Cardio before weight training, or vice versa?
I get this question monthly in the fitness centers I work, so here you go, the final word. The simplest answer to this question is “what are you trying to accomplish that particular workout?” Consider your fitness “game plan”: whether attempting to lose weight, training for your wedding or running a marathon, you should have a well rounded approach including improving your cardio endurance, strength training, proper nutrition, and incorporating sufficient rest, recovery and “de-stressing” activity.
*Note that I said your focus may be “improving your cardiovascular endurance”, not burning calories, when bringing up typical cardio exercise.. The days of coming in to do 60 minutes on the elliptical to burn your weekend calories are so yesterday, as research shows time and again the key to weight management is muscle preservation and a healthy, efficient metabolism, both primarily the result of strength training and nutrition.
Consider your goal for that workout, and use the bulk of your energy there. If your focus is strength that day, if you’ve planned to run outside or do the elliptical trainer Mon Wed and Fri, and you walk into the fitness center on Thursday afternoon, go ahead and dominate your workout with weight training. Do no more than 10 minutes of a cardio machine to warm up with, then do your weights.
So there you go, whatever your focus is, if it’s strength that day, begin with weights, when you are freshest. But if your focus is cardio, hit this right away when you are fresh. (Know #5: Always Know YOUR Nutritional and Physical Focus - one of the 8 Know’s of YOUR Success - from the Succeed the S.A.F.E. Way Program.) Read more
