Is it better to do cardio first before weight lifting or the other way around?

Question

I go to the gym everyday and i was wondering if I should start my workout with cardio(treadmill, bike...) or should I weight lift first and then do cardio?

Answer 1

you want to warm up with a short period of cardio to get your heart rate elevated and to warm up your muscles, tendons and ligaments. 10-15 minutes is plenty.

your body only has so much energy available to use during a session of high intensity exercise. this is why you want to to do your resistance training first then finish with your cardio. you really don't want to exercise more than for 1-1.5 hours straight. so a 10-15 minute warm-up, 45 minutes of weight training then finish up with 20-30 minutes of cardio...

Answer 2

You always want to warm-up first to avoid pulling a muscle with light cardio for about 15 minutes. It is better to do strength training before intense cardio. To avoid muscle fatigue from exhausting your body during your cardio workout. Cardio is more about endurance than strength so you just need the will to push yourself after finishing strength training. End your workout with 20-30 more minutes of intense cardio.

Try alternating cardio and strength training just to feel the difference for yourself, it's noticeable when you attempt to lift weights after an intense cardio session.

Answer 3

I find it easier to do the cardio first. I do 1 hour on the elliptical and then do some weights. It gets your heart rate going and your muscles warmed up. Great job!

Answer 4

Cardio first, to get your heart rate up. Also, if you do weights first, your limbs will feel heavy and tired when you go to do cardio, and you won't have as much stamina to go your full time on the tredmill.

Answer 5

the gym I go to said to do cardio first to get heart pumping

Answer 6

first cardio and then weight lifting