Weights and cardio on the same day...is this a bad idea?

[brickboy240]

I was wondering...

In the last few weeks, I have been doing maybe 30-45 minutes of elliptical work (...with the resistance cranked way up so it actually does some good) after doing an upper body free weight session (hour and a half of dumbell presses, curls, flys, rows, tricep kickbacks....etc.).

Is this a bad idea? Someone told me that doing weight training and cardio on the same day is counter-productive. If my weight work is upper body and the elliptical is lower....does it matter?

My daughter joins me at the club, after her tennis lesson and my weight workout and this was something we can do together when we cannot get outside to hit on the tennis court. When the weather gets better...I plan on taking back up with tennis and using my "cardio days" helping my daughter improve her game (she is on the high school tennis team). I am not a huge fan of indoor cardio on a machine like a treadmill, bike or even this elliptical...rather be outside.

So is cardio on the same day as weights a bad idea? I know it is important to do both weights AND cardio but never found a straight answer on whether one right after the other is good or bad.

Thanks in advance for the replies...

-brickboy240

[chuckman]

I'd be curious what the physiological brainiacs have to say...I have always followed up weights with a run.

[brickboy240]

I don't know if I'd follow up a lower body workout with the elliptical or running but after lifting upper body...man...I like how it sort of "finishes things off" for me.

I figured burning calories is burning calories...does it matter when you do it?

-brickboy240

[sadmin]

I always do cardio first as a warm up, nothing high intensity, just 15-30 min of stair climber on hard level or elliptical / jumping rope. I'm also interested...

Brick- 1.5 hour weight session! Your probably getting a solid cardio workout there if your not taking breaks- my supersets leave me feeling like I ran sprints.


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[GTF425]

I do calisthenics and cardio every single morning. Not because I want to, but unfortunately the Army have their own ideals for physical training.

I supplement this with weight lifting almost every afternoon. And while I'll admit I'm far from being the pinnacle of physical fitness, I've never seen a downside to training like this and consistently perform at the top of my Company.

I'm happy with what I do. The question is, are you? If so, keep on rocking.

[brickboy240]

My 1.5 hour upper body sessions usually involve SOME short breaks. At age 48....I am not looking to injure myself! LOL

No breaks longer than a few minutes, though. Just enough to get a quick sip of water or stop panting! LOL

That workout usually consists of dumbbell bench press (incline press too), dumbbell military press, dumbbell flys, dumbbell rows, cable flys, dumbbell curls/hammer curls, tricep kickbacks, skull crushers and maybe cable curls. Either doing super sets or 4 sets of 12 each takes me a good 1.5 hours.

By that time...yeah...I could not do anymore upper body stuff but I feel just fine to go at least 30 minutes on the elliptical.

I wish I could remember where it was that I read you should not do cardio and weights on the same day. Seems fine to me but I am no expert.

-brickboy240

[chuckman]

I don't know if I'd follow up a lower body workout with the elliptical or running but after lifting upper body...man...I like how it sort of "finishes things off" for me.

I figured burning calories is burning calories...does it matter when you do it?

-brickboy240

I don't do lower body workouts; I run or jog stairs to work out my legs. I will throw in box jumps from time to time. I don't know how well I could run after a leg routine.

[GotAmmo]

I've always done fasting cardio first thing in the mornings followed 8 hrs later with weight training. has always worked for me and is what has always been recommended by the various forums I've been a member at

and some times I would add in a 1 mile treadmill run after weights based on how I'm feeling

[Trajan]

I don't, unless you consider mountain biking (singletrack) to be cardio (I don't really since I'm not using a single speed).

I'm not much of a runner though. It gets way too boring after two miles.

I only do full body supersets (had to google that term; I hate just standing around in the gym) every other day. Usually I'm in and out in about an hour. While weight training doesn't really make me sweat if I keep it heavy and lower reps (5-10), I'm usually wiped out and light headed when I'm done (I train fasted), so cardio right after would be a bad idea for me.

Not sure if cardio will hurt your gains, or if that's just broscience. I'd up your cals to account for the cardio though (unless you're trying to loose weight).

[scooter22]

Always do a warm up before lifting weights, i.e. static & ballistic stretches. Light cardio is also ok before lifting.

One to two days of intense cardio (e.g. plyometrics rather than running) a week is sufficient; too much cardio will prevent you from building muscle.

For most individuals who want to lose body fat percentage rapidly, you will have to greatly decrease your intake of grains, e.g. wheat/ gluten.

Also, be sure to change your workouts every four weeks if you are looking to change your physique.