Weights, Cardio or Both?

I usually set my goal to burn around 400-500 cal per workout. So I start with 200-250 cal which takes me aprox. half an hour of different cardio ( I mostly take different cardio, each for 100cal), then I do 30-45 min of strenght training, and afterwards I finish again with cardio (again the same - doing two different ones like rowing and elliptical). In case if I am too tired I just do half of the last cardio. Maybe you should try splitting your exercise somehow similar?? (of course I don't know if this is right what I do. I hope it is )

Good luck

Do your weights FIRST - of course you're too tired after a whole hour of cardio(depending on how hard you're cranking it of course with that) to put enough steam into your weight workouts. Try a good basic lifting program that can be done in 45 minutes or less, and no, you don't have to do a whole hour of cardio if you're working hard enough. In fact, an excellent steady-state cardio session can be done in 40-45 minutes. It's far better to have a somewhat shorter, but more intense cardio workout than an hour's worth that doesn't do much. One can take that further 2-3x a week and do intervals on the machine of your choice. Generally a few rounds of 1 minute fast, 2 minutes at an easier pace, for half a dozen or 8 rounds, with a warm-up period of 3-5 minutes, and cool-down for 5. As one gets more stamina(which happens pretty quickly with this kind of training, as well as speed)one can do shorter intervals, like 30 seconds fast, and 60 seconds slower, Another intense interval pattern is 1 minute fast, 1 minute slow for as many times as you can manage(which won't be all that many because it's THAT intense). On the fast parts one has to be going as fast as one possibly can for that minute, or 30 seconds. All this gets one's heart rate up in a hurry, and the metabolic effects are pretty well-known out there, as in a pretty good after-burn of calories. A longer, steady-state session is good for endurance and the heart, and some people do respond very well in the fat-burning department with this type too. What counts is what works for your body, along with one's diet of course.

I just joined a gym yesterday and here is how my trainer set me up:

Warm up - treadmill - 5 minutes
Weight machines - 10 machines - 30 minutes
Cardio - treadmill - 45 minutes, 4.0mph (this is my own choice, it's what I've been doing for a few months)
Cool down - treadmill - 5 minutes

I plan to walk every day (again, what I've been doing for a few months now) but only lift the weights 3-4 times per week.

Good luck!

This is Simple... BOTH...

After a good weight-training session your blood sugar is down and your body is really breaking into the fat reserves to replenish energy. THIS is the time to take advantage of situation by then following-up with some cardio...you're body is prime for fat-burning! So yeah; weights first!!!

LIfting before cardio, definitely. I made the same mistake when I started.

Also, try to use free weights (if you're not already) for your lifting. Avoid the machines. I think you'll see much better results, with less time spent in the gym.

Start here for some general tips: http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/12/01/11-things/

The entire website is a fantastic resource.

In the end, you have to devise a plan that works for you. No two people are alike. Good luck!

--P

Do both, but you don't need to do weights 4x a week unless you're doing a complicated split. Do full body strength training 2-3x per week. You can get a great strength workout in half hour, 2-3x per week. The rest of the time, you can do cardio to your heart's (and desired calories burned) desire. Just make sure you eat enough protein that you're not sacrificing that muscle you're working so hard for by doing too much cardio.

Look into stronglifts or starting strength or NROLFW for a good full body strenth routine.

i think that it would be best if you have your cardio days and your weight lifting days.....i think it would be better to split the two, but if you have more energy to incorporate more cardio or weight lifting on either one of your days then do so....i dont think it would hurt....this is the plan that i follow and i have done perfectly fine..... i have always mixed weights with cardio on cardio days and cardio with weights on weight days.....it all depends on how you feel.