cardio or strength training first

ashleyShades
ashleyShades Posts: 375 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hello. I met with a trainer today at Planet Fitness and she gave me a rough outline of what I should be doing when I'm in the gym. However, I am unsure whether to do strength training before cardio or vice versa? Or, does it not matter?

Replies

  • Mellonz
    Mellonz Posts: 10
    Personally I have always done cardio first, to me that really gets my body warmed up before I do anything else, but I see some people in the gym do the reverse, so not sure if it is a personal choice, but to me it makes sense to warm up first :)
  • ashleyShades
    ashleyShades Posts: 375 Member
    That makes sense lol
  • ramonafrincu
    ramonafrincu Posts: 160 Member
    "THIS"
    Personally I have always done cardio first, to me that really gets my body warmed up before I do anything else, but I see some people in the gym do the reverse, so not sure if it is a personal choice, but to me it makes sense to warm up first :)
    [/quote]
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    Strength training. Cardio isn't an appropriate warm up for lifting- warm up sets are.
  • mlb929
    mlb929 Posts: 1,974 Member
    I prefer my strength training first because I'm not so exhausted after my cardio that I can't lift to my fullest potential. I also like to combine my cardio with strength like with a kettlebell, or resistance bands, plyometrics, etc.
  • paulkempjr
    paulkempjr Posts: 64 Member
    I do 15 to 30 minutes of cardio everyday before I hit the weights, you also want to do warm up sets, but that is part of the weightlifting. I also do cardio on my "off"days, it is always a good idea to start out with cardio, how much and how frequently depends on what your goals are!
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Strength training. Cardio isn't an appropriate warm up for lifting- warm up sets are.

    This...also, you're going to have a hard time putting 100% into your weight training routine after a good cardio workout. I can't get my max weight on my sets if I've done cardio before...I hit fail at much lower weights because I'm already tired. I lift 3x weekly and do my aerobic zone cardio on non lift days...I only do recovery cardio on lift days, either at lunch (hours before hitting the gym) or after my weight routine. This is generally just some moderate paced walking or a nice cycle ride or sometimes a stationary bike at the gym.
  • braves1girl
    braves1girl Posts: 189 Member
    I usually walk a mile on the treadmill (15mins) and then start my strength. Every book I have read (and that's a lot) it tells you to warm up with a walk or stepping (moderately), etc as a warm-up and then go to the weights. As someone else mentioned, if you wear yourself out with the cardio, then you can't give it all with the weights and you are sort of defeating the purpose. I do the rest of my cardio after the weights. That also makes you burn well past your stopping time!
  • wareagle8706
    wareagle8706 Posts: 1,090 Member
    Strength training. Cardio isn't an appropriate warm up for lifting- warm up sets are.

    Yes.

    Strength training first if you're doing both in the same workout. Need power and strength for weight lifting that you will lose if you exhaust yourself on a piece of cardio equipment.

    Now, regarding the fact that a "trainer" at PF told you what to do. Not a real trainer.... just saying... don't take everything they say as gold. Be professionally skeptical.
  • chicbuc
    chicbuc Posts: 637 Member
    I do a 5-7 minute warm up on the treadmill followed by stretching, then lifting, and a 10-15 mintue cool down on the treadmill. I don't have anything left to give for cardio after I lift, and I want to give all I can to lifting.

    I run on 2-3 of the non-lifting days.
  • Eons44
    Eons44 Posts: 76 Member
    I try to do some light cardio for about 10 minutes before weight lifting just to get the blood flowing. Then about 10-15 minutes of more strenuous cardio afterwards
  • MLibby84
    MLibby84 Posts: 87
    I have a personal trainer that I see 2 days a week and one day we do lower body which can sometimes result in cardio(circut training) and then next day we do upper body/strengthening, free weights. But we tend to do be well rounded. and then i go to the gym on my own 3 days a week and do my cardio and incorpret the things I do at my personal training. If you have any questions you can always ask her/him as well.

    Good Luck!
  • MLibby84
    MLibby84 Posts: 87
    and i agree with mellons. Anytime I start a work out I do sometype of cardio since for me it seems to be when i burn the most calories/fat.
  • ashleyShades
    ashleyShades Posts: 375 Member
    Looking at the forms I was given it does say to warm up then says (5 to 10 minutes of low intensity cardio) then strength training followed by abs and cardio and then stretching

    Thanks guys. I'm new to strength training =D
  • MG_Fit
    MG_Fit Posts: 1,143 Member
    Looking at the forms I was given it does say to warm up then says (5 to 10 minutes of low intensity cardio) then strength training followed by abs and cardio and then stretching

    Thanks guys. I'm new to strength training =D

    That's what I do...5 min on a stationary bicycle, strength training, cardio, cool down.
  • ashleyShades
    ashleyShades Posts: 375 Member
    Thank you all

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