Lifting before cardio with Cathe - wow -

[Joni]

Because I'm having trouble losing fat, I decided to go back to my tried-n-true method of lifting before cardio to "spend" the glycogen in my muscles so that cardio more effectively burns fat.

So, for the first time with Cathe workouts - I did the standing portion of gym style legs, then I did, or tried to do, a step workout.

Does anyone else use this strategy? Because I found coordination on the step with jello legs to be a bit of a challenge. I'm thinking that with Cathe workouts, it's probably better to separate the cardio and weight training workouts by a good 2-24 hours, unless it's upper body then cardio.

In the past I used machines, lifting to failure for 3 sets of about 5 different lower body exercises before jumping on the elliptical trainer at the gym and had no problem. But with GS legs followed by step aerobics, I felt like my bones had turned to rubber!

And talk about DOMS - I'm calling it dOWms!!

joni

 

[dananmis22]

LOL!!! dOWms! That is too funny!
I do this also and I have found it gives me terrific results! I will say, though, that when I do a leg workout, I will usually wait at least 2 hours, with a small energy meal in beween because my legs don't like to work any more! I do love that stretching when I am done, don't you?

 

[dss62467]

It's a trip, I know. Doing a legs workout before a step workout is tough! I always feel like I've got two pillars of lead instead of legs for at least the first 5 minutes of the routine.

I do like the method better, though. Weights, then cardio. Because when I'm done with cardio, I like to be DONE with exercising. Except for abs or yoga. I'll still tack that on if I have the time.

 

[Mckmain]

Hi Joni....I have almost always lifted before my cardio. Especially lower body. I have gotten my best results this way. I have always had fairly strong legs and I'll do leg weights before I run! Most runners I know think I am crazy but it's all about finding what works for you and we all seem to be different there!!....I believe I had some dOWms from GS Legs last week......Carole

 

[clareMc]

I never lift before cardio. I may do a short cardio, i.e. a CTX cardio, before weights, but generally I prefer to have separate cardio and weight days.

I give each w/o my all and I see no point in combining any 2 w/os where the second will be compromised by fatigue caused by the first, (i.e. doing GS legs followed by cardio when the max benefit of that cardio is compromised by the fatigue of having done GS first), not to mention it is downright uncomfortable, I might injure myself (you ran this risk with your "jello legs") and it is not at all enjoyable.

Do not feel obligated to combine w/os just because someone else (perhaps Cathe) has listed it in a rotation. And feel free to order the w/os to suit your body and energy level.

Clare

 

[ducky]

I'm with Clare. I'm spent after my lifting and all I want to do is stretch. I do like to do about 15 to 20 minutes of light cardio before I lift though, just as a good warmup. This adds up through the week as cardio and gets me thoroughly warmed for lifting. Then when I do my more intense cardio I give it a day of its own.

 

[hippahips]

I'm impressed, Joni. I've never lifted first then done cardio in the SAME workout. Usually, if I double up my workouts, I do cardio in the morning and lift in the afternoon. But you've given me an idea. My body's starting to get used to a.m. cardio and p.m. lifting, that I just might do the same thing you're doing. One S&H or GS segment followed by a 30-45 min. cardio. You know what they say... you gotta keep the body guessing.

Pinky

 

[Joni]

Pinky - if you're looking for dOWms, then definitely go this route. It's too challenging for me at this point, but if you're up for it -- go for it! I'd take a good 10-15 minute break in between to let your legs recover a little though.

As for me, I'm still working on endurance, so I'm going to try to switch to your routine - something I've been trying to do for a llloonngg time. The problem is, I have so little discipline when it comes to getting my butt out of bed. x(

It's the perfect solution though for people like me who are working up to higher levels of muscular endurance and want to get in some cardio daily.

I'm trying to build muscle and lose about 30 lbs of fat, so I feel like I need to make sure I get at least a little cardio in each day. So my plan is to do cardio in the a.m. 3 days/week followed by weights in the afternoon, 2 days of cardio only (Imax or other intense/blasty workout), and one day of a full-body or circuit workout. With some stretch and core max segments worked in there too.

So...since I'm working on building muscle, I should probably get S&H huh? Yeah, I think so to.

Ok, as a reward for getting my butt out of bed tomorrow, Weds., and Thurs., I will order S&H. What an incentive!

:+

 

[newmommy]

I always do my cardio after lifting if I'm doing both in the same day. It usually takes me a couple minutes to get warmed up for it and my legs do feel like jello, but I prefer to do it that way.

Katie

 

[Tallchick]

it sounds like a great idea but I am too lazy. I must do the aerobic first or I won't do it at all.