Cardio or Weights First??
Cardio & Strength Training :
There is no hard and fast rule that cardio must be done after strength training. It depends on your goals and preferences of course, because at the end of the day my goal is to see you moving more no matter what. However, there are some common reasons for doing cardio after strength training and they include:
Improved cardiovascular endurance: Doing cardio after strength training can help to improve cardiovascular endurance.
Increased calorie burn: By doing cardio after strength training, you can increase the total number of calories burned during a workout session.
Enhanced recovery: Cardio can help to improve blood flow and reduce muscle soreness after strength training, promoting recovery.
Better muscle definition over time: By burning more calories, cardio can help to reduce body fat, revealing defined muscles.
Ultimately, though the best time to do cardio is the time that works best for you and fits your schedule and goals.
My suggestion for doing your cardio after a weights session though is so you put all of your energy into your strength session first as this is more important. If you do 30 minutes of cardio and don't have as much energy for your strength session then you won't be receiving the full incredible benefits of strength training.
If you are strapped for time, prioritise your strength training first, then if and when you have extra time then add in some cardio at the end , or set aside a different day for some cardio work!
There is no right or wrong way to do this as I mentioned but I would prefer you focused on the strength training first, followed by your cardio second.
Here is an example:
Day One: Weights session
Day Two: Cardio session
Day Three: Weights session / with 15 minutes of cardio at the end
Day Four: Yoga session
Day Five: Weights session
Day Six: Cardio session
Day Seven: Rest
The best programme for your remember is the one you can stick to, this is just an example on how you can structure your week if you find you are putting more time and energy into cardio and not doing enough strength training!
Happy Training!
Renee