, in any order will do, your body will let you know soon enough what it can handle and what it cannot. Also depends on your goals, are they purely strength based or do you want some cardio thrown in there? Go from there, then try various combos out.

_Witsy_

I prefer to do a quick warm up on the treadmill and then lift. I always do a cardio session after lifting so I'm able to put all I got into the lifting.

contingencyplan

Quick warmup then straight to strength. The bottom line is that any program including strength training should be focused around the strength training, with the strength training being the root of the program, and everything else being planned around it.

astronomicals

I think this matters a lot more when your in a caloric surplus trying to gain muscle.... If your cutting weight its probably rather trivial.


You also have to take into account what type of workout you're doing.... Low rep or high rep training? I guess high rep training may make cardio seem like hell afterwards (I dunno, I dont do high reps)

_DaniD_

It's all about what works best for you.

taso42

the advice in these threads is always pretty amusing

Lone_Wolf70

i generally do 30min cardio and then 30-45min lifting. Although, I think the science behind doing strength first is sound, for me, I find that I am too tired to really go hard in cardio afterwards.

myofibril

It makes bugger all difference if you are an average exerciser.

Do what you feel comfortable with.

nokanjaijo

If I had a dime for every time somebody at the gym told me I should be doing strength first instead of cardio, I could afford the taser I want to use on those people.

My body responds to cardio like it's meth or something. I'm unreasonably happy and full of energy after cardio. Not only do I prefer to do cardio before strength, I like to do cardio before everything. I seek to maximize the amount of my day that is post cardio and minimize the amount that is pre cardio. Everything is better once I've done cardio.

RiannonC

I don't think it matters as much as some people think it does.

I would do it in the order that you enjoy doing most. For me, that's cardio first, hands down.

rpmtnbkr

I vary.. some days strength first after a quick warmup, some days cardio first. Just like to mix it up... Keeps the body guessing about what's coming.

suzycav77

i do cardio then strength then back to cardio 3/4 times per week!!

danyelle67

Great question I was wondering the same. I usually do Cardio for 30 min then Strength for 30 to 40 min 4 to 5 days per week. I feel like I am getting bigger though my thighs and butt are. Put a pair of jeans on yesterday and could barely get them over my thighs...So frustrating when your working hard and trying to eat healthy. Well good luck! I think I am going to change things up!!!

auddii

Whatever you do second is going to suffer from whatever you do first. You're going to need to base it on what your goals are. If your number one goal is improved strength, do that first. If distance running is your goal (or something else cardio based), do cardio first.