Should You Do Cardio Before or After Lifting Weights?

Alexander Rothstein, Ed.D., assistant professor of exercise science, is one of several experts featured in a GQ article on whether gymgoers should start their workouts with cardio or weightlifting. Rothstein noted that, while it makes no difference which activity comes first, individuals should “start with the thing they want to get better at.” For example, if cardio is being done in preparation for a race or if a lifting session includes an attempt at a personal record, then that is the place to start. However, he advised against stacking strength and cardio, if possible, due to the risk of injury that increases with fatigue.

“Just because the muscles weren’t recruited in your overhead press, that doesn’t mean your core and your glutes and your quads weren’t firing, because you do still need to stabilize your lower half, stabilize your core, and transfer the energy from the ground,” said Rothstein. “And even though you’re using a specific local area, that doesn’t mean that the nervous system as a whole isn’t being recruited.”