Is it ok to cardio on weight lifting days?

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Replies

  • hpynh2o
    hpynh2o Posts: 194 Member
    I'm in the Strength => Cardio camp.

    I try to do some cardio everyday, but only strength train on alternating days.
    And I never do anything on an empty stomach. I tend to poop out too fast if I go at it hungry.

    :)
    Works for me.
    Good luck!
  • KristyJoy123
    KristyJoy123 Posts: 84 Member
    "There is a difference between a 10 minute warm up (basically "get your body warm") and 45 minute run (85% max heart rate). Long cardio depletes your body of glycogen, which you need to lift heavy."

    Yeah, see, I do less cardio on weight training days. I'll do a 20 minute interval run then do weights for 20-30 minutes.
  • babareeba
    babareeba Posts: 74 Member
    Wait....I have a question. Weights, then cardio? But the poster in the gym says 10-20 min warmup on cardio; 10-20 min of weights, etc, etc.

    Do I not need to do a quick warm up first before doing weights? I have to agree, the days that I have done 30 minutes of cardio, my body doesn't seem to want to push as hard on the weights, but I was thinking just 5-10 min of treadmill running, then weights.

    Help! I'm confused!

    thanks :ohwell:

    hey, I do just an opposite: only 10 minutes of cario to warm up, than weights (30 to 45 in), and for the finish 20 to 30 min HIIT cardio. works for me.
  • kari574
    kari574 Posts: 99 Member
    My trainer always has me do a few minutes of cardio before weights to warm up, then strength training. He also says if I can, to do cardio after; your body will burn more calories after the strength training. Though I never have time for it since I work out during my lunch break.
  • jennylsapia
    jennylsapia Posts: 236 Member
    I too am on the weights then cardio boat!! I did it oppisite yesterday (my weights are in my neighbors shop and had to wait till they got home) and I did 15 minutes and could not go anymore...almost threw out my back because doing overhead lifts my back arched from being exhausted from 30ds!!
  • nc90
    nc90 Posts: 83 Member
    Kind of going along with everyone else - yes, you can do both on the same day. Also, doing weights before cardio is recommended, but not completely necessary. Basically it's because your muscles can only use glycogen, so it's best to lift first since that's when glycogen stores are highest. If you do cardio before hand, you deplete these stores a bit, which is why it can be more difficult to lift with proper form, etc. During cardio, you can also burn fat for fuel, not just glycogen. So it would seem that depleting glycogen stores with lifting before cardio would help you burn more fat during your cardio. But, just go with what you feel, and whatever works for you! Either way, a workout program with components of both cardio and lifting are definitely shown to be the best!
  • Ripken818836701
    Ripken818836701 Posts: 607 Member
    For me NO!! I never do cardio on lifting days. You should limit your workouts to about one hour per day to keep your cortisol levels from rising to high and my workouts already range from 50 minutes on cardio days to 50-70 minutes on lifting days and thats with limiting my rest between sets to 1 minute.
  • LJC44
    LJC44 Posts: 221
    ^

    Hell yes!!!! But not the best idea to do HIIT on leg days! When I lift, I love to finish with whatever cardio I can do!
  • LJC44
    LJC44 Posts: 221
    It is completely fine...I see a lot of folks have recommended doing weights first to get a better weight workout.

    I do my cardio first thing then eat to start my metabolism and fat burning for the day. I wait a few hours and then do weights and still have no issue with my strength building.

    Whatever works for you, but yes cardio and weights is a great program.

    Enjoy

    I also believe cardio can be done in the morning and weights later. I would not do cardio and weights immediately after!
  • stephslosinglbs
    stephslosinglbs Posts: 64 Member
    I've been hearing a lot about HIIT Cardio, I have no idea what it is, time to Google it!
  • arc_82
    arc_82 Posts: 9
    Yes, in fact most training programs recommend it.

    I was once told by a trainer not to spend more than 5 minutes warming up. I usually jog for 5 minutes, then hit the weights. On lifting days, I do 20 minutes of cardio - on upper body days I usually do the stairmaster, on lower body days I jog (I feel like it helps work the muscles a bit and I'm less sore) after lifting. I do a total body strength training one day a week and don't follow that up with cardio. 2 nights a week I spend 30-40 minutes just doing cardio (elliptical, long fast walk pushing my son's stroller, etc.)

    Weight drops faster when I do a combo.
  • YMark
    YMark Posts: 65 Member
    Hell yes!!!! But not the best idea to do HIIT on leg days! When I lift, I love to finish with whatever cardio I can do!

    I agree....... however, if someone can do HIIT after a leg workout, they didn't do a leg workout. :ohwell:

    In fact, I was just going to say that cardio is fine after a weight lifting workout, except on leg days.
  • Ripken818836701
    Ripken818836701 Posts: 607 Member
    Hell yes!!!! But not the best idea to do HIIT on leg days! When I lift, I love to finish with whatever cardio I can do!

    I agree....... however, if someone can do HIIT after a leg workout, they didn't do a leg workout. :ohwell:

    In fact, I was just going to say that cardio is fine after a weight lifting workout, except on leg days.
    Heck I have trouble doing a HIIT workout the day after doing legs.
  • LJC44
    LJC44 Posts: 221
    Hell yes!!!! But not the best idea to do HIIT on leg days! When I lift, I love to finish with whatever cardio I can do!

    I agree....... however, if someone can do HIIT after a leg workout, they didn't do a leg workout. :ohwell:

    In fact, I was just going to say that cardio is fine after a weight lifting workout, except on leg days.
    Heck I have trouble doing a HIIT workout the day after doing legs.

    That is why I said it is not a good idea haha. It is hard to do anything the day after a leg workout but I make myself do HIIT! I did a leg workout last week and it must have been good because I felt like I was walking like Frankenstein ha! But back to the cardio thing...I think it helps after other strength sessions.
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