Which Do You Do First: Cardio or Weights?

Get the best of POPSUGAR
Fitness — in your inbox!

Help us customize your newsletter by selecting your interests (optional):

Yoga Working Out Running Weight Loss

Which Do You Do First: Cardio or Weights?

October 23, 2008

When I go to the gym I usually do cardio first, but sometimes I like to switch it up and do my resistance exercises first. I am sure you have your way of doing things, so which do you usually do first, cardio or weights?

Source

34 Comments

Briandiesel 4 years 29 weeks

I have to do the elliptical before I do anything else to get my heart rate going and "loosen me up"

ElectroPopTart 4 years 29 weeks

I do it before because I like being sweaty and hot during weights. If I do weights without being all sweaty, I have no strength. Also, if I do weights first, I'm too lazy to do a full cardio session. And I'm a cardio, yoga, pilates FREAK so weights are the biggest drag for me! I like the mentalness of yoga too much.

ilanac13 4 years 29 weeks

for me, the core to my workout is cardio so if i have no time to do anything else, at least i do that. i've thrown in weights from time to time but i'll always always be on the cardio machines for at least 30 minutes a day

crystalm07 4 years 29 weeks

I have heard that by lifting weights first before cardio, you essentially "tear" those muscles and therefore will burn more calories when doing your cardio after as your body tries to repair those muscles.

digibron 4 years 29 weeks

I don't work out at the gym. I do my weights and cardio on different days.

Spectra 4 years 29 weeks

Cardio first, then weights.

Spectra 4 years 29 weeks

Cardio first, then weights.

kristints 4 years 29 weeks

After cardio, I'm tired and I just want to go home, so, I always do weights first.

Stupidasscat 4 years 29 weeks

I do whatever I can fit in usually its weights 1st

heartbreakerx62x 4 years 29 weeks

My trainer told me to do weights first and then cardio. Usually I do a little stretching and abs first, then weights, then cardio.

amerikanbeanhead 4 years 29 weeks

Start with cardio for 5 min, stretch, lift weights, cardio, lift weights. I do ten or fifteen min of each for about 2 hours

Allytta 4 years 29 weeks

cardio to warm up and get that blood flowing.

mtiger 4 years 29 weeks

I haven't started my strength training yet. Currently I do 30 minutes on the elliptical 5 mornings a week. Strength training will be 2 evenings a week...so I guess my answer is other!

Anais18 4 years 29 weeks

I do cardio and weights on different hours of the day, and I don't go to the gym - I jog outside and lift weights at home.

Soniabonya 4 years 29 weeks

i do cardio first, except on cycle class mornings. On those mornings i set up my bike, do some weights and then cycle. Other times i do cardio first and then weights and then another round of cardio if i am taking a class after. i dunno. i just feel like i need to get my blood going before i can lift weights.

Soniabonya 4 years 29 weeks

sparklestar 4 years 29 weeks

I have been doing cardio first but I read somewhere on here that doing weights first is better?

CiaoBella 4 years 29 weeks

Cardio then weights most always.

princess_eab 4 years 29 weeks

Pilates, then cardio, then weights. Other days, I'll do only cardio, or Pilates and then cardio. I don't like doing cardio before Pilates because I go in all sweaty and tense. Pilates beforehand relaxes and flexes all my muscles and gives me better balance on the machines!

SweetNGlow 4 years 29 weeks

Evidence actually suggests that you can nullify your anabolic processes by following it with a catabolic or aerobic type of stimulus. When you do a strength training routine, for example, you signal a process in which information from genes is used to make proteins to begin building muscle that was recruited. But switching from strength training to a high intensity interval session creates a catabolic effect that opposes the signals in the muscle fibers that were stimulated anabolically.So if your goal is to build muscle, do the strength training session second and pair it with a low level cardio before. And if you have to do a high level cardio, do a light weight training session first followed by your high intensity cardio.

SweetNGlow 4 years 29 weeks

Evidence actually suggests that you can nullify your anabolic processes by following it with a catabolic or aerobic type of stimulus. When you do a strength training routine, for example, you signal a process in which information from genes is used to make proteins to begin building muscle that was recruited. But switching from strength training to a high intensity interval session creates a catabolic effect that opposes the signals in the muscle fibers that were stimulated anabolically. So if your goal is to build muscle, do the strength training session second and pair it with a low level cardio before. And if you have to do a high level cardio, do a light weight training session first followed by your high intensity cardio.

brookrene 4 years 29 weeks

I dont want to get my sweat all over the weight equipment, so i do my cardio last. It's the least I can do. :) Although i definitely warm up before i do weights.

UrbanBohemian 4 years 29 weeks

Cardio warms me up all over, so I do that first.

kurnu 4 years 29 weeks

I used to do cardio first but the trained at my gym recomended a switch and the workout feels better.

LauraHealy 4 years 29 weeks

I do a cardio warm up, just five minutes of running.. weights.. and then 30 min intense cardio. A trainer at my gym told me it's much better to do weights first?

Link Love

34 Comments

You Might Also Like