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Cardio before resistance or the other way around?

haylsquish
haylsquish Posts: 19 Member
edited February 1 in Fitness and Exercise
Is it better to do the cardio portion of my workout (cycle, cross trainer & rowing) first and then my resistance (squats, planks, lunges, push-ups, chair dips etc.) or the other way around?!

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Replies

  • StrongLife
    StrongLife Posts: 525 Member
    Most fitness magazines say do resistance first so your muscles are at their strongest. Personally I dislike the necessary evil called cardio so I do it first just to get it over with.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    It depends on your goals.

    If you have endurance/speed/race goals, then you should be doing cardio first when you can give 100%.
    If you have strength/size/body fat goals, then you should lift first so you can give 100%.
    If you have weight loss goals, your diet should dictate. If you need a big calorie burn to make up for poor eating, then do cardio first. If your eating like you should be, then lift first.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    It depends on your goals.

    If you have endurance/speed/race goals, then you should be doing cardio first when you can give 100%.
    If you have strength/size/body fat goals, then you should lift first so you can give 100%.
    If you have weight loss goals, your diet should dictate. If you need a big calorie burn to make up for poor eating, then do cardio first. If your eating like you should be, then lift first.


    ^^ Nailed it......
  • Jacqson84
    Jacqson84 Posts: 189 Member
    This!
  • haylsquish
    haylsquish Posts: 19 Member
    Great advice! Thanks!!
This discussion has been closed.