Why is it reccomended to do cardio after weights?

[Fitmommyof2]

Just wondering this because sometimes I have to do the cardio first and I was wondering if this was harmful to my muscle building or is it for some other reason?

 

[candi]

Trish,

The only reason I have seen posted is that if you've done your cardio first, you've used a lot of your energy reserves already and cannot give weight training 100%.

There may be other reasons but that's what I remember

 

[Fitmommyof2]

Thanks! That makes sense.. I guess it won't hurt to do it opposite every once in a while.

 

[candi]

Currently, I alternate weight training days and cardio days but when I do a rotation that calls for doing both, I do cardio first.

 

[Imafitnessfreak]

Candi is right...

 

[clareMc]

But it also depends upon your personal tastes and the way your body resonds to exercise. I can never do cardio after weights. But I can pump out weights after 30 mins cardio, no more. If the cardio session is longer than this, then I will come back to the weights later in the day.

But, like Candi, I tend to alternate cardio/weeights/cardio days for max energy for each activity.

Clare

 

[kathryn]

I actually prefer a "hybrid" system: about 12 minutes of a cardio warm-up (like the warm-up in Cardio Kicks), then weights (if it's only one or two body parts), then finish with cardio. That way, I feel warmed-up and loose for the weight work, but not so burnt out that I can't do my best. The cardio might not be intense as when I separate cardio and weights (which is what I prefer to do when I'm working on strength and building), but it burns some more calories.

 

[smoogy]

It is said because you burn your glycogen stores while doing the strength so when you get to cardio, you are burning more fat stores. I have followed this, since I first learned it. I do it per my own preference. Also, I've been reading lately, that it may be not as beneficial to stretch out those muscle fibers before strength training, as once believed.

Personally, I sweat a whole bunch! I can't do a weight workout after I sweat with cardio. Talk about slippin' and slidin'.

Marla