Cardio or Strength

[Wisegrl 0]

Hello all,

I own a treadmill and love it. I like to run on it for about 40 minutes 3xs a week. I have slipped a bit during the holidays but plan on getting back on for the new year. I also own a Bowflex and don't like it so much. Which exercise is better for you? A treadmill or strength? How can I incorporate both in my schedule? I work full time and have two kids.

Any advice would be great. Thanks

:help:

[rharriet62 0]

Gotta do both! Your cardio sound awesome! Have you thought of running 20, Bowflex 20, run again for 20? Sometimes I split my cardio like that just for something different to do. You have already made the exercise commitment, so I'll bet it will be easy for you to sneak in some weights a few times a week. You will be SO happy you are lifting!!! DO IT!!! DO IT!!!! DO IT!!!!

[Longhorn 1]

I'm going to be visiting the physical trainer at my surgeon's office on January 18 but I always understood that you should do strength training first and then cardio. If you do cardio first, your muscles will be more "tired out" for the strength training. A warm-up on cardio is fine, though. Or you can alternate and do strength training one day and cardio the next.

If I'm wrong, I'll find out next month! :eek: Right now, I'm only doing cardio but I plan to add strength training (I have a recumbent bike, an elliptical, and a home gym.)

[coltonwade 27]

I worked out with a personal trainer for the first month or so after surgery .

What she had me do was warm up on the treadmill for 5 mintues.

Then I would do some strength training for 10 then 5 mintues on the treadmill I would alternate like that for about 30 mintues 2 times a week.

Then I would do the same thing . but I would do the treadmill at the end of the work out for 20 minutes quite hard for a harder cardio work out .

she said it was good to mix it up go back and forth so I didnt get bored .

HTH

Mindy

[LapBandit 5]

You gotta do both. Cardio will burn fat but doesn't really change your overall shape. Strength builds muscle which helps shape you. Cardio is more for fat loss, Strength is more for inch loss...that's what I've found.

[TexasFire 84]

Yep, you gotta do both, for sure.

As far as doing cardio or lifting first...there are many schools of thought...none of which are any more compelling (to me) than the other. Do what you prefer so that you always get through both.

Personally, I don't do them in the same session. But when I used to, I always did cardio last, because if I did it first I would never make it to the weight room!