Running after lifting is bad....How bout running before?

[Chris09]

I understand why it is bad to run after lifting. What if you run for about 30 min and then lift imediately after that? Is this still bad?

[cursor]

Running for 30 minutes before your weight lifing session it's not the best technique. You'll reduce your weight lifting performance by running first.

[angel22]

I'm sorry, but why is it bad to run after lifting???

[Bostrom]

I'm not sure I understand the question.

Running before lifting will use up glycogen stores leaving you with no energy to lift.

Running after lifting will allow you to burn more fat as you have used up much of your glycogen stores while lifting.

Hope this helps.

[askjoe]

Do cardio after you lift - you'll be stronger with the weights and burn more fat when you run. Keep running to a minimum - it's the most stressfull cardio exrcise you can do for the body. It's easy to slip into overtraining.

Askjoe
http://www.onelastrep.com

[Lee J B]

I would just not do cardio, take your lifting to the intensity it deserves and get all the rewards that the cardio will bring you and more...

[Helene]

I'm doing cardio 3 times in 8 days. Once on a day that I don't lift and 2 times on my bicep/tricep day. I only do 20 minutes of Intervall cardio. I think the key here is not doing cardio each day after you lift for 45-60 min each time. That is when it's too much for muscle building.

Or try to run longer on the days you don't lift.

[Chris09]

So many theories, I just wish I knew what to do. There have been many posts on this forum talking about how cardio on the same day as lifting will hinder muscle growth. It has also been said that you can get more fat loss and muscle definition by using weights alone. But this thread says that running and lifting on the same day is ok. I just dont know what to do. I would have thought that the answer would be solid, either it is good for definition to run and lift on the same day or it isn't.

Since defintion is my main goal right now here is my question. One post on this thread said that running after lifting weights will be extra good for burning fat. Is this true? If so then I will do this. But I have heard that when you lift weights, you break down your muscles but then when you run, you use your bodys nutrients to run and not to rebuild muscle. So I guess my conclusion is runing after lifting will result in a faster fat loss along with muscle loss. Is this true? Would the same thing happen if I ran before lifting instead of afterwards?

Thanks again. I really enjoy your replies. I have been in forums in the past where people are close minded, rude, and just retarded. Everyone in this forum has been great and done honest jobs of trying to answer peoples questions. Good job DiscussFittness

[Helene]

I was really confused not long ago too. And still am.
Here is a link that someone posted before and convinced me to do a little cardio, because I had stoped for a while.

http://www.femalemuscle.com/medicine/larrypepefm7.htm

But you hear so many different things and one thing my work for someone and not work for another. So I just decided to do 20 min per session at intervall(wich I have heard is the best way of loosing fat). And I'm still not sure.

[Ah-nold]

Nice reference post Helene. The lowered glycogen portion makes a very strong point for doing cardio first thing in the morning on an empty stomach -- which will open up a whole new can of worms for discussion!

[Chris__D]

I try to separate my running from lifting by doing them several hours apart if doing both on the same day. And I simply don't run on the days I work my legs. I think you should just give different options a shot. If you're interested in increased fat burning then obviously running after lifting would be good. THe way I see it, until you stop seeing strength gains (the best way to measure success with your lifting IMO) then you can keep doing what you're doing (in other words, not overtraining).

Also, some people seem to imply that you can get the same cardio benefit from intense lifting, but that seems ridiculous to me. Not that doing dead lifts and squats don't give you a cardiovascular workout, but in no way does it work your heart similar to running, at least for not any length of time. If you truly think you're getting more cardio work out of lifting, then you're not putting much effort into running. My $.02.

[heibrin]

Always keep in mind that weight training burns more calories (& fat) in the long run than cardio (if burning fat is your main goal). It is wise, though, to add cardio to your training program. This will maximise your potential to burn excess calories (& fat). Yes, it is true:cardio is excellent for maintaining a healthy heart (which I believe is truly important!)

Doing cardio before weight training is not the best thing to do. It is probably one of the worst things to do if you are really serious about your weight training (adding muscle mass). You will use a lot of essential energy you definitely will need when doing your weight training.

If you have no other choice and you simply have to do cardio in the same session as your weight training (you might be time restricted, ect), then your best bet would be to do it after you have done weights. (But not very high intensity though). Remember that, through doing cardio directly after weight training, you will not maximise your muscle building ability - you might reduce it slightly (in some cases a lot). You will, however, burn more calories and fat in the process. Decide what is more important to you...
Ideally you should try to do cardio on a day you will not do weight training, or early in the morning if you plan on doing weights in the afternoon/evening. See your body as a source of energy, and plan thoroughly how you want to use it to gain optimal results. Planning is essential!

[50mission]

Quote from Chris_D

Also, some people seem to imply that you can get the same cardio benefit from intense lifting, but that seems ridiculous to me. Not that doing dead lifts and squats don't give you a cardiovascular workout, but in no way does it work your heart similar to running, at least for not any length of time. If you truly think you're getting more cardio work out of lifting, then you're not putting much effort into running. My $.02. [/b][/quote]
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I think people were saying that weight lifting and the subsequent muscle gain will burn fat as effectively (or more so than) as cardio. This does not happen because of stresses on the cardiovascular system during the actual workout, but mostly in the rest hours after a workout. If you research HIIT (high intensity interval training), which resistance training is a form of, you will find out the physiological reasons behind it (I can't remember the exact details).

50M

[Chris__D]

Right, I'm not arguing that in the long run increased metabolism as a result of muscle mass will not burn fat more effectively. I do think that the actual benefit to your heart and lungs (and things like stamina and endurance) are different than weight training, though. I guess the ideal situation is if you can still build muscle while doing a certain amount of cardio...if that interests you. I'm not implying that cardio is more important or beneficial than resistance training, BTW. Just different. It seems on this board that those who don't do cardio never mention its benefits.

I looked up a couple articles on HIIT and part of what I understood was that your body produces human growth hormone fairly soon after interval training, which helps to burn fat. It also mentioned that sprinting was a form of HIIT. I've been doing my own half-ass interval training with my running by giving it everything I've got when going up hills and going at a slower pace when on flat terrain or downhill. Overall time isn't that fast--5 miles in 40 minutes--but it still seems like a helluva workout. I just wonder if this is true "interval" training, though. I think most people walk, then sprint, then walk, etc?

[mustang GT]

If you can do cardio on a day that you don't lift, then do it. Why do cardio on the same day? It's much more effective by doing cardio on a different day than weight training. If you do cardio after lifting, your muscle gains won't get anywhere, and thus less fat burn due to less muscle. Also remember, about 20 minutes before you do cardio, take a serving of whey protein to prevent muscle breakdown. If you just do cardio in the morning totally on an empty stomach, you will lose muscle, which won't be good for fat loss in the long run. Don't forget to take your protein!