Weights or cardio first?

Catxscotch

I've been a regular gym member for quite a while now, and I was always told to do the cardio part of my workout first, and then move onto weights. However on a more recent programme the gym instructor told me to do weights first. My current routine is a 5 minute warm up on treadmill, and about 9-11mph, stretch and then weights. I do Kettlebell exercises and free weights for arms, a few lunges, plank, side plank and I then do 3 sets on the pull up bar.
After this I do interval training. To begin I was doing 30 minutes on one machine, 1 minute fast, 1 slow. Last night I increased it to 1 minute fast, 30 seconds slow for 20 minutes.

I havn't lost much weight on this routine, mostly staying the same but toning up. Any tips?

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Personally I like to do weights first as I feel I have more to give at the start, you can always slog through cardio at the end. I dont have any science behind this maybe one of the gurus can shed some light.

Hanley

Kynlee Wide Mafioso wrote: »

Personally I like to do weights first as I feel I have more to give at the start, you can always slog through cardio at the end. I dont have any science behind this maybe one of the gurus can shed some light.

The bolded part is the reason. Could probably make some argument for better fat burning occuring in a glycogen depleted state too but hey whatever!

DAINGNE

Always weights first but try to avoid doing cardio during the same session if possible.

ssimples09

DAINGNE wrote: »

Always weights first but try to avoid doing cardio during the same session if possible.

Same here. Depending on your end goal its usually better to do cardio & weights in different sessions.

Sephiroth_dude

I always do weights first

DAINGNE wrote: »

try to avoid doing cardio during the same session if possible.

Any reason for this?

Bench Press

Do my weights in the morning and cardio in the evening, I prefer doing weights first as I feel stronger

Chancer3001

weighst first cos it takes the most effort.

Even wrecked you can plough on jogging.

ssimples09

Sephiroth_dude wrote: »

I always do weights first



Any reason for this?

After a hard weights session its good to eat quite soon afterwards to refuel the muscles in order to recover properly in order to grow. By doing cardio straight after weights you are postponing the refueling and burning out the muscles more. You need proper rest and nutrition for muscle growth.

If the main concern is weight loss rather than muscle growth then this probably isnt as important an issue and the cardio after weights will help to burn more calories.

turbot

If you want to get results, do High Intensity Interval Training - as mini circuits using weights. Seriously, you can waste years in the gym not knowing how to train, and make more progress in a year than 5 if you train properly.

AntiVirus

I tend to do weights and cardio on alternate days but even on weight days I'll do a 10 minute cardio at the start and at the end of each session.