cardio or weights?

Do you mean first in a row on the same day or in general which type of exercise should you first add to your overall program?

I only do weights. Guess it just depends on your goals.

My cardio is primarily walking. I do both. And since I split my strength training alternating between lower- and upper-body days, and since it's summer and days are long, I find I'm likelier to walk after strength training on lower-body days. On upper-body, it's whatever fits my mood. And when the days grow shorter, I imagine the walking will come first, because I can strength-train in my basement after it gets dark, but I prefer to walk by day. (Not just for safety reasons. I'm in Toronto. Overnight temperatures can be quite a bit colder than daytime.)

I do them on alternate days. I do a weight circuit at my gym that involves 10 machines with about a minute of light cardio between each machine to keep the heart rate elevated. I'm sweating by the end of it. I do that every other day and then on the alternate days I do cardio (usually jogging/walking on the treadmill.)

Depends on your goals.

My goals are weight-lifting related. Therefore, weights first so I am not tired from the cardio.

I do cardio every day and 4 days of weights. I do the cardio first, I just prefer it. I can't imagine it makes a huge difference for those of us with casual goals.

RockinOilyMomma wrote: »

I read once that any exercise after 30 minutes burns straight fat for energy. Not sure if that is true. For that reason, I try to do 30-40 minutes on my elliptical, then go straight into whatever muscle group I am working that day.

It takes way longer than that to deplete glycogen stores.

The intensity of the exercise is going to have more to do with whether or not you're using fat or glycogen for energy for any one particular activity. For example, walking will utilize more fat for energy (but burn fewer overall calories) than going for a run which will largely utilize glycogen for fuel. You burn more fat sleeping than anything else you do, but I wouldn't recommend multiple daily naps as a weight loss tool.

This however is all moot. You constantly cycle between fuel sources and between fat storage and oxidation...at the end of the day, your calorie deficit is what will determine net fat loss.

There isn't an absolute correct answer for this question as it depends on how intense the cardio is, how heavy the weights are & ultimately, your goals.

In general terms, if you're lifting heavy, the recommendation is to lift first in order to maintain good form (your form is more likely to break down when fatigued) maximizing the benefits and reducing the likelihood of injuring yourself.