Who wants to settle an argument?

thebzax
thebzax Posts: 55 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
My boyfriend and I have been going to the gym together for a few days now, and we've been discussing whether or not the order in which you exercise matters. He is convinced that doing the strength stuff before cardio results in a quicker weight loss, while I'm not sure that it would matter? Can anyone shed some light on if there's any truth in what he's saying?
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Replies

  • bdburch
    bdburch Posts: 127
    The only thing I can really think of is that if you do cardio first, you may not have enough energy left to give strength training 100%.

    Other than that, I see no real reason why order matters. It would be nice if others can shed some light on this matter.
  • 99cherrypie99
    99cherrypie99 Posts: 205 Member
    Strength before cardio. You want to have full power for a strength workout.

    jenhudsonmosher.blogspot.com
  • mumtoonegirl
    mumtoonegirl Posts: 586 Member
    I do it opposite because I use cardio to warm up for my strength. I only do a 15 minute run and then go to the weight room. Worked well for me so far. This is based on what I did when I did the NROLW program and I continue to do it still now that I am done the full program and have built my own training regiment.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Bump - I'm interested in the answers.

    I asked this of some friends recently and got no agreement. All were regular exercisers, one was a physical therapist, 2 were personal trainers. I took from that argument that it's a "whatever works best for you" kind of thing.
  • thebzax
    thebzax Posts: 55 Member
    Yeah, I'd also suggested that maybe it was so you would have more energy to work effectively in strength training. I've been doing cardio first up until now but think I'll switch it: quick cardio warm up before strength.

    Thanks for the answers guys!
  • bizco
    bizco Posts: 1,949 Member
    Strength before cardio. You want to have full power for a strength workout.
    ^ This.
  • roni1179
    roni1179 Posts: 30 Member
    my trainer always said for you to do both at the same time is really helpful. I would so three mins of fast cardio and then do three reps of strength and then 5 mins of cardio he said that those kind of burst help the body burn more! I do cardio then strength one day then vice versa the next!
  • littlebudgie
    littlebudgie Posts: 279 Member
    I don't know that it would make a difference in terms of weight loss, but I would definitely do strength first, since strength building is my primary goal and I would want to be as fresh as possible for that. If I were training for a race, though, I'd do cardio first.
  • JossFit
    JossFit Posts: 588 Member
    My boyfriend and I have been going to the gym together for a few days now, and we've been discussing whether or not the order in which you exercise matters. He is convinced that doing the strength stuff before cardio results in a quicker weight loss, while I'm not sure that it would matter? Can anyone shed some light on if there's any truth in what he's saying?

    WEIGHT is a very general term. If I do cardio, it makes me have to poop... therefore I'll do cardio first, poop, and BAM, I just lost some 'weight' didn't I? (I kid of course, but you see the point).

    There have been numerous studies done on the subject and the only conclusive answer is that for best results you need to prioritize your training to your FITNESS goals. Weight loss is going to depend on your diet, not what you are doing in the gym. The exercise you get does burn calories but generally speaking diet is for weight loss/gain, exercise is for fitness.

    If you are focused on muscle building it's probably best to hit the weights first so that you can give it your all. If you are focued on increasing your run distance or cutting off some time, cardio first is the way to go.
  • Loftearmen
    Loftearmen Posts: 380
    My boyfriend and I have been going to the gym together for a few days now, and we've been discussing whether or not the order in which you exercise matters. He is convinced that doing the strength stuff before cardio results in a quicker weight loss, while I'm not sure that it would matter? Can anyone shed some light on if there's any truth in what he's saying?

    WEIGHT is a very general term. If I do cardio, it makes me have to poop... therefore I'll do cardio first, poop, and BAM, I just lost some 'weight' didn't I? (I kid of course, but you see the point).

    There have been numerous studies done on the subject and the only conclusive answer is that for best results you need to prioritize your training to your FITNESS goals. Weight loss is going to depend on your diet, not what you are doing in the gym. The exercise you get does burn calories but generally speaking diet is for weight loss/gain, exercise is for fitness.

    If you are focused on muscle building it's probably best to hit the weights first so that you can give it your all. If you are focued on increasing your run distance or cutting off some time, cardio first is the way to go.

    ^This
  • lausa22
    lausa22 Posts: 467 Member
    I mix it up. I do 2 cardio activities like 20 minutes on a bike, 20 on a rower. Then 3-4 strength activities. Then 2-3 cardio then finish off with strength.
  • thebzax
    thebzax Posts: 55 Member
    My boyfriend and I have been going to the gym together for a few days now, and we've been discussing whether or not the order in which you exercise matters. He is convinced that doing the strength stuff before cardio results in a quicker weight loss, while I'm not sure that it would matter? Can anyone shed some light on if there's any truth in what he's saying?

    WEIGHT is a very general term. If I do cardio, it makes me have to poop... therefore I'll do cardio first, poop, and BAM, I just lost some 'weight' didn't I? (I kid of course, but you see the point).

    There have been numerous studies done on the subject and the only conclusive answer is that for best results you need to prioritize your training to your FITNESS goals. Weight loss is going to depend on your diet, not what you are doing in the gym. The exercise you get does burn calories but generally speaking diet is for weight loss/gain, exercise is for fitness.

    If you are focused on muscle building it's probably best to hit the weights first so that you can give it your all. If you are focued on increasing your run distance or cutting off some time, cardio first is the way to go.

    Very good point that I hadn't really considered. We were just talking in terms of general weight loss, but this makes a lot of sense.
  • roverdisc98
    roverdisc98 Posts: 78 Member
    i'm only good at starting arguments!
  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
    my trainer always said for you to do both at the same time is really helpful. I would so three mins of fast cardio and then do three reps of strength and then 5 mins of cardio he said that those kind of burst help the body burn more! I do cardio then strength one day then vice versa the next!


    Your trainer has you doing HIIT, but doing "strength" training during your rest periods.

    Get your money back.
  • yo_andi
    yo_andi Posts: 2,178 Member
    Define cardio?

    If you do a quick bout of cardio to start your warm-up before you lift, it's different than doing 45 mins on the elliptical and then lifting.

    If you are doing a lot of cardio, then lifting, you may be hurting your progress because you won't have a full tank of gas to devote to your strength training.
  • VoodooLuLu
    VoodooLuLu Posts: 636 Member
    I do weights (strength) then cardio then yoga :D
  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
    I do weights (strength) then cardio then yoga :D


    Triumvirate, FTW!
  • ChristyRunStarr
    ChristyRunStarr Posts: 1,600 Member
    I met with a personal trainer a few weeks back and she said to do a warm up run then do weights. I tried it for a bit and I don't like it so I went back to hitting the weights first then doing some cardio
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    Makes no difference for weight loss. Do them in the order that allows you to give the best effort. Can you do them on separate days?
  • jlapey
    jlapey Posts: 1,850 Member
    It depends on what's most important to you. Probably best to keep them separate. One will affect your effectiveness on the other.
  • lesspaul
    lesspaul Posts: 190 Member
    Weights first, but only because cardio first causes me to sweat all over the weight equipment. Bad gym etiquette. (BTW someday I will learn to spell etiquette and not have to have auto correct figure it out for me.)
  • Lisa1971
    Lisa1971 Posts: 3,069 Member
    Strength before cardio. You want to have full power for a strength workout.
    ^ This.

    Agreed!
  • BEERRUNNER
    BEERRUNNER Posts: 3,046 Member
    On Strength days I run for like 15 minutes to warm up. Then I hit the weights hard cause my blood is just flowing and I got a sweat on!!!!!!!!!:devil:

    Then there is days like yesterday that I DID NOT TOUCH A WEIGHT...but I did run for 45 minutes and did dips and pull ups n crunches! :bigsmile:
  • theCarlton
    theCarlton Posts: 1,344 Member
    I'm better at starting arguments than settling them.
  • Lupercalia
    Lupercalia Posts: 1,857 Member
    If you insist on doing both on the same day, strength first....finish with cardio.
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    The only thing I can really think of is that if you do cardio first, you may not have enough energy left to give strength training 100%.

    This.
  • BEERRUNNER
    BEERRUNNER Posts: 3,046 Member
    On Strength days I run for like 15 minutes to warm up. Then I hit the weights hard cause my blood is just flowing and I got a sweat on!!!!!!!!!:devil:

    Then there is days like yesterday that I DID NOT TOUCH A WEIGHT...but I did run for 45 minutes and did dips and pull ups n crunches! :bigsmile:

    This ^^^^^
  • smantha32
    smantha32 Posts: 6,990 Member
    My boyfriend and I have been going to the gym together for a few days now, and we've been discussing whether or not the order in which you exercise matters. He is convinced that doing the strength stuff before cardio results in a quicker weight loss, while I'm not sure that it would matter? Can anyone shed some light on if there's any truth in what he's saying?

    I was told that doing strength first burns the glycogen in your muscles, so that by the time you get to cardio you're burning fat not glucose. Could be a myth. Others can probably say for sure. :smile:


    edited for leaving a word out. :smile:
  • markymarrkk
    markymarrkk Posts: 495 Member
    I read a solid study (wish I could cite it for you but I can't find it) that found that the best overall health, performance and fat loss was seen when doing cardio exercises such as jumping jacks or running, in between sets weight lifting. More so than doing either separate or after each other.
  • bagge72
    bagge72 Posts: 1,377 Member
    I always do my lifting first, that way I'm not too sweaty and smelly while using the weight machines.

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