cardio then weights? weights then cardio?

[tellitslant]

Hey all!

I'm a relative noob to regular gymming and lifting, and one of my goals is weight loss. I've been reading in some comments in various places (like Stumptuous - though only in the comments and not in the actual advice sections) that lifting before cardio is the way to go to speed weight loss. I have defaulted to doing it the other way around, partially because my cardio doubles as a warm-up. Should I switch things around? Is it actually true that the same amount of cardio has more effect done after lifting than before? And is so, why on earth is that the case?

Thanks!

Comments

[lyorn]

I'm not a fitness guru and do not play one on the internet, so I cannot answer your question, but only offer my guideline on "how to arrange one's training".

In my unscientific experience, "keeping at it" is the most important thing when it comes to exercise. So I'd give long-term motiviation a higher priority than short-term efficiency. As weight loss is (IME) fickle and might not provide the most consistent of motivations, I arrange my training in the way that "comes naturally" and is easiest to keep up. For me, that means cardio after weights, because after cardio I'm dead on my feet, while after weights I still have some nervous energy to burn from having to control the weights, and running does the job.

[daedala]

+1

Min/max optimization is useful for athletes, but not so much for people who aren't professionals. "What you will actually do" appears to be far more important.

[aquaeri]

Yeah, don't worry about the "best" way to do it, just do what works for you. Personally, I need to do cardio and strength work on different days (or at least at different times) because each tires me out too much for the other. And since I'm not planning to be an elite athlete, I don't care that it's not "best".