Cardio/Resistance Question

[Beef_Supreme]

I have heard and read all the arguments for:
Doing cardio prior to resistance- AND
Doing resistance before cardio.

Opinions? Experience? Back at the gym, and in this transitionary phase of getting back to it, I'm lucky to do one or the other, but as I get to feeling better and more accustom to the regular exercise, I will be doing both in one day, unless time means I have to do one or the other and nothing else.

 

[Stubb]

Re: Cardio/Resistance Question

Which is more important to you? I keep my reset periods between sets short and never quite catch my breath. That's as close as I get to cardio other than going out for a run a few times each year. I figure that my heart and lungs can't tell the difference. It seems to work: I'm able to deadlift more than twice bodyweight for reps and run a 10k in under an hour.

—Andreas

 

[Beef_Supreme]

Re: Cardio/Resistance Question

Way back when I used to lift like that, I did my reps, switched out with workout partner and spotted him, then right back to it and it was great.
For the purpose of getting wind back up and calorie burning, I want to include treadmill time, when I'm not able to get on a trail and walk.
I have heard that lifting burns as many calories when you don't take much rest in betwen sets, but......... so just trying to get some other perspectives.

 

[anthony_se]

Re: Cardio/Resistance Question

There is no such thing as "cardio" Cooper's "aerobics" was and is bullshit. All exercise, if it's meaningful, i.e., if it provides stimulation to the muscular/skeletal system simultaneously stimulates the cardio/respiratory system (by meaningful I mean something other than sleep or rest).

As the muscular/skeletal system is more and more taxed, for that taxing to take place, the heart and lungs and associated metabolic systems are recruited. The duration of time over which those systems can be recruited varies as a function of their exposure to prior stimulation.

So... if you want to enhance your cardio/respiratory systems response to muscular/skeletal exercise, then up the intensity of the exercise. You can up the intensity by upping the duration, upping the frequency, or, by directly upping the resistance, as in strength training. Strength training is by far the most efficient way to improve the C/R's ability to support the intensity of the exercise, provided that it is specific for efficiency, i.e., the biggest bang for one's buck.

Don't fall into the useless trap of believing or thinking that "burning calories" is at all important in terms of fat loss. It isn't. Take a look in the gym and see the fatso's, pumping away on the freaking exercycles, C2 rowers, treadmills: they've been there every Sunday for years, and they're still fatsos.Nutritional composition at intake is what matters.

useful resources:

www.wheatbellyblog.com
www.bodybyscience.net
www.crossfit.com (just be aware of the real potential for significant injury in this method)
Tabata I, Nishimura K, Kouzaki M, et al. (1996). "Effects of moderate-intensity endurance and high-intensity intermittent training on anaerobic capacity and VO2max". Med Sci Sports Exerc 28 (10): 1327–30. doi:10.1097/00005768-199610000-00018. PMID 8897392.

 

[208Plinker]

Re: Cardio/Resistance Question

Do a 4 or 5 day split, 60 sec rest between sets. Overlap day five with cardio at seperate time, polish off week with cardio only days all performed H.I.T. style.

 

[Cubed333]

Re: Cardio/Resistance Question

I always use some form of cardio to warm up. Either lifting high reps of low weight till I break into a sweat or on the ergo or treadmill. I've started doing interval training and that has helped with my weight lifting and initial warm up. I find if i'm sweating heaps and have my lungs working my resistance training is much much better, higher weights more reps.
For each person its always different. My workout mate loves his weights and has had great results from 90% weights and just cardio for warmup. Me on the other hand I need at least 70% cardio and 30 weights otherwise I'm like the hulk and bulk up big without the benefit of the fat burning. It is proven that muscle activity triggered by weights can continue to burn well after the workout session while cardio lasts only while doing it.
I have less than 20 seconds between my sets and exercise changes which helps with cardio as well as endurance building.
I would have a play with both and combinations and find what works best for you as everybody can have an opinion but only you know what works for you.