Does it matter...

Lynnmi07
Lynnmi07 Posts: 131 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
For the average person does it matter if you do cardio first or weights first. I plan to go to the gym later and I will do an hour on the treadmill (I enjoy it, first 30 minutes is usually intervals and I push hard and the last 30 minutes is just walking to finish watching whatever show I started watching). But I also plan to lift weights today as well and I just started thinking which should I do first or doesn't it matter?

Replies

  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    No, it does not. You can do either first, based on your goals. Your goals and interests may change from time to time and you may find yourself switching the order when they do.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    It doesn't really matter save for the fact that if I were to do some kind of intensive cardio before a lifting session, my lifting session would end up being less intense as I wouldn't be able to push and pull as much weight as I could if I were fresh...similarly, if I had a good lifting session and then went to do some cardio, it wouldn't be able to go as hard as I would with it if I were fresh.

    I do cardio and lift on the same days, but I generally have hours between sessions...like I ride in the AM and lift in the evening. I do often ride to the gym on Saturday though...then I lift and then I ride home...but my ride is just a pretty easy little spin and it's only about 5 miles each way so I'm not blowing my wad energy wise riding to the gym and riding home is a nice easy cool down...

    but yeah, if I want to get out and hit a tempo ride or something, that's not happening right after lifting, and my lifting would suck if I did it following a tempo ride or hills or something because my energy would be pretty low.
  • EttaMaeMartin
    EttaMaeMartin Posts: 303 Member
    DO YOU COMPENSATE CALORIES BURNED WITH EXTRA CALORIES TAKEN IN?
  • Lynnmi07
    Lynnmi07 Posts: 131 Member
    I try to stick to less than 2000 cals a day as far as weight loss goes. Exercise is just more for fitness and so I feel better. I really enjoy running and want it to be easy again.
  • Ws2016
    Ws2016 Posts: 432 Member
    EttaMaeMartin wrote: »
    DO YOU COMPENSATE CALORIES BURNED WITH EXTRA CALORIES TAKEN IN?

    If you want to lose weight at your target rate, you should. I eat back half my calories burned since I think the exercise calorie calcs tend to be high. If you don't eat them back you will lose weight quickly, too quickly for good health if you keep it up long term according to some.

  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    EttaMaeMartin wrote: »
    DO YOU COMPENSATE CALORIES BURNED WITH EXTRA CALORIES TAKEN IN?

    I'm assuming you're talking about eating back calories...that is the way this tool is designed...your calorie target already includes your weight loss deficit as per your day to day stuff...it does not include exercise activity...exercise is additional activity and common sense would dictate that it should be accounted for and with MFP you account for it by logging it which is why it gives you those calories to eat back. You have to be careful though as it is difficult to accurately measure CO.

    Think about it logically...if my calorie targets are based on my sitting around at my desk everyday...well, it would be logical to eat more if I go out on say, a 50 mile ride. Properly fueling your fitness is beneficial to your fitness as recovery requires energy...failure to properly fuel fitness activity can result in increased risk of injury do to *kitten* recovery...and your fitness gains will be minimal at best.
  • liftzilla16
    liftzilla16 Posts: 59 Member
    Like the others here, I'd say it depends more on your goals. If you're just going to the gym for general fitness and to stay healthy, I'd say it doesn't really matter which you choose so long as you keep everything balanced. It's really your personal preference at that point.

    On the other hand, if you're trying to lose weight, I'd always recommend cardio first and weights second because the cardio will deplete your body's natural sugars and energy so that the weight lifting can cut right into your body's stored fats, etc.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    colematthews16 wrote: »
    Like the others here, I'd say it depends more on your goals. If you're just going to the gym for general fitness and to stay healthy, I'd say it doesn't really matter which you choose so long as you keep everything balanced. It's really your personal preference at that point.

    On the other hand, if you're trying to lose weight, I'd always recommend cardio first and weights second because the cardio will deplete your body's natural sugars and energy so that the weight lifting can cut right into your body's stored fats, etc.

    Agree with the first part about it not mattering for the average person.

    Second part isn't correct though - you have far more glycogen in your body than an hour of "cardio" is likely to exhaust and the fuel you use during your workout has zero impact on overall fat loss / weight loss.
    Simply doesn't matter where the fuel is coming from.
  • Cherimoose
    Cherimoose Posts: 5,208 Member
    It takes a lot of mental and physical energy to do strength training correctly, safely, and with the proper effort level. That's a good argument for doing weights first. Personally i prefer to do them at different times of the day or on different days, so i have good energy afterward and my appetite isn't through the roof.
    colematthews16 wrote: »
    if you're trying to lose weight, I'd always recommend cardio first and weights second because the cardio will deplete your body's natural sugars and energy so that the weight lifting can cut right into your body's stored fats, etc.

    Physiology textbooks say that as glycogen decreases, the body makes new sugar by breaking down muscle tissue, through a process called gluconeogenesis. While you probably won't lose a lot of muscle from it, glycogen depletion probably isn't an optimal state to train in. :+1:
  • lemmie177
    lemmie177 Posts: 479 Member
    edited March 2016
    I would say in most cases weights first, then cardio if in the same session. If you're splitting them am/pm, then I'd just lift whenever you feel stronger. For me, that's pm. The more weight you're able to lift, the stronger the signal for your body to retain lean mass in a deficit. The more lean mass you can retain, the better the chances that your weight loss will be fat loss.

    If your priority is conditioning to be able to run, then conditioning/cardio work could come first. But honestly, I'd probably just do weights another day.
  • JoshLibby
    JoshLibby Posts: 214 Member
    Realistically it only matters with goals. If lifting is your priority do that first. If cardio is your priority do that first. Although, I would do what works for you and your body.
  • Sarc_Warrior
    Sarc_Warrior Posts: 430 Member
    Lift weights and skip rope between sets. You'll burn more fat skipping rope than doing "cardio" and it's a shorter more intense workout
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    indy_cruizer wrote: »
    Lift weights and skip rope between sets. You'll burn more fat skipping rope than doing "cardio" and it's a shorter more intense workout

    Skipping rope is cardio and if you are lifting heavy I wouldn't necessarily recommend cardio between sets
  • Sarc_Warrior
    Sarc_Warrior Posts: 430 Member
    Short intense workouts are one of the things crossfit excels at. Get in work your *kitten* off and leave. Why waste time with marathon lifting and cardio sessions. Most people spend more time resting between sets than actually working.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    If you are lifting in the 1-5 rep range than you need your rest between sets. Not everyone wants to be a crossfitter. My goals are more in line with powerlifting and jumping rope between sets of your 3 rep max on deadlifts would not be a smart idea.
  • Sarc_Warrior
    Sarc_Warrior Posts: 430 Member
    Must be a boring day in Nova scotia
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    Why do you say that? You're posting here too.
  • Sarc_Warrior
    Sarc_Warrior Posts: 430 Member
    The original poster was wondering whether to do cardio or weights first. I suggested doing them together to save time and increase intensity.
  • Sarc_Warrior
    Sarc_Warrior Posts: 430 Member
    And I'm not a crossfitter
  • Sarc_Warrior
    Sarc_Warrior Posts: 430 Member
    Fitness is a personal battle. Everybody has to find what works for them. Nerdfitness is an excellent site for resources and programming.

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