Intense Cardio prior to Weight Training

[austinite]

I find this to be the most grueling and rewarding workout style for me. For example, this morning I ran on the treadmill for 20 minutes, working up to 7:30 min mile pace, worked up a good sweat.

Then I went to the squat rack (8 x 135, 8 x 225, 6 x 315, 8 x 225). Next was stiff-legged deads (8 x 135, 6 x 185, 8 x 135) and then donkey calves and ab crunches. The towel I was using to wipe off the benches was soaked. It felt great!

Creatine and Protein Shake one hour after working out. Does anyone else workout in this manner? Pros? Cons?

Thanks

 

[nikegurl]

i don't doubt it's grueling. i personally would never do it b/c i don't want to use cardio to deplete the muscle glycogen stores prior to lifting. i'm not a big fan of cardio - but if/when i do it - it'll never be right before lifting

 

[Saturday Fever]

Burn up sugars lifting weights. Then burn fat on the treadmill. If I gave two shits about cardio, that would be my motto.

 

[LAM]

i personally would never do it b/c i don't want to use cardio to deplete the muscle glycogen stores prior to lifting.

ditto...plus in the long run resistance training is more beneficial for fat loss. weights should always take priority over cardio...

 

[CowPimp]

i don't doubt it's grueling. i personally would never do it b/c i don't want to use cardio to deplete the muscle glycogen stores prior to lifting. i'm not a big fan of cardio - but if/when i do it - it'll never be right before lifting

Yuppers. I could see doing a 5 minute warmup first, but that's about it.

 

[austinite]

Ok, good responses. You guys are all kind of anti-cardio though. Is it because you think it will prohibit muscular growth or because you don't like it? I am pretty big (6'1", 225), but I like to run as well, and I want to get better at it. Cardio is not a bad word to me.

I have seen many triathletes who are great endurance athletes AND have a great deal of muscle.

 

[LAM]

I do a lot of cardio. probably 2-3 sessions of HIIT or Max-OT cardio a week and another 4 hours of low-intensity cardio on the treadmill.

 

[JLB001]

I'm not anti-cardio. I just prefer to do my lifting first then cardio for the exact reasons why everyone else has stated.

 

[CowPimp]

I do cardio even while I bulk; I am definitely not anti-cardio. I just think that doing cardio right before lifting is a very bad idea compared to doing it right after you lift.

 

[Spottieottie]

I heard that if you have an intense run before lifting weights you won't be able to workout to your full potential. I usually run after if at all on the same day I lift.

 

[austinite]

I do cardio even while I bulk; I am definitely not anti-cardio. I just think that doing cardio right before lifting is a very bad idea compared to doing it right after you lift.

You think it is a bad idea because of glycogen depletion prior to lifting? What exactly is the impact of this? Is it that you are able to lift less weight? Does it matter that you can lift less weight if you are doing just as much (or more) work due to fatigue and depletion?

Also, for those who want to maximize muscle gain, does doing intense cardio immediately following weight training negatively affect growth or recovery?