cardio/weight training - same or alternate days?

whatatime2befit
whatatime2befit Posts: 625 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Do you do your strength training on the same day as cardio, or do you alternate the days?

Just curious what works best.

Thanks!

Replies

  • numinousnymph
    numinousnymph Posts: 249 Member
    unless i'm pressed for time, in which case i'll only do cardio, i do cardio and strength on the same day.
  • NBENG
    NBENG Posts: 12 Member
    I do the same days as well. However on the day I do legs I do lighter cardio than normal. I typically do legs with a lighter jog. If I run short on time I do cardio with some planks or a few quicker core/strength exercises.
  • lloydrt
    lloydrt Posts: 1,121 Member
    I do them both..I try weight work outs 3 times a week, and cardio 3 more times ,but on the days I weight lift, I try cardio for an additional 45 mins or so

    it helps ,good luck
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    I try to do a little cardio on the days I lift, then dedicate 1-2 days just to cardio itself. I only do like 20 minutes on lifting days because I HATE it.
  • whatatime2befit
    whatatime2befit Posts: 625 Member
    Thanks for the responses!
  • SKME2013
    SKME2013 Posts: 704 Member
    Depends on what kind of cardio I am doing: if I run 10+K, then I do not do any weight training , at least not for the legs on the same day. If I use the elliptical or the spin bike I might do some weight training on the same day. So in short, on two days, depending on the kind of cardio I am doing.

    For me cardio is more important at the moment as I am training for a half marathon.
    Stef.
  • tkillion810
    tkillion810 Posts: 591 Member
    What is your goal? Is your goal to lose weight, gain strength, etc?
  • whatatime2befit
    whatatime2befit Posts: 625 Member
    What is your goal? Is your goal to lose weight, gain strength, etc?

    I have about 40 lbs left to lose, but I also need to tone up and build some muscle.
  • tkillion810
    tkillion810 Posts: 591 Member
    Depending on how many days you are working out, or wanting to commit to working out also factors in. If you only want to allocate three days a week, I would do them on the same day. Generally I recommend adding the cardio after the weights. If you are willing to allocate more time, say 5 days a week to workouts, then I would do a 2/3 day split with 2 or 3 of the days devoted to cardio, and the other 2 or 3 days devoted to full body strength. Hope this helps!
  • 999tigger
    999tigger Posts: 5,235 Member
    Same day for me, with the cardio after the weights otherwise id be too exhausted to keep form for the weights.
  • rsclause
    rsclause Posts: 3,103 Member
    I run 4.5 miles round trip to the gym and back on cardio + weight lifting days and run 7.5 miles on cardio only
  • whatatime2befit
    whatatime2befit Posts: 625 Member
    Thanks everyone! I've been working out 5-6 days/week, and so far I've been doing weight lifting and cardio on the same days (some days cardio only though).
  • rontuu
    rontuu Posts: 23
    Same answer as the others. I do them the same days. I work out Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. All days cardio followed by the weight room. Monday / Wednesday 30 Minutes Elliptical. Thursday 5 Mile Run. Saturday 10-20 mile run.
  • jimvic37
    jimvic37 Posts: 25
    I mix it up constantly. Today after my warmup routine I did 5 sets of of 5 heavy touch and go dead lifts. Then I did 15 minutes of the following: Ran 200 meters, 15 burpees then 1 minute plank. I made it through 5 rounds.
    This a pretty representative of my daily workouts although some days it maybe more focused on strength with less focus on cardio or visa versa.
  • sm1zzle
    sm1zzle Posts: 920 Member
    whatatime wrote: »
    Do you do your strength training on the same day as cardio, or do you alternate the days?

    Just curious what works best.

    Thanks!

    On the days that I lift I do cardio as well. First I lift then I do 15 minutes on the treadmill and then move right into 15 minutes on the elliptical.

    For the days that I do not lift I still do cardio, but I up the amount. I will usually do 40-45 minutes of cardio on those days.
  • flip212
    flip212 Posts: 9
    I do cardio and weight training on the same day. Always hitting the weights first and following up with 30 minutes of HIIT. Best of luck!
  • MKEgal
    MKEgal Posts: 3,250 Member
    I do cardio every day, weights every 2-3 days.
    Do weights first.
  • jos05
    jos05 Posts: 263 Member
    I do some sort of cardio... everyday! I also lift...but I do it in cycles... usually upper body, lower body, abs/core, and on the weekends I will work whatever I feel like I need to concentrate on the most. :smile:
    But I never skip cardio!! :wink:

    Usually my routine is 5 mins stretching, 30 mins cardio, 30-45 lifting, and usually another 15-20 mins of cardio...and light yoga/stretching... It's been working!!

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