Weightlifting: Before or after an aerobic workout?

[admin]

Question: Is it better to lift weights before or after an aerobic workout?

Answer: If you want to include both weightlifting and aerobic exercise in the same workout, it's generally best to lift weights first. You'll have more energy at the beginning of your workout, which may result in a more productive weightlifting session. If you save the weightlifting until after your aerobic workout, you may be too fatigued to lift weights with proper form. This could lead to injury. Better yet, lifting weights first can boost your fat-burning power during the aerobic part of your workout. The principle is simple. Weightlifting can deplete your "quick burst" energy (glycogen) stores. When you do your aerobic workout after lifting weights, you'll likely burn less glycogen and more stored fat.

Physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist Edward Laskowski, M.D.

Do you agree?

[atomant]

I agree that weightlifting should be done before aerobic workout, especially if you are trying to build muscle. Ideally, the two would be split up, but if they had to be done in the same session, it's best to lift first so that you are able to complete more reps with higher weights to really push the muscle to grow.

[macj]

That question is very interesting. I would love to see more feedback on this.

I do not lift weights, but do want to add weights to my routine.

Thanks for the information!

[Josh1537]

personally i like to do a mile run before my workout, it gets my heart rate up, a lot of times i feel kinda sluggish getting started, and after a 7-8 minute mile run my heart rate is up around 120 and im ready to go, sometimes ill finish with another mile or 2 afterwards depending on how much energy i have left

then ill try and do a seperate 3-4 mile run 1 or 2 other days a week to keep my cardio up, i usually do some bag work and/or sparring afterwards, but no weight lifting on those days

[B3NNY0]

I have done both, and I must say I like running before I workout. If I do them both on the same day, I will run in the morning and then workout at night. Something about running in the morning (assuming I can get my butt out of bed) makes me feel great all day, and I am more pumped to lift that night.

[Alpha_Male]

I disagree. In my opinion cardio eats up muscle. Thats bad. I prefer to bulk up first then cut as opposed to the fictional "all around" look.

[PhysicalKnowledge]

To answer question... on leg day you should do a bit of running first, just to get the blood pumping to your legs before the weights... and then ideally cardio intensely afterwards, though if you hit legs hard enough you most likely won't have any energy to do cardio anyway. Other than that, cardio should be done after workouts. Also, it's good to do some sort of sport on off days.

[skippy]

My goal is strictly fat loss. I want to drop another 20 lbs (or more).

On my leg days (Mon, Wed, Fri) I hit the eliptical for 15 minutes at a pretty good clip. This gets my heart rate to 145-147 and a good sweat going.

THEN, I work on the legs (squats, leg lifts...). When I am done I have a hard time walking. I can't image doing any cardio *after* a hard leg workout.

On upper body days I also hit the eliptical, but ususually 20-30 minutes.

I find that the cardio gets my blood and sweat flowing and warms me up before the weights. I also workout almost always within 1 1/2 hours of waking up in the morning.

[Travis28]

Cool Avatar Skippy!

[skippy]

Cool Avatar Skippy!

Thanks!

I like it too.

[dpnation]

It is very important to do at least 5 mins of cardio (bike, treadmill, etc) before any workout to get the blood & oxygen following through all muscle fibers. You will sweat more during your normal workout (weight lifting). If under weight and trying to gain mass, perform workout and cardio seperately. I perform 30 - 60 mins cardio seperately from my weight workout.