Best Time To Do Cardio
There is a lot of confusion about when to do cardio, I get asked this question all the time! As many of you have heard, doing cardio before you eat in the morning burns off more calories so is that the best time? Lots believe that the right time to do cardio is before a weight workout to provide a warmup but just as many believe that the right time is afterward. Who is right? None of them! All of them!
The right time to do cardio is when you are most likely to do it! Cardio is very important and its 100x more important that you actually DO your cardio than when to do it! Lets look at some of the pros and cons of doing cardio at various times.
Doing Cardio And Weight Workouts Separately
Its optimal to do your cardio and weight workouts completely separately, that is, with four or more hours of rest between them. This way, neither workout interfereres with the other and you can give each 110% effort. For those of us who workout at home, this is easy to do. For those who go to gyms, its not as easy if you depend on the stationary equipment for your cardio because then you need to make a second trip to the gym. Now lets look at the non-optimal compromises.
Doing Cardio Before Breakfast
Yes, studies have shown that you burn off more calories if you do cardio before breakfast, but its a lousy time to do cardio in my opinion because you wont do your cardio for nearly as long. Who can focus on cardio when your stomach is growling and you feel faint from lack of food? Not me! Besides, doing cardio before breakfast isnt the most convenient time for most folks.
Doing Cardio Before A Weight Workout
The fans of doing cardio before a weight workout point to its ability to help warm up your muscles to prevent injury, true it does this. For those who significantly overweight or are fitness beginners, walking or light jogging is the recommended cardio. For these people doing their walking or light jogging before their weight workout is perfect, it warms them up and doesnt interfere with their weight workout. On the other hand, intermediate to advanced athletes need to push themselves much harder in their cardio workouts – they get their heartrate higher and keep it elevated for longer. Cardio workouts of this intensity will exhaust the body to the point where the weight workout will be lackluster at best reducing potential strength and mass gains. If you are an intermediate or advanced athlete whose time is at a premium and dont feel its important to add more muscle mass then doing cardio before the weight workout is ok, otherwise find a better time to do cardio.
Doing Cardio After A Weight Workout
Doing cardio after a weight workout is my personal favorite, its not optimal but its a very good use of time if you are doing your cardio at a gym because it eliminates the need for a second trip to the gym. I always find that even after an intense weight workout, I still can give cardio the intensity it needs. One thing I always do though is make sure to eat a small meal after lifting weights before starting the cardio. Meal timing is important and its important to get a meal right after weight lifting and waiting till after you do 45min of cardio, shower, and get home is too much of a delay. If you do your cardio after your weight workout, you need to find some alternative way to warmup your muscles before the weight workout, not a big deal.
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@scooby1961
Jeez …
@scooby1961
Jeez that’s brutal scooby! I race and I don’t want to do anything over six hours on the saddle.
@nitinlkoin1984 …
@nitinlkoin1984 there is more than just one muscle group in your back, and more than just one way to work them. you just have try out some stuff till you find what your looking for.
@thereaper15999 ” …
@thereaper15999 “Auf Wiedersehen” is a formal “goodbye” in German.
@INT3L818 it might …
@INT3L818 it might be that your muscle casing has torn away from the bone. there is nothing you can do but stop running and wait for it to heal. then maybe think about new shoes and a new running style.
@CrackedRecords the …
@CrackedRecords the belt is for powerlifting not bodybuilding. some body builders do use them. what their many for is keeping your guts from exploding out at high weight. so aslong as you have strong abs and don’t go too heavy, you don’t really need a belt.
that being said, i have seen guys at competions that have had a compound hernia. they aren’t pretty. if you go big , go with a belt
Why does he always …
Why does he always say that at the end lol
@INT3L818 go see a …
@INT3L818 go see a doctor is your best bet.
@scooby1961 Burnin’ …
@scooby1961 Burnin’ some calories huh? Cycling is VERY difficult up hill. What a great sport!
Welcome back!
Welcome back!
glad your bike trip …
glad your bike trip went well mate, you look fitter than ever
@scooby1961 Did you …
@scooby1961 Did you like the experience of cycling 100+miles a day? did you happen to lose any weight? Also, if you know what it is, what do you think of crossfit? Thanks and make more videos.
@PsychoSocialChange …
@PsychoSocialChange Thanks PsychoSocial. Just heard so many things and i figured it would be what best works for myself you know. But when someone throws out there, based on my comment, that physiologically the body is in digestion mode and not burn mode i had to ask. Ill take your advice for sure especially just not eating heavy before i do it. Thanks brotha.
I thought the best …
I thought the best time to do cardio is after you lift weights.
@INT3L818 Try …
@INT3L818 Try running without your shoes. Notice how you run without your shoes and run the same way when you put your shoes back on. It might be that you running incorrectly or it could be that you are just a beginner or some combo of this. Also make sure you warm up before you start running.
My GF “Please tell …
My GF “Please tell me hes wearing pants” Me “Best way to keep somones attention” lol Thanks Scoob Im gonna switch my cardio till after my weights. ill just walk to get my blood going (: Thanks Again!
Thanks Scooby, …
Thanks Scooby, great video, I was just going to ask you this question (I guess you read my mind lol) very informative. By the way… I have never seen you wearing a “lift weighting belt” I supposed it’s useless for the workouts, am I right? OR do I have to use the “belt”?
Thank you in advanced. Great to see you back in Youtube.
I have been running …
I have been running for the past month or so, i bought a threadmill. I have had this pain in my leg, Shin Splints, i will do my 15 minute excercise in the morning and then i get this painful thing and keeps me from standing for several minutes.
Whats the best way to get rid of this pain?? Ill go several days from excercising but i will still get the pain
@redtesta From the …
@redtesta From the books I’ve read, the correct answer to this is whatever feels best for you. Some people need to eat before a workout, while others puke if they do. Just don’t eat too heavy before a workout, that I would not advise.
You burn more …
You burn more calories before breakfast? Sure you didn’t mean you burn more fat? I think calories should be the same, but you’ll burn fat instead of carbs which doesn’t mean much, since then those unused carbs will turn to fat anyway.
Scooby, all your …
Scooby, all your videos are both very informative and very entertaining
I heard that you …
I heard that you shouldnt do cardio within an hour or so after a meal since your body is in digestive mode and by the time you get through 30 minutes of cardio , you then finally start to burn? I also heard you should have a lite snack before doing cardio. Anyone hear about the whole food thing i mentioned in the first part where your body is in digestion mode and not burn mode?
Great topic , …
Great topic , through my own personal experiance ive tried them all. After is the 2nd best , but the only problem is after a weight workout your cardio workout can suffer. Through trial an error ive found that doing it on a day between weights is best. That works best for me with the best results. Its also a great option for older bodybuilders who like to work out maybe 3 days a week. Weights one day, cardio the next.
HELL YEA SCOOBY IS …
YEA SCOOBY IS BACK!!!
Go Scoob!
Go Scoob!
how many shirts did …
how many shirts did you get in germany? ps good to have you back!!!