The neverending war: Cardio before or after?

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Shinra

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So I was talking to some of my friends today who go to the gym regularly. I personally can't stand talking to them about lifting because they think that if I don't go to a gym I can't get in shape. :sleeping: ANYWAY, we were talking about cardio and they swear to do 30 mins of cardio after lifting is the best way to go. I went with cardio BEFORE lifting as it loosens up the muscles, gets the blood flowing, and already starts the breaking down of muscle fiber. What's the forums take on cardio during lifting days?:confused:
 
I like to do my cardio after.... True it gets the blood flowing if you do it before but I feel like I have more energy if I just do a good stretch and then start working out. Just my opinion though
 
twoshoes said:
abs before weights and cardio after.
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I say cardio after, but abs before is just nuts. I'd never do big lifts like squats, deadlifts, etc with pre fatigued abs. The abs need to be fresh to support the spine and prevent injury during the big lifts.
 
Yeah, the one time I did abs before everything else my squat was pathetic (well, more pathetic than it usually is).

Save your energy for your big lifts. But, if you want to get the blood flowing before a workout, just jog for 5 to 10 minutes.
 
Shinra said:
So I was talking to some of my friends today who go to the gym regularly. I personally can't stand talking to them about lifting because they think that if I don't go to a gym I can't get in shape. :sleeping: ANYWAY, we were talking about cardio and they swear to do 30 mins of cardio after lifting is the best way to go. I went with cardio BEFORE lifting as it loosens up the muscles, gets the blood flowing, and already starts the breaking down of muscle fiber. What's the forums take on cardio during lifting days?:confused:
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Personally I feel if you stretch **[note: re: stretch meant just warm up. adding as not to cause too much confusion]** out like you should before weights (or cardio for that matter), then your blood would be flowing anyway. If you do cardio first, you may tire yourself and not do as well concentrating on your form like you should.

I guess it can depend on how much cardio you do, but I do enough that I am breathing heavy, sweating, and ready to rest afterwards.

Weights take more concentration to do them right, and though it is a workout, cardio isn't as "structured" so it seems to make sense that stretching first, then weights, then cardio.

just my take....

cheers,
Diane
 
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what do you mean by stretching? You shouldn't static stretch muscles before training, they become weaker and more prone to injury (unless you want to inhibit a muscle that is overactive, but that is a special case). Dynamic stretching before training is OK though.
 
Karky said:
what do you mean by stretching? You shouldn't static stretch muscles before training, they become weaker and more prone to injury (unless you want to inhibit a muscle that is overactive, but that is a special case). Dynamic stretching before training is OK though.
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I guess I should have said warming up your muscles,...... I didn't mean like a 30 minute yoga session :)

I just meant like a short walk on the treadmill. (I don't usually think of that as cardio- just a warm up)

However, I do static stretches before and after I run.....
 
I don't know if I would static stretch before running. After is OK. I don't know if there is some kind of exception from the general rule of no static stretching before exercising in the case of running, but I seriously doubt it.
 
yah theres really no point to static stretching at all the whole point of stretching is to relax you muscles and prevent injury, static stretching does the exact opposite and promotes muscle contractablility
 
Karky said:
I don't know if I would static stretch before running. After is OK. I don't know if there is some kind of exception from the general rule of no static stretching before exercising in the case of running, but I seriously doubt it.
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I didn't think it would do any harm :confused: It kinda wakes me up before I start really exercising......

I know it is very old school to stretch before exercising, but is it actually bad before running really???
 
mdawson2 said:
yah theres really no point to static stretching at all the whole point of stretching is to relax you muscles and prevent injury, static stretching does the exact opposite and promotes muscle contractablility
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but is it bad per se? I enjoy stretching before I run, it gets me going, so to speak.....I'd hate to think it is detrimental to my run....*ugh*
 
try some dynamic stretching


excellent resource for dynamic stretching (and a lot of other things, including info on static stretching) it has videos and pictures showing exercises.
 
Karky said:
try some dynamic stretching


excellent resource for dynamic stretching (and a lot of other things, including info on static stretching) it has videos and pictures showing exercises.
Click to expand...

Thank you!!! I bookmarked it and I will read more of it this afternoon! Looks more interesting than my static exercises ....lol :)

Cheers!
Diane
 
gabe8806 said:
So your saying its better to go into the Gym and just start weight lifting rather then stretching and then lifting?
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I do 10 reps of each of the following bodyweight ex's (warm up routine from NROL)

1) Walking lunge with upper body twist
2) Lateral lunge
3) Ball bridge/Russian twist
4) Inchworm
5)T-Push up

Afterwards I feel loose and ready to go.

According to NROL

-A good warm up doesn't haveto make your body warm.
-Stretching is not a warm up.
 
gabe8806 said:
So your saying its better to go into the Gym and just start weight lifting rather then stretching and then lifting?
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do a general warm up like 5mins on a cross trainer,then do a warm up set on each major muscle.

i always do cardio after weights because it means i can lift more weight,but it depends on your goals,or what suits you.
 
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