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Author: Kel
Date: 02-17-03 22:36
Next week I am going to start weight training again. I had done it off and on for quite some time, but since I have embarked on the challenge to overhaul my health and well-being, I would like to make it a part of my exercise routine permenantly.
The question I have is - is it better to do cardio prior to strength training or strength training prior to cardio? I've read conflicting articles on this and wanted some feedback from you all...what works for you, etc....
Thanks!
~Kel
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Author: GymMachine
Date: 02-17-03 23:12
best to keep them seperate altogether...eg cardio in morning, weights at night or vice verca..they tax each other and absorb alot of energy so to get the most out of each i always seperate them....scientifically speaking, muscles need nutrients after training and straight away....they become like sponges and are highly respondent for up to 3 hours after training to whatever you feed them...but when you do cardio after training, your depleting your system even more....on the other side of the coin if u do cardio first, then your gonna be too stuffed to lift weights as well as you could and therefore your workouts will suffer...if you can seperate them be it alternate days or within the day that is best....for example i will get up and have breakfast, go to the gym, have a post workout lil meal then an hour or so after its time for lunch.,...then a snack, then later on ill do cardio with a post cardio lil meal and later on have dinner and that be it....if i can fit it in i will snack after dinner too, but that depends on how many cals iv already had.
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Author: Anne-Marie
Date: 02-18-03 00:30
If your going to do cardio in the same session as weight training which I have done before, make the workout short and snappy and then get the cardio done after. I.e. my cardio was high intensity for 20 mins and it follwed a 40 minute workout. This is because when your do your weights you are depleting the glycogen in your muscles, so when you move onto the cardio you move more quickly into fat burning mode. In fact one of the reasons you can cut your cardio short is because normally, if you do cardio without anything else preceding it, it can take over 10 minutes to get into fat burning zone. So if your do cardio 30 mins then technically only 20 mins is fat burning. Whereas, if you do cardio immediately following weight training of say 40 mins, then you go straight to burning up fat and you can get the same benefits from 20 minutes on it's own. This is what I am going to be doing from next week. My workouts will consist of leg day/upper body workout day and then Ab's and back day. Monday/Wednesday and Friday. Following this I will be doing 15-20 minutes cardio. My workouts usually last around 40 minutes or therabouts so by doing that I am still within the recommended one hour limit.
Only reason I am changing my workouts is because I have a knee injury and I need to cut down the amount of sessions per week on legs in the gym for a while. Once per week will be fine and techincally each muscle group will have a good 7 days to rest and repair.
You could do it Gymachine's way also, but I prefer to keep my gym sessions down to three per week as I am so busy here with the kids it is hard to find time for other stuff besides fitness and children. Don't do cardio before your weights. You need the glycogen in your muscles to get the workout done effectively. :)
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Author: kollegekid
Date: 02-18-03 06:33
Good to know anne-marie about it being better to do cardio after weights. i also would prefer to do it gymmachine's way but i simply don't have time other than a particular block on certain mornings. i go to the gym 4 times a week, starting with weights and followed by hard cardio. i just do this out of preference because after cardio, i'm gone since i go all out and i'm all sweaty and doing weights after would not be an option. anywho, thanks for the info.
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Author: SS
Date: 02-18-03 06:33
Depends on whether you eat before or after exercise! :>) Just kidding. That's a very subjective question. For me, before. When I'm done with the weights, there is nothing left for cardio.
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Author: Kel
Date: 02-18-03 10:15
Thanks for all your input. I will probably follow Anne-Marie's idea because it would fit with my schedule much easier than trying to go to the gym twice a day.
I must say that I have already noticed a difference in how I feel mentally and physically from doing my cardio work-outs over the past month... the only thing I find discouraging is the fact that I lost two pounds right after my period and then gained them back again...grrrrrrr.... but I am still plugging along and will continue to work at this.
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Author: Waveswife
Date: 02-18-03 16:46
Although, you seem to have made up your mind...I would suggest that you do a small cardio workout before you do your weight-training, The reason I suggest this is because I feel the muscles do a much better job for you when they are already and warmed up. I have started weights "cold" and had much more aching and suffering after the workout and the days ahead...I do stretch regardless, but the muscles are much more pliable after some cardio...not a huge session either, I am just suggesting....say...10 minutes...thats not a lot of time to devote to your regimen and for safer training.
In everything I've read and learned over the years...the biggest trainers are still suggesting cardio BEFORE the weights.
Hope this helps...although we all have our own ideals as to what is right and/or wrong...
:P
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Author: Anne-Marie
Date: 02-18-03 20:57
I do that but only for five minutes---I would say that is warm up not like cardio as in get your heart rate going for long enough to burn fat though.
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Author: Kel
Date: 02-18-03 22:58
Ahhh yes... I don't want to forget about the 5-10 minute warm up before lifting...thanks for reminding me.
I think I will use both methods and rotate them from time to time to give my body a little jolt from time to time.
Thanks for all the input! :OD
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