Should Cardio and weightlifting be done on the same days?

I do cardio both before and after weight lifting. The cardio first warms up your muscles to make it less stressful to do the weights. After the weight lifting, the cardio helps get rid of some of the lactic acid and other things that the weight lifting builds up in your muscles. Overall, I feel that the cardio helps give you a good chance to work off some extra calories and the weight lifting helps build up muscles.

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MemberWestland, MI

patquinn52 5.3k
5 months ago

I would say that cardio to warm up an cool down. Cardio only burns calories for the amount time that yoi are actually doing the cardio. Weight training causes the muscles to repair themselves and that burns calories for about 36 hours after the exercise. Muscle weighs more than fat so you can put on 5-10 pounds of muscle and drop 3 pant sizes. I believe all training is good but people get more out of weights that the treadmill.

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MemberTampa, FL

tpabreed 225
5 months ago

All good advice already listed as there’s really no concrete path to success, but it’s more about being consistent & training hard while you’re in the gym. Do what you like, do what you’re comfortable with……..& then change it all up & make it challenging & interesting….more fun that way & keeps things exciting which will make it easier to commit to long-term.

We do block training which is basically interval cardio spiced in with circuit-based strength training on the same day in the same session & it’s extremely draining….but the results are worth it.

Tony

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CorporateHastings, MN

Tony Nicholson 103k
5 months ago

Barbells before bikes has always been my mantra. I believe you need about 10 min of cardio to warm up, then lift weights, then cardio. You'll have the energy to lift weights, then you can burn fat doing cardio afterwards.

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MemberClermont, FL

Cardiochick 1k
5 months ago

For the average person it makes no difference. Just get it in. Keep up the good work.

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Leslie Duncan 245
5 months ago

It can be done on the same days. If your workout days are not spaced out during the week, than just make sure you are not working the same muscle groups back to back for your strength training.

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AlumniBettendorf, IA

Courtney Murzyn 27k
5 months ago

Doing cardio on the same day as weightlifting is a great idea especially for people looking to lose weight. The weight lifting helps by burning alot of calories using your carbs for the fuel and when you go hope on your cardio after weights your body has used up most of the carbs it had for its fuel so it starts tapping into your fat as its primary fuel source and that is when youll finally start seeing those (tough pounds) start coming off.

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MemberBossier City, LA

Lance24 45
5 months ago

I dont think it makes any big difference but i do the same thing. Usually start with weights and end with a run on the treadmill? Not a professional but i dont see the difference in one or the other.

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Ballin4Bird 25
5 months ago

on the anytime radio thing on this website- the guy said that if your trying to lose weight focus more on cardio, if your trying to tone up go the weights...

But i think like okay so you go to the gym, you wanna lose weight so go to the cardio machines and run for 30 mins, or the most you can do really.. and then do like 10 mins of weight training, mix it up...

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Lilliers 1.5k
5 months ago

I think it depends on what your goal is. Weight lifting to build muscle (body building) should be done by targeting just a couple muscle groups at a time to get the maximum strength and gains for those particular muscle group. If it is just to keep in shape or lose a little weight, it really doesnt matter. I use to be a body builder and I would to aerobics three times a week and after a workout. My goals since I got back into the gym after 15 years are a little different and I do cardio to some degree after every workout.

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MemberLatrobe, PA

lockmuppadoc 1.6k
5 months ago