When it comes to fitness, there are many different approaches. Some people rely solely on walking or running, while others use a combination of exercises. If you’ve ever worked with a personal trainer, you know that the “perfect workout” consists of exercises performed from the 4 different types of exercise: Cardio, Strength Training (weights), Balance and Flexibility. So how does the order affect your workout?
Basically, what you do first is the exercise that emphasizes your health goals. If you want to lose weight, do cardio first. If you want to bulk up, go lift some weights and do your running afterwards.
So how does this work? “Doing cardio first will induce fatigue that may compromise technique and possibly increase risk of injury,” explains Fabio Comana, director of Continuing Education for the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
Basically your body puts the majority of your energy into the first part of your workout. You’re sure to exercise the most in the first section, but when you start the next part your body is already beginning to tire out from the first part of the workout.
After an intense workout, it’s a good idea to take a break for a day and focus on your balance or maybe even flexibility. I recommend doing some yoga! It’s a great way to relax after a hard day of working out, but still doing something good for your body.
Of course, this isn’t a problem if you only do certain workouts on certain days, like doing strength training one day and cardio the next. Happy training!!!