With weight training is it better to target certain areas each time or do an over all workout?

Question

I'm starting a weight training program and I know it's best to alternate what you do so you don't hit a plateau and I'm wondering if it's better to target certain areas (arms, legs, core) or just do an all over workout each time. I'm not looking to bulk up, just wanting to tone and get a little bit stronger.

Also, I try and do a little bit of cardio each day. Is it better to do the cardio before or after the weight training?

Thanks for all the help! :D

Answer 1

It depends on how many days you work out each week. If you are working out 4 or above, it is good to work on different parts of the body so that those muscles have an adequate recovery period. If 3 times or less, then you want to work all muscle groups to make sure that they receive enough work to stay fit.

It is better to do a slight warm up before your weight training but a full blown cardio workout should be done after your weight training. If you do the cardio before, your muscle groups may be depleted and they will have built in lactic acid and will not gain as great a benefit from the work out.

Answer 2

If you are doing weights alone no cardio then 30-45 minutes of exercise is good enough ( not including breaks between sets etc) if you are doing the cardio alone then you need a minimum of 1 hr if you doing both mainly depends on the splits you are working on but its about 1 hr and 20 minutes the day you do lower body splits 10-20 less minutes usually. Again it depends on how and why you are working out if you want to just be fit then 1 hr 20 minutes a day is excellent if you looking to loose wight 2 hrs is good if you want to build muscle and don't care about weight 45 minutes pure high intensity lifting is ok. I do 2:45 minutes to 3:30 a day because i like to take in a 2 hr cardio ssession and a 15-40 minute swim every time i work out on a 3 day rotation between targeted body areas (everyday)

Answer 3

Good job on starting a weight training program! If you don't want to hit a plateau, change up your routines every 6-8 weeks. I would do an overall workout, those are best. Either works best for cardio. If you want more personal advice or support, come join us at

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Answer 4

i would say it is much better to target certain areas than doing the total body weight training - today, the upper abdominal areas, tomorrow, the lower abdominal areas (as in alternately). you will be more focused and have certain targets to achieve for the day. moreover, your different muscles need recovery period after the exercise, at least a day so that it wouldn't be strained as well as to prevent muscle tear. other than that, i would think if you do the total body weight training in a day, you feel tired and easily get bored of the same exercise each time, i know i would.

it's better to start each day with the cardio before proceeding to do the weights, definitely, because you need the constant heart-pumping rhythm before start the other exercises.

Answer 5

Personally I cardio for 60 minutes everyday. I then work the abs and then I do a little weights. Being that I don't want to look buffed, I see no problem with working the entire body the same day or session.

Answer 6

You being a female and all, you can probably just do a light body workout everytime you go. I lift heavy, so I target different parts everyday. But if you only workout a couple time or 3 times a week lightly for tone, you will be fine doing your favorite exercises. Good luck.

Answer 7

it really depends on how much time you are going to spend on resistance training per week. full body training is a quick way to exercise everything in a small amount of time, you can do that on Mon-Wed-Fri or something like that.

warm-up with 10-15 minutes of light-cardio then perform your resistance training. then finish up with another 30 min of cardio, etc. after weight training.