Cardio before or after training
Combining cardio and weight training is becoming more and more common. And that's a good idea, because a healthy body needs both. But it is common to wonder if it is better to do cardio before or after training. A question that has no immediate answer for the simple reason that doing cardio before or after is better depending on the goal you want to achieve. Therefore, you must first define your goals.
What most experts currently advise is preferring to train
cardio and strength in separate sessions. The reason is that the body recovers
better this way. And you can face demanding workouts in optimal conditions. Be
it cardio or strength.
cardio-fatigue
However, today's lifestyle doesn't always allow it. Lack of
time to train often forces joint sessions. In this context, it is important to
know if it is practical to do cardio before or after strength. For these cases,
as we pointed out at the beginning, it is essential to define what objectives
you want to achieve with the training. And based on this, you will have an
answer on whether to do cardio before or after training.
If you are doing your workouts at home, we recommend that
you take a look at our online store for fitness equipment, where you can find
the best cardiovascular machines to start your training.
CARDIO MACHINE
Practice cardio before or after training: depending on
the goal to achieve
When losing weight is your goal, it's best to do some
cardiovascular work after your weight training session. You can do a very short
warm-up and a 5-minute cardio. Then work through a weight training or weight
training session to gain muscle or tone. And then finish with cardio, with a
medium to high intensity.
In this case, it is important to do cardio before or after
weights. If you do this later, the body will have already warmed up. And you
will have made a significant caloric expenditure. What does it mean? By doing
cardio, your body probably gets the fuel it needs from body fat.
Of course, your body must still have the ability to perform
intense cardiovascular exercises. If you're already exhausted and the cardio is
going to be very mild, it won't fix anything. If this is the circumstance for
you, consider changing your weekly training schedule. Surely the most
appropriate and effective is to separate cardiovascular training from strength
training.
Either way, fat metabolism has a very simple basis. Rather
than deciding whether to do cardio before or after strength training, you need
to consider how many calories you will burn. And how much to eat. And it is
that the balance between the calories ingested and consumed must always be
negative. That is, you should always burn more than what you eat. This way you
will lose weight.
body-building
Cardio before or after strength to improve muscle mass
and tone
When the goal is to improve muscle mass, there is no point
in putting resistance before strength. Keep in mind that if your body arrives
exhausted or weakened from strength training, you will not be able to achieve
your goals. You will be too tired for effective and efficient work.
Furthermore, it can even be dangerous. If you plan to do cardio before or after
strength training, keep in mind that weakness makes mistakes easier. Lack of
strength training, for example, can lead to injuries. And fatally.
Exercising or doing cardio after strength training is an
option. But it also has negative points. And it can be more catabolic for
muscle tissue. To avoid this, you can take a small amount of protein in
between.
In any case, to achieve these objectives, it is advisable to
separate the two types of training. The body needs time to recover. And this is
what will allow you to improve yourself effectively.
If you want to improve your stamina by running
The choice between cardio before or after running training
in this case is clear. Run first, then build strength. The main thing is to win
this resistance. And running on tired muscles isn't doing you any good. That is
why it is important that whether you are training on a treadmill or running
outdoors, running is the priority.