Cardio or Weights first?

[calleo14]

Deff I always do cardio first only because it seems like it helps you strain alot harder while weight lifting and I wanna get it out the way first you know.

[Northren Ogre]

For a better fat loss workout, lift your weights first. Lifting weights will burn off all avaliable energy(sugars etc.) in the body, forcing the body to tap into fat stores to fuel the body for your cardio. However, if you can separate your workouts and have the oppertunity to do your cardio right after you wake up, do so before eating. your body will have to again tap into fat stores to fuel the body as all avaliable fuel sources have been spent during your sleep.

[Sohan]

For a better fat loss workout, lift your weights first. Lifting weights will burn off all avaliable energy(sugars etc.) in the body, forcing the body to tap into fat stores to fuel the body for your cardio. However, if you can separate your workouts and have the oppertunity to do your cardio right after you wake up, do so before eating. your body will have to again tap into fat stores to fuel the body as all avaliable fuel sources have been spent during your sleep.

Sorry, but this is simply not true.

Conventional weight lifting uses very little total glucose for muscle metabolism. You would have to run for two hours straight to deplete your glucose levels enough to significantly utilize fat metabolism for energy.

You would experience fatigue from phosphogen depletion and lactate buildup in your muscles long before you ever seriously diminished your muscles' glycogen stores with weight training.

And doing your cardio upon waking with a low blood glucose level will only make for a lower intensity/shorter duration workout leading to reduced caloric expenditure during the session. Better to have a glass of juice to keep glucose levels up and have a better workout.

Respectfully,

Sohan

(MS in Exercise Science)

[Konoko]

Seems like a pretty complicated area, I think I will do my cardio first for the time being as that is what I want to concentrate on at the moment. When I get down to a better weight I may swap them around. Thanks for the replys

[UseoForce]

I find that if I run first, then get some water and take 5, I am usually able to lift pretty well.

But that's just me. Also, my runs are short and hard. A mile in about 5:30.

Also, I have 2 pull days and 2 push dyas per week. One day, usually the day I run, is more for endurance and the the other day is more for explosive power and fewer reps.

I'm more than open to opinions on this issue.

[isshinryu5toforever]

my runs are usually longer 5 miles in 35 minutes or 10 miles in about 75 minutes. Which is probably why I like to lift first or separate the two.

[UseoForce]

lol, I hate distance running, yeah, if I ran 30+ minutes, I'd probably separate my running and cardio by a few hours.

[mooseman]

well,since both are important it doesn't really matter.Depending on what you want to achieve you might want to forgoe one completely and focus only on the other,for example,if you want to loss some wieght and get in better shape,forget lifting and do cardio,if you want to bulk up and get stronger focus on lifting and dont worry about cardio all that much.

[Shui Tora]

I think you should start off with Cardio, as by that way, you are getting more oxygen and glucose to your muscles (warming them up) which will mean you can possibly go further with weights...