Cardio Exercises And Strength Training
Cardio is an excellent way of warming up before performing other exercises, including strength training. It not only warms up the body, but also ensures that the muscles and limbs are lubricated, and the heart rate is increased. By performing cardio as a warm-up routine before strength training, you will be almost completely negating any risk of injury.
Some Effective Cardio Exercises Before Strength Training
There are many effective cardio exercises that you can perform to warm up for your strength training routine. It all depends on what your preference and situation is. For example, you could jog or cycle to your gym. This is a good way of saving time and getting warmed up even before reaching the gym.
If you prefer exercising indoors, you will find many options for cardio exercises at the gym itself. The simplest option again would be to jog on the treadmill for ten to fifteen minutes prior to your strength training routine. If you prefer your cardio exercise in a more esoteric variant, you could try the elliptical trainer, Stair master, or stationery cycle. If leotards and tights are your thing, then aerobic might be the right warm up exercise for you. Basically all cardio is effective as long as it is performed with some amount of intensity. It is important to choose a routine that you like so that you can perform it well.
Do keep in mind that you shouldn’t overdo cardio before strength training otherwise you will be too tired to perform your main routine properly. Restrict cardio to a maximum of ten to fifteen minutes at a moderate pace. This will ensure that your body becomes adequately warmed up without getting unduly tired.
If you want to go in for a full blown cardio session, I would suggest that you save that for a day when you are not strength training. Alternating strength training with cardio is a good way to get the best of both worlds. Of course, if you really want to lose fat, and are extremely brave, you can try cardio after you strength training session. Studies have shown that performing cardio after a strength training session results in maximum fat burn. However, be warned, that you will be dog tired after this, and will not have the energy to do much else. Also ensure that you partake of proper pre and post workout nutrition otherwise your energy levels will really go for a tail spin, and you could even fall ill.
