Cardio then weights, or weights then cardio?

I want to make sure I'm getting the most out of my workout. Does it matter if you do cardio first then weights, or does it make no difference?

Thanks!

I have no idea on this one. Personally I do weights first, only because I find it harder and I've always been one to get the harder crap out of the way. Ha Ha.

However, if your muscles get sore from weight lifting you are going to be in a lot of pain while doing cardio. So it's up to you. I think most people do cardio before weights.

It depends on your goal, if the goal is fatloss then weights first, if the goal is to compete in endurance events then aerobics first.

My trainer had me do a 5-7 min cardio warm up, then go straight to weights, and finish with cardio. He explained that we tend to get tired after cardio and are more likely for injury and poor posture when lifting. Helped for me, plus I had way more energy for hard cardio at the end.

for me i do cardio 6 days a week...and weights on 3 of those days.  so 3 of the days i do high intensity cardio/really long runs so i don't lift weights...on days when i lift weights i lift first and do low intensity cardio afterward.....

doesn't really help with your question

but i guess i would do weights after high intensity cardio....and weights before low intensity

My understanding is weights then cardio. Your glycogen stores are highest when you start and the weights help reduce or use them all up. In the absence of glycogen stores, your body has to use fat for fuel. Cardio performed moderately will target the fat burning zone better than weights. Cardio performed like a HIIT will also burn fat and continue to keep the burn going after the cardio is complete.

Of course you can do interval weight training and accomplish both at the same time.

I have trouble with this one too... if I do cardio first then I am either too tired afterwards to do weights and/or sweaty and I want to get in the shower asap

I can't do weights first though, because I need the cardio kickstart to get my energy pumping, they are painful without warm-up... and after weights my muscles are too sore to get a good cardio workout

SO therefore I've figured out that on weight training days you should warm up with light/moderate cardio for 5-10mins, then weights, then end with cardio

but note that this would not be intense cardio as your muscles will probably ache and you will not be able to perform as well, putting yourself at risk for injury, so keep it to a moderate pace.

I think the best bet is to split up your workouts: on weight days do some cardio but go easier... and on cardio days, do some weights but go easy... that way you are not doing EVERYTHING at once, and not putting so much stress on your body

...

just one last thing...I've heard that the best time to "burn fat" with cardio is when glycogen levels are low, either right after weight training or first thing in the morning before breakfast; when energy sources are low the body resorts to burning stored... so if burning fat is your goal then go for a run early morning before you eat, or do cardio right after weights...  yes, it may be painful!

^^the previous post has it right!

just to let you know its cardio then weights,this i know is the best way as i used to be an army pti ,hope this helps,oh and dont do same musscle groupe each day try and use different ones each day so you should get each group done twice a week

hmm there's a lot of contradiction here..

Not really.

 The Army's performance goals are endurance-related, and naturally their exercise guidelines are going to support the most effective endurance-training protocols. At least, that's what the whole point of PT was when I was in the army.

 Fat loss is only a peripheral goal of most army training protocols, and army trainers don't actually learn how to deal with civilian fat loss goals very effectively.

 Which order you do things in is related to your goal for doing the exercises. If it's fat loss, you warm up briefly using a combination of cardio and mobility drills/dynamic warmup drills, then lift, then do supporting cardio.

 If your goal is increased endurance performance, you warm up briefly using a combination of cardio and mobility drills/dynamic warmup drills, then do the endurance training, then do the supporting strength training.

 For most people's goals of general life fitness and fat loss, it's more goal-appropriate training to do strength training + supporting low-intensity cardio on strength days, and then high-intensity endurance activities on non-strength training days. Unless you're actually aiming to compete in an endurance event, in which case you need more specific training.