Cardio Or Strength Training: Which Should You do First to Lose Weight– Foxboro, MA

27 March 2014      

There is a lot of conversation about cardio training and strength training, which is better and which you should do first. Does it matter? Actually, to your overall fitness, it doesn’t matter which you do first.

In a study researchers determined that there was no difference in overall fitness regardless of which order you choose. Two groups of men achieved the same, significant increases in aerobic capacity and increasing lean muscle mass whether they hit the stationary bike or the leg press first in their twice to thrice weekly workouts.

Given how often this question is asked, there is surprisingly little research on it. There has been more thorough study of alternating days of strength training and cardio.

You can be confident that when performing a relatively moderate training volume and frequency (2-3 combined cycling and resistance training sessions of 90-120 [minutes] each), the training order is up to personal preference.

Within each personal training session, of course, gym users may find some impact from the exercise order they choose. A good cardio workout — especially if running on a treadmill is preferred over a stationary bike — could affect leg muscle strength. And a hard lower body resistance session could have an effect on that day’s cardio efforts. But the end result after 24 weeks should be the same.

However, sufficient rest is needed between sessions that involve both cardio and resistance training to ensure that gains are made.

For a personal training program designed just for you, contact Answer is Fitness.

Washington Post