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Jockology: The eternal weights v. cardio dilemma is solved

ALEX HUTCHINSON

From Friday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 11:13 AM EDT 14/03/08

What should I do first at the gym? ...Read the full article

This conversation is closed

  1. Knowledge is True Opinion from Canada writes: More importantly, should I turn the TV on first or crack me beer first?
  2. Hugh Draper from VancouverVancouver, Canada writes: A circuit of intense weights, maxing out on the last two reps followed by twenty to thirty minutes of cardio in which you hit the wall and then a nice thirty minute swim and jacuzzi and sauna followed by chicken or cod chow mein and crunchy noodles with green tea.
  3. Bob Fugger from Victoria, BC, Canada writes: Hugh Draper - Either you are unemployed, retired or independently wealthy. Who has that much time on their hands all at once - you're talking about a 2 - 3 hour routine, when you factor in getting the gym, changing and showering. More importantly, the average Joe six-pack gets bored after about 45 minutes in the gym.

    I find it's all about intensive bursts throughout the day. 8km "race" to work on my bike, 30 on the treadmill at lunch, 8KM home and 45-60 minutes intense weights session every other day.
  4. Western Girl from Calgary, Canada writes:
    Is no one going to complain about this being another one of G&M's fluff pieces, or do I have to do that myself? ;-)

    Actually, this was useful information for me, since I do both weights and cardio but I'm preparing to run my first "official" 10k this year.
  5. Erika H from Montreal, Canada writes: Funny. I always thought the first thing one does at the gym (after changing, etc) is to stretch. My bad apparently.
  6. sometimes serious from Canada writes: Cardio or Weights? The answer is easy.

    Wherever the most babes are! Geesh No Ph.D required for that one.
  7. J M from Realityville, Canada writes: You won't get the babes with cardis that's for sure.
  8. Hugh Draper from Vancouver, Canada writes: Happily employed.

    I do that once on the week-end and break it up into two 45-60 minute segments through the week, and walk about an hour a day and read an hour or two also.
  9. Korben Dallas from Canada writes: Erika H from Montreal, Canada writes: Funny. I always thought the first thing one does at the gym (after changing, etc) is to stretch. My bad apparently.

    Erika, my understanding is that stretching should be done after exercising, not before. The reason being, if your muscles are cold and you stretch, you tear the fibers and hinder your performance. Stretching immediately after exercise, while your muscles are warm and full of blood, doesn't have this effect.
  10. Lucrezia Borja from Dolce Decorum, Canada writes: Jeepers! What an astonishingly long-winded article when the answer is as simple as "... whatever mode you start in will be dominant for your whole workout."

    The dangers of paying by the word, I guess.
  11. edward prior from Montreal, Canada writes: Although for some athletes, the principle question is: is it better to take steroids orally or by injection.
  12. Former 2nd Row from Toronto, Canada writes: The other thing the article forgot is to continually vary your routine -- the longer you stay with one or two routines the less effective it/they is/are.
  13. Albin Forone from Toronto, Canada writes: Serious athletes don't take their advice from casual G&M pieces - for the casual exerciser, the incremental difference between starting a session with cardio or weights is meaningless, and honesty would be the best editorial policy. If you can pinch an inch, just get your butt moving. There's also little evidence that elaborate stretching (yogic or otherwise) prevents injury, as opposed to the good evidence for advice to start light, start slow.
  14. Ed Long from white Rock, Canada writes: First thing, get out of the f'''ng gym unless you are doing a heavy duty weight work-out, or feeling lonely and need some eyeball time.

    The air and moisture is just below hospitals in providing the perfect medium for ugly flesh eating bronchial anxiety bugs.

    Do whatever cardio. outside, close to home with 20% of your work-out being high intensity (hills, sprints, faster pace).

    One of your cardio. days should be a boot camp using whatever your route gives you ... ab. stuff on playground swings, pull-ups on bars, balance on rocks/logs, throwing rocks in the ocean, use your imagination.

    One day in the gym heavy duty weights mixing up your rep. pattern and doing two/three exercises together, one of which is either core/balance or abs. Try not to read the Lululemon labels on people's butts.

    Stretch but not to pain.

    Drink lots of water, have a little snack with carbos. protein and fat within an hour after workout.

    Shower and flex in the mirror, purse lips, play with hair, suck in gut ...
  15. Kevin Dooley from Canada writes: Western Girl from Calgary, Canada writes: Actually, this was useful information for me, since I do both weights and cardio but I'm preparing to run my first "official" 10k this year.

    Good for you! And good luck!
  16. K Kal from Canada writes: no no u guys have got it all wrong!

    3 sets, 15 reps of yelling "THIS IS SPARTA!!!"

    story done!
  17. K Kal from Canada writes: Ed Long from white Rock, Canada writes:
    One day in the gym heavy duty weights mixing up your rep. pattern and doing two/three exercises together, one of which is either core/balance or abs. Try not to read the Lululemon labels on people's butts.

    man, thats asking alot :( lululemon/tna drool.
  18. john doe from toronto, Canada writes: Korben Dallas writes: "Erika, my understanding is that stretching should be done after exercising, not before. The reason being, if your muscles are cold and you stretch, you tear the fibers and hinder your performance."

    I stretch AFTER a warm-up, but always BEFORE weights, and again at the end of a workout. If I forget to stretch, I'm often aching the next day.
  19. Eric B from Ottawa, Canada writes: Albin Forone from Toronto, Canada, you win my vote as the most relevant and logical post so far:

    '' Serious athletes don't take their advice from casual G&M pieces - for the casual exerciser, the incremental difference between starting a session with cardio or weights is meaningless...''

    I would guess that following the advice of the article would not make a material difference for anyone reading it....at the readers' average athletic level (I include myself here) the amount of time spent exercising is, along with nutrition, the most important factor.
  20. daniel saliken from Vancouver, Canada writes: I don't understand why certain people continue to read the articles and then complain about how bad G&M is. It must be some weird personality disorder associated with weak egos overcompensating for something.

    It infects many of the posting boards and is always the same kind of smug personality that finds superiority in negativity like we are all going to see how cool you are. Its like complaining about your job everyday but continuing to work there. In real life I don't find these type of complainers to be "doers". Classic case of those that can't....complain.

    I probably work out more often and with heavier weight then any of you on this board and yet I find the national attention the subject is offered by G&M worthwhile because it raises awareness, interest and curiosity about fitness for a broader market then muscle mags. Accessibility to the masses is the power such "fluff" pieces offer.
  21. Kevin Desmoulin from Toronto, Canada writes: If anyone look at any workout of a pro boxer, Cardio is first, to exercise the heart and warm up the body, then the weights.
  22. L Harder from Canada writes: Try rowing to accomplish both. There are some skinny types that seem to just tone up, but most seem to add some muscle (upper/lower/core) as well as getting cardio. The effort can be similar to running but low impact.
  23. Albin Forone from Toronto, Canada writes: Eric B, Thanks. I think you'll find my various comments are often among the most relevant and logical, and I've been considering how to "monetize" my contributions to the G&Ms well-being. Your "vote" suggests to me that readers should get to vote on the most relevant and logical commentators, who would receive free Globe subscriptions. Let's all run with that idea.
  24. Green Mile from Canada writes: I find rowing to be an excellent exercise but, using a rowing machine to often causes me to get a sore lower back. It is a damn shame...

    I read one time about Terrel Owens workouts. He started with no more than 8 minutes of medium moving to high intensity cardio and then onto weights and plyometric exercises. If I recall he didn't spend too much time in the gym.

    And of course the two biggest factors besides the gym in muscle growth: proper rest and nutrition. It's a lot to ask.
  25. Kevin Desmoulin from Toronto, Canada writes: Albin Forone from Toronto, Canada writes: Eric B, Thanks. I think you'll find my various comments are often among the most relevant and logical, and I've been considering how to "monetize" my contributions to the G&Ms well-being. Your "vote" suggests to me that readers should get to vote on the most relevant and logical commentators, who would receive free Globe subscriptions. Let's all run with that idea.

    Your whole premise is pretty well, Debatable lol
  26. Ed Long from white Rock, Canada writes: Kevin D ... do boxers use weights? Back in the day, Muhammed Ali would chop wood at a cabin in Pennsylvania before going to sparring camp. I thought boxing training had some commonalities with ballet in that cardio./core/muscle explosiveness were the foundation.

    Green Mile .... Terrel Owns' work-out is very specific to his job, wide receiver. A friend sent me Jason Clermont's workouts in prep. for NFL training camp. Insane, huge amounts of total weight, big reps. in two a days. I believe most trainers consider plyometrics high risk for the general population and use in the final phase for top level athletes (i.e. national volleyball team used plyometrics in the final prep. ... high risk for injury).

    L. Harder .... I rowed on a quad and double crew. One of my team mates was a chiropractor who believed rowing was the best overall exercise with the lowest risk of injury. Many cross country ski racers were also rowers. If you are having problems using an ergo-meter, get instruction from a rower, it is a leg/body movement not an arm movement, and .... get out of the f""ng gym, join a rowing club and experience the incredible balance, power, control and aesthetic beauty of a boat up and running. Besides, rowing clubs are generally full of fun people.

    I just came back from a training session with a special needs 17 year old. I put wooden boxes all around playground apparatus and told him he had to go from box to box, climbing over apparatus and jumping, without being eaten by the sharks waiting for him. Then we played hoops.

    Unless you're an Olympic athlete, it is just play and it is as important for your mind and soul, as it is for your body.

    enjoy ... gotta go figure out my golf swing.
  27. Trying to be Rational from Canada writes: Daniel Saliken: well said!
  28. Ed Long from white Rock, Canada writes: We have regimented exercise and lost the people most needing it.

    Exercise, from my childhood, was walking to work/school, playing with family/friends, being sent outside for hours on end to "go play".

    When I talk to long term people in the business and from my own short time working with clients, the most deconditioned people are intimidated by the regimentation yet they know they have to do something.

    And that is the problem, adherence is the biggest problem in any fitness lifestyle and the minute a person begins thinking gotta do ... they will be lost.
  29. aniphylactic shock troops from Victoria, Canada writes: OK, Ed, we get it. You don't like gyms.
    I've been going to the nearby gym for four years. My routine has hardly varied that entire time. I go late in the evening when there are often only a couple other people there so I don't go to stare. Most days, I can't wait to go.
    I wouldn't jog or run if you put a gun to my head and the few times I've been on a bicycle in recent years I've invariably nearly been killed by vehicles.
    So enjoy the fresh air and running around. I did that as a kid, too.
    But I'll take the gym anyway without complaint.
  30. Jorly fuster from Canada writes: Kind of an odd study, I do about 40 to and hour of cardio and I still have lots of energy to lift weights. I've never seen somebody say "oh I can't do my biceps cause' my legs are hurting from the treadmill.
  31. Kim Philby from Ottawa, Canada writes: For me, it's cardio first. My cardio consists of practising different martial arts kicks, so it's also about developing skills. That means I like to do a lot of kicks in each session, to train my muscles to "remember" what to do. If I do the weights first, I sometimes gas before I've practised enough kicking. If I gas during the weightlifting and have to stop, I don't really care.
  32. H M from Canada writes: I feel pretty self impressed if I can be bothered to do either on a regular basis. I'm pretty sure my pansy-arsed 10min walk to work doesn't count as exercise.

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