Lift weights, THEN cardio? or Vice Versa?

Question

I am a female, not looking to get too buff but I do want to have lean muscles...I use the hip abuctor/adductor, the large crunch machine which makes you move like a pair of scissors (will look up name next time at the gym), and a few of the chest and leg press machines. I also do an intense 1 hour cardio session on treadmill/arc trainer.

Should I be doing cardio first or weigh-lifting? I have heard different things from different people.

Thanks for your help. :)

Answer 1

Weights, then cardio. If you're tired from the cardio workout, then lifting weights can be dangerous. I'd actually suggest you give yourself seperate days, possibly do your weight lifting/body sculpting activies on one day, and then do the cardio work on another.

Answer 2

Im not sure but when I work out I usually do my cardio first then my weight lifting. I may be a lil tired after my cardio but I always still have a lil energy to do the weight lifting.

Answer 3

I find switching up is good. On the days that I do weights first, I find that I can lift heavier weights, than on the days I do cardio first.

Answer 4

my trainer always makes me do cardio first ... makes the blood flow he always said ...... i guess its just a matter of what u like .... try the cardio for an hour next time and see how ya like it and then do the weights ... i personally like the cardio first . seems to help me b4 i hit the weights ...

Answer 5

the only real reason to do one before the other is if you do cardio first it will tire you out and you won't get through your weighlifting routine. Unless that doesn't affect you but otherwise I have never heard any other reasons to choose one over the other first.

Answer 6

Cardio, then weights.

Your body needs to settle and recover after weights. You will not benfit if you do weights first.

remember though to stretch after cardio, and then after the weights.