cardio then weights or vice-versa??
 

I just recently rejoined the gym scene. This past week I had 2 different orientation sessions with 2 different trainers for the equipment. Each has a different philosophy on when to do cardio training. Does anyone know if it's better to do cardio 1st, then weight training or vice-versa? Does one way burn more calories than the other? Thanks for your comments. Darlene:confused:

As far as I know both will burn calories. The difference being that cardio burns more calories whilst you do exericise, whereas weights are important cause forming even a small amount of muscle burns more calories in everyday useage than a body with less muscle?

That's all I know, hope it helps. I really don't think the order is important, although cardio might help warm up so you dont pull muscles in strength training.

You should always do weight training before cadio in order to burn any glycogen you have stored(muscle sugar).If you do cardio first,the first 20min. you're not burning fat you are burning glycogen.The only exception to this would be if you did cardio on an empty stomach first thing in morning before eating as your glycogen stores deplete overnight,hope this helps ,goodluck.

Exactly right. Weights followed by cardio or early morning cardio. You want your on tap energy to be expent getting in that extra set curls, presses, squats.

When I used a trainer before he had me warm up on the recumbent bike for 7-10 mins, then do the weight/strength training, then do cardio and cool down. Good routine.

whichever way gets it done for you
 

It's time, intensity and frequency of your workouts that determines the total amount of calories burned, not so much the order of exercises or time of day you do them.

Try a few different ways (lots of people have their own suggestions) and see what feels best and gets you through it all without pooping out. :)

Good luck, Darlene!

Also depends on what your goals are. For me I want to put on muscle and burn a little body fat so I NEVER cardio on empty stomach as that uses energy from muscle not fat. To burn my fat I need to do short intense bursts of cardio and intense progressive weight training. Intense weights will burn tonnes of calories and fat to reveal good growing muscle underneath.

If not focussing on building muscle but losing weight, I guess the reverse is applicable. Long periods of moderate cardio and long reps of light weights. but then I am just a punter, not expert. Just what I picked up along the way.

in response
 

Thanks for all the good advice. Since I do my workouts first thing in the am, cardio may be the best bet to get me going, then the weights. I'll let you know what happens.
Dar:)

I usually warm up before lifting weights. I do some 3 sets of jumping jacks, A LOT of stretching on Squat day. Stretching all your major body parts and jumping jacks works wonders! It gets you going. Then I hit the weights and at the end 20 minutes of non-stop running at 6 mph.

It is recommended to do cardio after lifting weights. I would push hard on the weights then finish it off with the cardio.

It is easier to keep your heart rate up once you get it up. I would be easier to keep your heart rate higher (burn more calories) if you do Cardio first. At least do a Cardio warm up to get you heart rate up. The Asthma Center told me to do Cardio first. Start doing one first for a month or two then change. Variety is the spice of life! Listen to everyone, try everything, do what works the best, change things around every once in a while. THERE IS NO ONE RIGHT ANSWER FOR EVERYONE. Sorry, Rick

What I do first is weights then cardio,the only reason is if I do cardio first,which is a half hour walking on a tredmill at about 4mph sometimes I get too tired to lift.What ever you do first I think doesn't matter ,you're still burning calories.

Rich

Wow! I asked one of the instructors at my gym last night and he said to do cardio AFTER weights if hoping to gain muscle. Someone here mentioned the 1st few minutes of gym is burning through energy in your bloodstream before it gets to the stored stuff. So warm up, then hit weights hard to use up unstored and then stored energy, the cardio to finish off the use of stored energy. As long as the energy taken in by food for the day is less than used in the gym!

check your information
 

Be careful when taking advice...

Trainers and instructors may not be qualified to give any better information than your average gym rat. Sorry, but it's true. Anyone can read an article, (in fact anyone can write an article) that doesn't mean the info is based on science, sound, reliable or accurate.

Qualified people will give their credentials and cite the sources they got their information. They will usually want you to follow up and become better informed yourself.

They would also ask for further information before answering your question about cardio or weights first - like: what is your goal? how long are your cardio sessions? what is your fitness level? how heavy are your weights? reps and sets.... etc.

My trainer says to do the weight work first when you're still fresh and can concentrate on good form. If you do your cardio first, you can tire yourself out, lose the form and injure yourself.

I do 15 minutes cardio as a warmup and then lift. Afterwards I do cardio for another 20 minutes. Works for me.

I almost always do my cardio first. I run 4-7 miles and then do my abs(on days that abs are in my workout) and then the rest weight lifting routine. My routine may not be the best for everyone but it works for me.

yey i was also wondering about this and thats what iv been doing

i definitely agree, as this is what i read from "burn the fat, feed the muscle" for tom venuto. this is exactly how he explained it.