Is it better to do cardio to lose fat before strength training?

I'm not a man but I think either way works. It's good to do a little bit of both.

I've heard firstly that it's best to do them on separate days, or during separate sessions....and that if you're going to do them at the same session, to do strength first, then cardio..xo

Rags_91 wrote: »

What I'm asking is should I be doing cardio and strength training at the same time? Or would it more beneficial to focus on cardio to lose weight and then focus on strength training and gaining muscle afterwards?

It depends on what your goals are, what your stats are, your experience with weightlifting, what program you are on. The question is too undefined for anyone to be able to give a real answer.

That being said cardio does not cause weight loss, neither does lifting. Weight loss is all diet. You get heather, stronger, and to eat a little more from exercise but not lose weight.

Cardio before or after weight training is fine, but you will feel weak (at least I do) for whichever comes second. If you are mostly concerned about weight loss this shouldn't be a big deal. You can also split cardio and weights into separate days of the week. Honestly, cardio and weights really won't help you lose "that" much weight on their own. Diet is 80% of weight loss; training is 20%. So if you have a high quality diet you will lose weight without exercise. Though I would still advise clean eating and hard training.

Fat loss happens with a calorie deficit whether or not you exercise. One of the biggest myths in the fitness industry is that cardio is NEEDED for fat loss. Cardio and lifting are for fitness and health. They can HELP with creating a calorie deficit, but if one ate as much as they burned regardless of how much exercise they did, no weight loss would occur.

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Rags_91 wrote: »

I should have been more specific. I'm on a calorie deficit, roughy 1700 per day but I have started to train for a 5km run for next summer 3 days a week. Doing the C25K. I'm just wondering if I should be doing more and including strength training to maximize weight loss and becoming more fit.

Training to complete or do you want to crush some dreams?

I feel that strength training should be integral, if not the key focus when losing weight, so that as much muscle mass is preserved in the process.

I would definitely do both, I start with light cardio to get a sweat and warm up, then weight lift, and then cardio after my lifting session

Like several people stated above, weights will help shed BF%. It also helps with weight lose because the soreness caused by lifting weights is from the muscles being microscopically torn. It takes calories for your body to heal those tears so you actually keep burning calories after your weight lifting session is done. And weight lifting results in muscle gain which in turn increase your metabolism (basically, the more lean muscle you have, the more calories you will burn while at rest).

As for the cardio, the warm up cardio is just a preference of mine, some people just prefer a good stretch, but cardio after lifting is important because it helps get blood to the muscles and will help with recovery and of course overall fitness

Whenever I've worked out with a trainer they would incorporate both. Typically using lighter weights with less reps will build less bulky muscles but make you toned. Also doing push-ups and planks; any type of body weight resistance exercises, will help you reach your weight loss goals when integrated with a cardio work out.

I do both and recommend both. I used to do them on separate days but now I do cardio after strength because I found I needed my rest days.

Diet for fat loss, strength for muscle retention, cardio for fitness.