Should You Do Cardio Before or After Weights?
Everybody has their own routine when they go to the gym. Some people go straight to the treadmill before making a move for the free weights. Others prefer to grab the weights first and leaving an intense cardio burner for last. However, you need to find out what gym rhythm works best for you. It’s worth knowing that whatever activity you choose to do first can potentially impact your performance in that second activity.
So to answer your question should you do cardio before or after weight train? There is no correct answer. There are many pros and cons to doing cardio before and after your workout. So how do you determine which one is best for you?
To determine which one is best for you we will go through both pros of doing cardio before and after a workout. Then you can decide what pros work best for you in order to achieve your goals.
Cardio Benefits Before a Workout
Increase your Core Temperature
If you do your cardio before weights, you’ll increase your core temperature, oxygenated blood flow to your working muscles, and production of synovial fluid in your joints. You’ll even provide your muscles with a mild but useful dynamic stretch. It’s also an opportunity to get your mind on your workout and mentally rehearse what is to come.
Maximizes Your Calorie Burn
If you do cardio before strength training it maximizes the calorie expenditure of your workout since a session of cardio typically burns more calories than a session of strength training.
Increase Your Afterburn
The afterburn is greatest after the running/weight training workout. Doing cardio first maximizes your post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC), or the number of calories your body continues to burn after your workout.
Cardio Benefits After a Workout
Will have Glycogen:
If you decide on doing Cardio after a workout you will still have Glycogen in your body to lift the weights. If you do Cardio before lifting weights you will deplete the glycogen stores in the body, which will leave you tapped out in this area when you start the weightlifting component.
Cardio will feel easier:
Cardio after your workout will make your training session feel easier because you are well rested before you engage in strength training.
What’s Best for You?
Now that you know a few Benefits of doing cardio before and after a workout. You need to decide what’s best for you. To help you decide what’s best for you ask yourself the following:
What is my goal:
What are my preferences:
What does my schedule look like:
Now lets see what you should be doing first? Cardio or Weights
Goal: If your goal is overall weight loss, you might do cardio first to maximize your workout time. If you have a specific goal or sport, you’ll want to put that first. For example, if you’re training for a marathon, you’ll want to focus your best energy on your running workouts and schedule your strength workouts for your off days. If you’re trying to gain muscle then go lift the weights first. You wanted as much energy as possible for those weights
Preferences: If lifting weights first feels good to you, there’s no reason you must change that. The idea is to have a consistent, balanced workout routine in whatever format fits your life.
Schedule: What does a typical workout schedule look like if you’re combining cardio and strength? Let’s be real, no one has enough free time to separate strength and cardio sessions. Carve out time to exercise is already a challenge. Therefore, fit what you can into that time.
Conclusion
While there are several benefits for lifting weights before cardio, at the end of the day, the best fat loss plan is the one you will stick to and that continues to produce results.
If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below.
15 thoughts on “Should You Do Cardio Before or After Weights?”
Well how about a 1-3 mile walk then wait an hour then lift. I have the time to do that. Is that productive at all? Thank you,
Denise
Hi Denise,
Thank you for your comment. Yes you can wait before lifting.
Thanks!
Team PI
If I do weights first then wait say 30 min to rest. Then pump out a high intensity cardio workout 4o mins bag work, step ups, sparring is this ok. Im pretty much at my goal weight looking to pack muscle. But dont want to lose my cardio/fitness?
Good explanation, Thanks.
You’re Welcome!
Is it productive to work only 3 times a week. For example, do weights then cardio for like 15 minuets. Tuesday, Thursday, and Sat or Fri.
Yes it is, thanks for the question Nia. Stay inspired!
I started working out 2 months ago. I am working out about 4-5 times a week. My goal is weight loss, but also trying to tone my body. I’m 5’10” 215, and I’ve been doing about 20-30 min cardio, then lifting. Would it be better to switch that?
Brian, It never hurts to try something new. Some people notice when switching their routine up they will start to lose weight again. Have you tried using our Ripped Whey? It will help you tone up and lose weight.
MY GOAL IS TO BUILD MUSCLES AND WANT TO LOSE SOME BELLY FAT AND I workout from 6 pm to 9pm so should i do cardio before or after…PLZ HELP ME
Do Cardio before your work out. I would also suggest taking our Ripped Whey Protein, thanks for the question Chriag! Stay Inspired -Team PI
I am 96 kg and want to loose weight, so can I weight lifting before and den cardio? Is it good for weight loss?
Help plz
Yes, you can lift before cardio. Our Ripped Whey and Diet and Energy pill would be great for weight lost!
Stay Inspired,
Team PI
The key I found with cardio is variety. One day I’ll run for 30, another day I’ll do the stair climber 15 and then jump on a bike for 20, maybe the next day do an elliptical and rower, it hits everything better I feel. I do weight training 1st though. I Intermittent fast until 11:30am Mon-Fri, train after work, 3:30pm, those days, then after cardio 20 minutes in the sauna.
I am a mother and this helped me!