Is it better to lift weights before your cardio or does it not matter?

Question

I am able to do my cardio work out much longer if I do that 1st, and without much of a decrease in my strength training. I am trying to lose weight whats the better plan?

Answer 1

Hi Poppysis!

It is much better to do your cardio first. If your goal is losing weight, do as much cardio as you can tolerate. Then do your weight training. Always defer to cardio since it burns more calories and warms up your muscles for weight training.

I believe this answers your question, but if not, you may email me.

Good luck on your diet and fitness goals!

Trainer Gregg
[e-mail]
"You can achieve anything you set your mind on."

Answer 2

If you're like me, lifting weights causes you weight to go up. That's OK because it's muscle. Muscle will help burn fat just by being there.

I use about 15 minutes of cardio on a treadmill to warm up and get everything in the mood to start lifting weights. For the weight lifting I've found that intensity makes a big difference. I see guys all the time that do one set, then rest for 10 minutes, whatever. I give myself about a minute between sets and 2-3 minutes between body parts. I've also found that lower numbers of reps with heavier weight also make a big difference. Instead of 12-12-12, I go for 10-8-6 with progressively heavier weight, and I don't stop just because I reached the planned number of reps. If I can do 11-10-8 then I do. I do the maximum that I can, even that hard one-more-rep. After the first body part I've got some heavy breathing going on but I keep it up. By the end of the workout I'm totally blown out. I've found that I get great results and I really enjoy the workout. This in itself is a cardio workout. The high pulse rate and breathing is accomplishing the same thing as the treadmill. I'm by no means a power lifter or bodybuilder but lifting like this at my age is rather unusual. Most of the time I do another 30 minute "burn-down" session on the treadmill after a workout. This causes me to lose the "pump" but it's really great for preventing muscle soreness the next day.

Answer 3

Try to mix it up and listen to your own body for what's best for you...
However, the glycogen demands on the muscles is different in cardio and resistance. This means it's better to do weights first (after a warm up of course!) and cardio second.

Even better is to do a circuit training style, where you mix it all up and keep your heart rate in it's work zone, even while doing the resistance aspect of your training.

There are really only two rules:
1) everything works
2) nothing works for long.

That's why you have to mix it up to keep improving.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

It's best to do cardio before lifting weights out to get your blood flowing throughout your body. Just like if you were to run it's best to stretch before hand. If you're trying to lose weight eat a healthy diet and work out every other day to give yourself a rest in between. Drink plenty of fluids, so you don't become dehydrated, and start small then work your way up, don't push yourself right away do as much as you know you can, for as long as you can, and then push yourself to the next level. Good Luck!

Answer 5

Always warm up, do at least 30 min. of cardio and then go to the strength training. Good Luck.

Answer 6

It's better to do cardio first to get the blood flowing to the muscles. That's why you should always warm up before exercising

Answer 7

It's much better to do weights before cardio.. Usually, if you do cardio first, you'll feel too tired to lift weights..

Answer 8

carry a cooler stocked with three bottles of water a six pack four pb js two oranges a bag of tortilla chips and 12 servings of cool cucumber salsa go to womenshealthmag allrecipes com for the recipe for 22 minutes

Answer 9

learn to walk the dog yo yo for 25 minutes

Answer 10

carry a snackable source of protein