Optimal Timing: Cardio Before or After Weightlifting?

Incorporating both cardio and strength training into your workout program is beneficial for most fitness goals. Research shows that doing cardio before lifting weights can increase stamina and training volume, while lifting weights can improve speed, power output, and time to exhaustion for aerobic athletes. However, if you're looking for a general rule, it's recommended to lift weights first and then do cardio to minimize the risk of injury and optimize weightlifting performance. Exceptions include warming up with light cardio before any workout and combining strength training and cardio in high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or circuit training workouts.