Cardio before or after lifting

Options
Natdogg37
Natdogg37 Posts: 31 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
wondering what is best for weight loss, doing cardio before or after lifting.
«1

Replies

  • IsaackGMOON
    IsaackGMOON Posts: 3,358 Member
    Options
    Weight loss comes from a caloric deficit. Exercise timing is irrelevant.
  • Laurenjenai
    Laurenjenai Posts: 197 Member
    Options
    I like to do my cardio first, but either way doesn't matter. It's just my personal preference.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,874 Member
    Options
    it doesn't matter one bit for losing weight. your weight loss is going to largely be about your diet, not what exercise you're doing or when you do it, etc.

    it's highly beneficial to start looking at exercise and fitness for the sake of fitness...setting independent fitness goals can help in this RE.

    I ride about 80 miles per week...usually get in a 5K or two as well...I lift 3x per week and I like walking my dog, doing a little hiking, and taking the occasional swim. I have lost weight, maintained weight, and gained weight doing all of those things. The difference between those three weight management goals was not my exercise, it was my eating...

    Personally, I like doing cardio on opposing days to my resistance training, but if I do them on the same day i like to have some time between workouts...so I'll do my cardio in the morning or at lunch and then lift in the evening after work...this way you can actually put forth your best efforts for both rather than having to half *kitten* one of your workouts.
  • debsdoingthis
    debsdoingthis Posts: 454 Member
    edited August 2015
    Options
    Having this discussion at work this morning and as the fat gal in the group, my opinion doesn't seem to matter. This latest convo came about as a result of a co-worker mentioning her new trainer has her running for about 30 minutes and then lifting and ab work for another 2 hours. So not that she will take any advice from me on which way is more efficient, but I would like some opinions on which way is better for calorie burn. Any pro's/con's come to mind?
  • Sean_TheITGuy
    Sean_TheITGuy Posts: 67 Member
    Options
    debsdoingthis wrote: »
    Having this discussion at work this morning and as the fat gal in the group, my opinion doesn't seem to matter. This latest convo came about as a result of a co-worker mentioning her new trainer has her running for about 30 minutes and then lifting and ab work for another 2 hours. So not that she will take any advice from me on which way is more efficient, but I would like some opinions on which way is better for calorie burn.

    calorie burn is the same either way, assuming the order you do it in doesn't limit your performance. If cardio wipes you out so you can only half heartedly lift, or vice versa, then that's the wrong way for you to do it.
  • CSARdiver
    CSARdiver Posts: 6,252 Member
    Options
    I do ~30 mins light cardio before and after lifting - the after is more of a stretch and cool down jog.

    As @cwolfman13 stated I want to be at my peak when lifting, so don't exert myself on the pre-lift cardio, just a quick jog to get the blood flowing and HR up.
  • dahhhhhling
    dahhhhhling Posts: 66 Member
    Options
    Like others have said, the order doesn't really matter for weight loss. However, I lift before I do cardio simply because cardio tires me out, so if I were to lift after I've already done my cardio it puts me at a greater risk of improper form and injuring myself.

    I usually do a warm up (I like Tony Horton's warm up on Youtube), do my lifts, then end with about 30 minutes of HIIT on the elliptical.
  • KittensMaster
    KittensMaster Posts: 748 Member
    edited August 2015
    Options
    I do cardio fasted when possible.

    I purposely want my mitochondria to be more adapted to burning a higher percentage of fat as fuel in the mix. I eat moderately low carb so glycogen depletion comes easily.

    I will slam an electrolyte pack when a bike ride goes over an hour and a half. I am in a calorie deficit. It is about fat loss

    For lifting days I eat at maintenance calorie level. I lift hard to add muscle, it isn't a fat burning event for me.

    Google endurance training mitochondria for hundreds of hits. It is a body adaption process not a diet fad. Lots of university research papers to read if you care to.

    It is a bit tiring at first but your mitochondria is an adaptive organelle.

    A bit of info, University of New Mexico

    https://www.unm.edu/~lkravitz/Article folder/physiologgfatloss.html
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    Options
    Unless you're specifically training for something - it doesn't matter.

    My running takes slight precedence over my lifting this seasons- but come October that will flip back over and running will become second fiddle.

    I have specific goals right now- and I will in the winter as well. So- my methods will change.

    If you have no specific goal- then focus on the calorie deficit and incorporate and general fitness plan- in which case I generally recommend lifting then cardio- only so you get the most bang for your buck out of your lifts.
  • rick_po
    rick_po Posts: 449 Member
    Options
    In general, it's best to do the thing that's most important to you first, so you're freshest when you do the thing you're practicing the thing that's most in line with your fitness goals.

    If your goal is just general fitness, I'd do just a 2 or 3 minutes of cardio warm-up, then strength training, then the main cardio workout, because it's slightly more dangerous to lift heavy weights when you're tired.

    For weight loss, it doesn't matter.
  • whmscll
    whmscll Posts: 2,254 Member
    Options
    For weight loss it doesn't matter. However, everything I've read about lifting (which I've just started) says that to reap the most benefit from lifting and to maintain proper form you should lift first and do cardio after if you are doing both on the same day.
  • sixxpoint
    sixxpoint Posts: 3,529 Member
    Options
    IsaackGMOON wrote: »
    Weight loss comes from a caloric deficit. Exercise timing is irrelevant.

    ^ This.

    If I even do cardio, I will do it before weighlifting. But I do very little cardio... 1-3 miles tops at a fast pace.

    Most of the strenous activity I do in the gym is weightlifting (yes, this elevates heart rate and breathing too). So, if I put in 40-60 minutes of heavy lifting then I definitely I won't want to jump on the treadmill afterward.
  • debsdoingthis
    debsdoingthis Posts: 454 Member
    Options
    rick_po wrote: »
    In general, it's best to do the thing that's most important to you first, so you're freshest when you do the thing you're practicing the thing that's most in line with your fitness goals.

    If your goal is just general fitness, I'd do just a 2 or 3 minutes of cardio warm-up, then strength training, then the main cardio workout, because it's slightly more dangerous to lift heavy weights when you're tired.

    For weight loss, it doesn't matter.
    This was the advice given to me by the last trainer I had. Made perfect sense to me as I was lifting to maintain and strengthen muscles and cardio for the calorie burn.

  • ryanflebbe
    ryanflebbe Posts: 188 Member
    Options
    They use different energy systems. Lifting first so performance and muscle sparing is emphasized. Cardio second so hopefully glycogen is depleted some and burning calories from fat is emphasized.
  • cronus70
    cronus70 Posts: 191 Member
    Options
    If your looking to include cardio on lifting days, instead of big blocks of cardio before or after your lifting, why not do some during your routine, it's called cardio acceleration.
    A typical example would be after you complete all your reps of a set, instead of sitting and resting before your next set you do some cardio for 30-60 seconds I.e jumping jacks, jump rope, butt kicks, high knees etc etc etc.
  • CasperNaegle
    CasperNaegle Posts: 936 Member
    Options
    It's what ever works for you the best.. You are just burning calories and when you do it doesn't matter.
  • peaceout_aly
    peaceout_aly Posts: 2,018 Member
    Options
    I don't think it really matters - whatever your personal preference is. I like to lift first, run after.
  • Meganthedogmom
    Meganthedogmom Posts: 1,639 Member
    Options
    I typically do strength training first, then cardio. Otherwise I find I'm kinda worn out by the time I do strength and I can't do as much.
  • lizzocat
    lizzocat Posts: 356 Member
    Options
    I don't do cardio on lifting days usually (I am not counting walking here) however, I do accessory work and that usually works up quite a sweat.
  • fannyfrost
    fannyfrost Posts: 756 Member
    Options
    The only good advice I got on this is that if you are doing cardio and lifting on the same day, you may want to lift first if you will be tired after doing your cardio.

    Other than that as far as best benefit and all that crap, it makes no difference.

    Personally I like to Circuit training or classes that get your heart rate up and lifting mostly. I also do supersets and just move from one exercise to another. I don't have a lot of time so it works for me.

Categories