Is it better to do cardio at the beginning or end of workout to lose weight?

Author: Asia Wiegand  |  Last update: Monday, September 8, 2025

One small study found doing weights before cardio burned more fat. In another small study, researchers found that doing strength training first increased heart rate more than doing cardio first (in the same workout). So, starting your workouts with strength training could help you burn more calories.

Is it better to do cardio first or last for weight loss?

Whether you are trying to put on weight or lose fat, always perform cardio after workout. Your first priority should be strength training.

What is the best time to do cardio for weight loss?

The best time to do cardio for fat burning depends on personal preference, schedule, and energy levels. Some prefer fasted cardio in the morning to tap into stored fat for fuel, while others find evening workouts more enjoyable and effective.

What is the 3/2/1 rule in gym?

What is the 3-2-1 method of working out? The 3-2-1 refers to your weekly split of workouts - three strength training sessions, two Pilates sessions, and one cardio session. All up, that's six sessions per week, leaving you one full rest day, too.

Which is the correct order to perform a workout?

There are 3 parts of a Work-out, followed in the this order: You ALWAYS Warm-Up first, typically, low intensity cardio. 2nd comes the Workout, typically Anaerobic exercises such as strength, speed, and/or power training first, followed by Aerobic Endurance exercise such as cardio exercises.

Cardio Before or After Weights to Burn Fat Fast | Cardio before or after lifting | Weight Training

What is a good workout schedule for weight loss?

Example 1: Weekly Workout Schedule for Weight Loss
  • Monday: Cardio.
  • Tuesday: Strength Training (upper body)
  • Wednesday: Cardio.
  • Thursday: Strength Training (lower body)
  • Friday: Rest.
  • Saturday: Cardio.
  • Sunday: Active Recovery.
  • Monday: Strength Training (chest, shoulders, triceps)

What is the best order for weight training?

Answer: The conventional theory is to lift larger muscle groups and then smaller groups. For example, bench press then triceps press-downs. The rationale is that you use triceps for both bench and press-downs, but you also use chest and shoulders for bench.

What is the 30 60 90 rule gym?

The 30-60-90 interval training workout consists of three sets with three intervals. The first set includes three intervals of 30 seconds, followed by three intervals of 60 seconds and three intervals of 90 seconds. After each interval, rest for the length of the interval.

What is the 80 20 rule at the gym?

The 80/20 rule simply means: 80% of the effects come from 20% of the things u do. 20% from exercise. It isn't just about the weight loss but actually about the fat loss and muscle gain.

What is the 48 hour rule gym?

Rest each muscle group for at least 48 hours to maximise gains in strength and size. Varying your workouts can help you push past a training plateau.

Is 30 minutes of cardio a day enough to lose weight?

Cardio's role in helping you shed pounds is burning calories. The more you exercise, the more calories you'll burn. If you're trying to lose weight, you should aim for doing cardio at least five days per week for a total of at least 250 minutes (4 hours, 10 minutes) each week.

What is the 30 30 30 rule?

That plan is called the 30-30-30 rule. It's a simple but catchy idea that encourages you to eat 30 grams of protein within 30 minutes of waking up and then get 30 minutes of low-intensity exercise. The 30-30-30 rule now has millions of followers on TikTok.

Should I do cardio to begin or end workout?

Here are a few expert tips to help you decide: If you want to increase your endurance, do cardio before weights. If you want to build muscle strength, do weights before cardio. If you want to improve your overall fitness, you can do either cardio or weights first.

Where do you lose fat first when doing cardio?

Some people may lose from their abdomen, while others may lose from their thighs," says Fatima Cody Stanford, M.D., M.P.H., an obesity medicine physician at Harvard Medical School and a Men's Health advisor. "It is difficult to predict where a person will lose fat from first."

What is the 2 2 2 rule in gym?

The rule that both NSCA and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommend is the “2-for-2 rule.” After a few workout sessions, you can increase the weight for a certain exercise once you can perform two more repetitions beyond your repetition goal for the last set for two weeks in a row.

What is the 70 30 rule gym?

Shifting stubborn fat comes down to the 70/30 rule: only 30% comes from exercise whereas 70% comes from making changes to what you eat. It is the most important factor in a shredding fat.

What is the number one rule in the gym?

1: Rerack your weights. This is the most fundamental rule of gym etiquette. Leaving the plates on a barbell after you finish your sets forces the person after you to waste time and energy and is just plain annoying.

What is the 3 3 3 rule gym?

Understanding the 3 3 3 Approach

Among these, the 3 3 3 workout has carved a niche for itself with its straightforward, yet surprisingly effective strategy. The concept revolves around performing sets of three exercises, repeated three times, for a total of nine micro-sets.

What is the 5 by 5 rule in gym?

What is the 5x5 workout? There are a few iterations of the 5x5 workout, but they all involve doing five sets of five reps of compound exercises. Hamlin suggests the following rules and programming: Rest breaks: Rest between each set for two to three minutes, depending on the intensity and how you feel.

How lean can you get in 60 days?

Assuming that you're staying within your calorie targets every day and working out consistently (at least 3 days per week for best results), you can expect to lose 4-16lbs in 60 days. You may think this seems low, but this is based on the common recommendation to aim for 0.5-2lbs of weight loss per week.

Should I prioritize weight or reps?

Lifting heavier weight for less repetitions builds muscle strength and causes muscles to fatigue faster. Moderate or lighter weights with more repetition develops muscle endurance.

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