Welcome to our ultimate guide on why it s better to do cardio after weights If you re someone who s been following a workout routine for a while you must have heard the age old debate of whether to do cardio before or after weights In this article we ll explain why it s better to do cardio after weights and how you can incorporate this into your workout routine for maximum results .
Welcome to our ultimate guide on why it's better to do cardio after weights. If you're someone who's been following a workout routine for a while, you must have heard the age-old debate of whether to do cardio before or after weights. In this article, we'll explain why it's better to do cardio after weights and how you can incorporate this into your workout routine for maximum results.
Table of Contents
- Description
- How to Do Cardio After Weights
- Step-by-Step Guide
- Tips for a Successful Cardio After Weights Session
- Solution to Your Fitness Goals
- FAQ
- Pros and Cons of Doing Cardio After Weights
Description
Before we dive into why it's better to do cardio after weights, let's first understand what happens when you do cardio. Cardio is a great way to get your heart rate up and burn calories. When you do cardio, your body uses the stored glycogen in your muscles as fuel. This glycogen is what your muscles use for energy during weightlifting sessions.
On the other hand, weightlifting is a form of strength training that helps build and maintain muscle mass. When you lift weights, you're actually tearing muscle fibers. These fibers then repair and grow stronger, resulting in bigger and stronger muscles.
Now, if you do cardio before weights, you'll end up depleting your glycogen stores, which means you'll have less energy to lift weights. This can lead to suboptimal weightlifting performance and may even cause injury.
How to Do Cardio After Weights
If you're convinced that doing cardio after weights is the way to go, here's how you can incorporate it into your workout routine:
Step 1:
Start with a 5-10 minute warm-up on the treadmill, elliptical, or any other cardio machine of your choice. Keep the intensity low and focus on getting your heart rate up.
Step 2:
Move on to your weightlifting session. Focus on compound exercises that work multiple muscle groups at once, such as squats, deadlifts, bench press, and pull-ups. These exercises require more energy and will help you burn more calories during your weightlifting session.
Step 3:
Once you've finished your weightlifting session, move on to your cardio session. You can either do steady-state cardio or high-intensity interval training (HIIT). If you're short on time, HIIT is a great option as it's more efficient and will help you burn more calories in less time.
Step-by-Step Guide
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do cardio after weights:
- Step 1: Warm-up for 5-10 minutes on the cardio machine of your choice.
- Step 2: Perform your weightlifting session, focusing on compound exercises.
- Step 3: Cool down for 5-10 minutes after your weightlifting session.
- Step 4: Move on to your cardio session, either steady-state cardio or HIIT.
- Step 5: Cool down for 5-10 minutes after your cardio session.
Tips for a Successful Cardio After Weights Session
Here are some tips to help you make the most out of your cardio after weights session:
- Tip 1: Keep the intensity low during your warm-up and cool-down.
- Tip 2: Focus on compound exercises during your weightlifting session.
- Tip 3: Choose a cardio machine that you enjoy using.
- Tip 4: If you're doing HIIT, make sure to incorporate both high-intensity and low-intensity intervals.
- Tip 5: Don't forget to stretch after your workout to prevent injury and improve flexibility.
Solution to Your Fitness Goals
If your fitness goals include building muscle mass and burning fat, then doing cardio after weights is the way to go. By doing cardio after weights, you'll be able to maximize your weightlifting performance and burn more calories during your cardio session. This will help you achieve your fitness goals faster and more efficiently.
FAQ
Q: Can I do cardio and weights on the same day?
A: Yes, you can do cardio and weights on the same day. However, it's better to do weights before cardio as this will help you maximize your weightlifting performance.
Q: How long should I do cardio after weights?
A: The duration of your cardio session will depend on your fitness goals and the type of cardio you're doing. If you're doing steady-state cardio, aim for 20-30 minutes. If you're doing HIIT, aim for 10-15 minutes.
Q: Is it okay to skip the warm-up and cool-down?
A: No, it's not okay to skip the warm-up and cool-down. The warm-up helps prepare your body for the workout, while the cool-down helps your body recover.
Pros and Cons of Doing Cardio After Weights
Like everything else in life, doing cardio after weights has its pros and cons. Here are some of them:
Pros:
- Maximizes weightlifting performance
- Burns more calories during cardio session
- Efficient way to achieve fitness goals
Cons:
- May lead to fatigue during cardio session
- May require more time to complete workout
- May not be suitable for everyone
Overall, doing cardio after weights is a great way to achieve your fitness goals faster and more efficiently. By following the steps and tips outlined in this article, you'll be able to incorporate cardio after weights into your workout routine and reap the benefits.
