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There are tons of open debates in the fitness world: Arecrunchesorplanksbetter for your core?
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Should youstretchbefore or after your workout?
Low weight, high repsor vice versa?
And then, of course: Is it better to do cardio before or after weights?
Its a question trainers say comes up again and again…and again.
Both matter for most fitness goals tooand have cross-over benefits for your primary mode of movement.
Meanwhile, cardio exercise can improve stamina andreduce sorenessfor people who prefer to hit the weight room.
Doing both is great, but fitting them into your workout routine can be tricky.
But should you do cardio or weights first?
Heres what to keep in mind when planning a combo workout.
A good rule of thumb: Start with whats hardest.
Youll have the most energy and focus at the beginning of a session.
(Of course, check that you do a goodwarm-upfirst.)
But verify you consider your goals.
In those cases, you may want to begin with whats going to get you closer to that objective.
Prioritize the training that is most important to you for that day, Johnson says.
If youre primarily looking to get stronger, pick up the weights first.
Also note that you dont have to go in the same order every day.
After all, your goals can shift over time.
When shes in a strength-focused training cycle, shes even more likely to put weights first.
When shes training for a race, shell prioritize running more.
Sometimes, logistics makes the decision for youand thats okay.
Of course, physiology is one thingreal life is another.
For instance, maybe thecardio machinesare all taken, so you have to do strength first.
Or perhaps its more practical for you to run or biketothe gym, putting your cardio first.
Tweaking your workouts accordingly can make both more doable.
This makes it different from that which occurs withcycling, for instance.
After time on the bike, your muscles themselves cant contract as forcefully.
Remember that personal preference matters too.
Youre still getting movement in, in a way that works for you.
