Cardio before or after weights

Ah, the age-old question of cardio before or after weights. It’s right up there with “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” But unlike this chicken-related mystery, the answer to cardio before or after weights actually matters for your workout. So let’s get cracking and figure out which order will help you squeeze the most out of your workouts.

Like it is with most open-ended questions, the answer to this isn’t too straightforward. Both doing cardio before or after weights have their merits and as a result it ultimately comes down to what works best for you and your goals. This is why, it’s essential to explore the pros and cons of doing cardio before or after weights.

Cardio before weights: pros and cons

Starting with the pros of doing cardio before weights, it can help to increase your heart rate, preparing your body for a more intense workout. Also, it improves blood flow and oxygen delivery to muscles preventing lactic acid build-up, enhancing performance during strength training. Apart from this, doing cardio before weights will also help you burn more calories during your workout. Lastly, you’ll also sweat much more compared to doing cardio after weights.

That being said, there are also some downsides to doing cardio before weights. Since you’ll spend tons of energy while doing cardio, the chances are you’ll feel fatigued and have less power and strength left for lifting weights. Pre-fatigued muscles can also diminish the quality of strength training. Additionally, doing cardio before weights may increase the risk of injury due to fatigue. Not by much, but still worth mentioning.

Cardio after weights: pros and cons

Moving on to the pros of doing cardio after weights, it allows you to focus on strength training while your energy levels are at their highest. So naturally, you’re likely to lift heavier weights, and the quality of your workout will be higher. Plus, doing cardio after weights also helps to burn more fat and calories post-workout, as your body continues to burn calories for hours after exercise. Overall, you’ll burn more calories by doing cardio before your workout. Finally, this approach can lead to greater muscle hypertrophy and strength gains.

However, there are also cons to doing cardio after weights. It may lead to a less intense cardio workout, as your energy levels may be depleted after strength training. Additionally, doing cardio after weights may cause muscle soreness and stiffness, making it difficult to perform cardio exercises.

The best approach: cardio before or after weights?

The answer to this question ultimately depends on your fitness goals and individual preferences. If your goal is to bulk and become the biggest you’ve ever been, then, hands down, you should do cardio after weights. However, if you want to get leaner while preserving your muscle mass or even pack more muscles, but your primary focus is burning more calories, then you should do cardio before weights.

The net impact of both these approaches might not be poles apart, but tailoring your workouts to your goals will definitely help you reach your goals much faster. That being said, regardless of which approach you choose, it’s important to keep in mind that consistency and balance are key. Now that you know whether you should do cardio before or after weights, let’s take a closer look at some of the best cardio exercises.

Cardio before or after weights: best cardio exercises

As far as burning fat is concerned, some of the best options include running, cycling, and swimming. Running, in particular, is a great way to burn a high number of calories quickly, with an average of 100 calories burned per mile. Cycling is another excellent option that can help to strengthen your lower body, while swimming is a low-impact exercise that can be easier on your joints.

For exercises that are best for both burning calories and preserving or building muscle mass, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts are a popular choice. HIIT involves short bursts of high-intensity exercises followed by brief rest periods. Other exercises that can help to build muscle while burning calories include jumping rope, rowing, and stair climbing. These exercises not only work multiple muscle groups at once but also help to improve cardiovascular endurance, making them ideal for those looking to achieve both fat loss and muscle gain.

How to increase your stamina and endurance?

Improving your stamina and endurance is crucial to incorporate strength training and cardio in your workout. Now it’s common knowledge that one of the best ways you can do that is by engaging in regular cardiovascular exercises, such as running, cycling, swimming, or brisk walking.

However, what’s not commonly known is that you should always start with a manageable pace. A lot of gym rats go all in on their first days and, as a result, stay sore for most of the week. Then once you’ve built enough muscle memory where you can push yourself to the limits and your muscles can easily keep up with it, that’s when you should gradually increase the duration and intensity of your workouts. It’s also important to switch up your exercises every few weeks to prevent your body from hitting a plateau and to keep challenging yourself in new ways.

Additionally, you can also try supplements such as SD Matrix, LGD-4033 and Superdrol. SD Matrix, of course, is our flagship product and is a powerful supplement that will not just give you very impressive results, but it will also give you insane strength gains and boost your endurance. LGD-4033, on the other hand, is widely known as one of the best supplements to accelerate recovery, while Superdrol increases the red blood cell count, which improves endurance and stamina during workouts.

Conclusion: cardio before or after weights

Conclusively, the debate on whether to do cardio before or after weights ultimately depends on your individual goals and preferences. Both approaches have their pros and cons, and it’s important to find what works best for you. Additionally, you can reach your goals faster by cycling supplements such as SD Matrix, LGD-4033, and Superdrol. Hopefully, this blog answered all your questions about whether you should do cardio before or after weights. Happy lifting!