Should I Do Cardio First or Weight Training First?

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned fitness enthusiast, you will definitely find yourself asking this at some point: should I do cardio first or Weight Training first? In this post, we’ll be taking a deeper look at this matter.

Well, it all boils down to the science of the manner in which your body utilizes energy. When you are exercising, your body is first using anaerobic energy. This type of energy is a sudden burst of energy which doesn’t require added oxygen beyond whatever you’re taking in already. Afterwards, once you get moving, the body moves forward to aerobic energy, and this type of energy requires more oxygen as compared to whatever you are already inhaling.

If you can’t seem to wrap your head around the above, then simply remember is that the key is using the sudden burst of energy most effectively. This is why for most, strength training may seem like a suitable first option. As compared to cardio, strength training usually requires sudden bursts of energy. While cardio is usually steadier and longer, not requiring the quick bursts, strength training is the more explosive and fine-tuned movement. In this regard, if you perform strength training first, you will make better use of the original sudden burst of energy.

With that being said, the more important goal is doing both cardio and strength. So if you find yourself not motivated enough to do strength first, you shouldn’t limit yourself by following the above mentioned advice – what’s more important is that you do whatever you need to do.

What’s more, it rather depends on your individual goals. If the primary goal is to increase aerobic endurance or lose weight, then you should perform cardiovascular exercise first. If the primary goal is to increase

muscular strength, then you should perform strength training first. Basically, in order to get the most out of the workout, you should perform the most important type of exercise when you are not fatigued. Because many individuals want to lose weight and increase muscular strength, alternating the order of the workout during different cycles of training is one way to satisfy both goals.

Of course, each individual has a different idea for what they wish to get out of their fitness regime, so you should tailor yours to your own goals. 

For the recreational exerciser, it is recommended that they experiment the order of both the types of training within a workout, and then try to gauge which of them works best. If you are still unsure, however, as to what to do, then simply schedule the two workouts on separate days. By doing so, you wouldn’t have to worry about one of them affecting the other.

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Do I Need to Take Dietary Supplements?

Supplements for losing fat or building muscle are rapidly becoming popular. These dietary supplements are available without any prescription and generally come in powder, liquid, or pill form. The most common of these supplements include herbal products (also called botanicals), minerals, and vitamins.

An interesting fact is that more than half of the population takes one or more dietary supplements either occasionally or on a routine basis. But why would you be interested in taking dietary supplements in the first place? Well, let’s have a look.

Normally, you can get all the essential nutrients your body requires in the form of a balanced diet. However, when you take supplements, you can provide your body additional nutrients, specifically the ones that your diet is lacking or when you develop a deficiency or insufficiency due to specific health conditions. In most cases, an effective booster of serotonin and melatonin levels can provide you all the basic micronutrients your body requires. This is because these types of supplements promote the secretion of serotonin inside your brain without needing antidepressant drugs. Serotonin also happens to be the precursor to melatonin. What’s more, left over serotonin is also converted into melatonin. Both melatonin and serotonin help in calming the brain, promoting sound sleep, supporting positive mood, and reducing anxiety.

Apart from that, another category of supplements that seems to be gaining significant popularity is weight loss pills. Common weight loss supplements typically include GABA. GABA can boost recovery from intensive exercise, while also improving exercise tolerance and relieving injuries and pain. Apart from that, another aspect that GABA covers is the promotion of fat burning and decrease of overall body fat. It goes without saying, as a result, that such pills are significantly suitable for runners, martial artists, power lifters, body builders, and athletes of all sorts.

With all of that kept in mind, it is essential to remember that some supplements do carry side effects, specifically if they are taken with other medicines or before surgery. What’s more, certain supplements may also cause you problems in case you have specific health conditions. Other than that, the effects of most supplements haven’t been tested on pregnant women, children, and a few other groups. So it is best if you talk to your healthcare provider before taking any form of dietary supplements.

Of course, deciding whether or not you take dietary supplements as well as which ones you take is a rather serious matter. As such, you should learn about the potential benefits and also the risks associated with their intake beforehand. You should shortlist your products of interest and head straight over to your healthcare specialist to ask for their advice on the matter.