Cardio Before or After Your Workout

[M302_Imola]

Absolutely after workout. You will drain to much energy and not be able to lift properly. Just will not have the strength to maximixe your weight workout. Also, if you jump right in immediately after your heart rate is already up and quicker to kick it up faster. Check your heart rate walking in gym and starting cardio, then check it right after strength training. I prefer to be around 80-85% of max. 30 minutes tops. Also, when interval training 80%-100%. I see no use for 60 minutes if doing interval which burns more fat. The old method of 65% does not do much. Look at the body of a sprinter and then a long distance runner. The sprinter is able to maintain much more muscle mass.

I have to disagree with you! 95% of my cardio is performed at 65% MHR and I'm able to lose fat easily while holding on to muscle. At 80-85% MHR you're switching over from fat burning to more cardiovascular...so you're strengthening your heart but not targeting fatloss...you're also more opt to burn muscle at this higher intensity since glycogen levels are depleted (after your workout). HIIT cardio (sprinters) is a great tool for losing fat but IMO this shouldn't be performed in the carb depleted state as some muscle wastage is inevitable.

[EasyDoesIt]

I have to disagree with you! 95% of my cardio is performed at 65% MHR and I'm able to lose fat easily while holding on to muscle. At 80-85% MHR you're switching over from fat burning to more cardiovascular...so you're strengthening your heart but not targeting fat loss...you're also more opt to burn muscle at this higher intensity since glycogen levels are depleted (after your workout). HIIT cardio (sprinters) is a great tool for losing fat but IMO this shouldn't be performed in the carb depleted state as some muscle wastage is inevitable.

Well we will just disagree on this one. Take a look at MMA fighters, fast explosive exercises and they don't just jog when they run. They maintain there muscle tissue like a SPRINTER. 80% of the people on cardio equipment are overweight and still going by the old standard of 65% of max heart rate. They are not exhausting anything and they usually never change physically. At 65% i feel nothing and get nothing. Work hard in weight room and WORK on cardio. I use to do the 65% of max heart rate for years and it never did anything. Newer studies came out showing high intensity interval training worked best for cardio. Like i stated look at sprinters and look at long distance runners. Personally i wish the 65% worked for me because it's a lot easier, but it doesn't. There are all kinds of articles out there proclaiming both work. But for me i dumped the 65% method a long time ago.

[M302_Imola]

Well we will just disagree on this one. Take a look at MMA fighters, fast explosive exercises and they don't just jog when they run. They maintain there muscle tissue like a SPRINTER. 80% of the people on cardio equipment are overweight and still going by the old standard of 65% of max heart rate. They are not exhausting anything and they usually never change physically. At 65% i feel nothing and get nothing. Work hard in weight room and WORK on cardio. I use to do the 65% of max heart rate for years and it never did anything. Newer studies came out showing high intensity interval training worked best for cardio. Like i stated look at sprinters and look at long distance runners. Personally i wish the 65% worked for me because it's a lot easier, but it doesn't. There are all kinds of articles out there proclaiming both work. But for me i dumped the 65% method a long time ago.

Yep...agree to disagree! Stalemate!