cardio or weights first

[MAYNARDSMOM]

Can someone refresh my memory & tell me which is recommended to do first & why - Cardio or Weights.

Thanks

 

[Dela]

I heard cardio after weights, because the cardio will tire you out and weaken your weight lifting efforts.

 

[Aquajock]

There is no real consensus on which is the better order; it all depends on what your goals are for the session. Generally speaking, if muscle endurance/strength is the prime goal of the workout, then do weights first (especially if you're targeting the legs) so that the muscles are freshest. If cardiovascular intensity and/or duration is the prime goal of the session, then do that first.

Personally, I prefer to do cardio first every session, then legs, core and upper body. I haven't noticed that I've been stymied in strength or mass development doing things in that order. (I never do only strength training as a workout session; cardio is always a big part of it.) The cardio, among other benefits, really gets my blood bubbling and everything circulating well so that all the skeletal muscles are infused; also, my range of motion is much better immediately after a cardio set than after just a warm-up.

There are a lot of people who insist that THEIR way (cardio then weights, or weights then cardio) is THE BEST WAY, and that's hogwash. The only absolute in fitness training is that there are no absolutes. Except:

That Cathe cardio and strength training products are THE BEST WAY.

HTH -

A-Jock

 

[melanalyus]

I like to do cardio first---then my muscles are all warmed up.

 

[crazystepr]

The only absolute in fitness training is that there are no absolutes. Except:

That Cathe cardio and strength training products are THE BEST WAY.

AMEN TO THAT!!! Beautifully said, A-Jock!

 

[LauraMax]

MY way IS the BEST way!

Seriously, I prefer cardio first also, b/c it warms up my muscles really well, b/c burning fat is more important to me than building muscle so I want to do cardio when I'm nice & fresh, & b/c I effing hate it & want to get it out of the way.

Tami, if you do a search you'll find a ton of stuff. But I guess my answer is, do whichever you want. What's most important is you JUST DO IT!

 

[MAYNARDSMOM]

OK I went with cardio first on this one. I did B&G Wed & am still feeling the effects today. So for Power Hour I cut out the leg stuff & just did upper body. I started out with BM step routines. As you all said I was good & warmed up.

 

[princessbear]

I think it is an individual decision - but I do remember from my bodybuilding days I was advised to do cardio AFTER weights - not only because I want to hit the weights strong and hard, but also because it is a more effective way to burn fat ... I don't do cardio and weight training on the same day anymore, unless I'm doing a specific Cathe workout like SJP or one of the High Step dvds.

 

[kathryn]

I sometimes like to do cardio, then weights, then finish the cardio: a 'warm-up' of cardio (for example, Cathe's "Cardio Kicks" has a 12-minute warm-up that is just about right), then weight work after the body is warmed up (but not exhausted), then cardio to finish out.

I also like to do about 20 minutes of cardio, then follow with weights. I figure the cardio is a warm-up, but also increases the metabolism, giving one a head-start to the weight work.

However, when my goals are muscle building, I do weight work separate from cardio, because I think too much cardio is counterproductive.

 

[athomedavina]

I also read that weights first then cardio will burn more fat since the weight work depletes those glycogen stores letting you get to the fat burning faster in your cardio session. Although, I can never have a long run after one of Cathe's leg workouts!

Davina

 

[crm549]

For me, I normally just go with whatever system I am doing.
I notice with Cathe. She typically does cardio first. So i do that when doing Cathe.
With The FIRM they typically do Weights First. So I do that when do the FIRM.


Saundra