Do you do steady cardio before lifting, or skip it to save energy for weights?
Quick question for people who lift: when you have a 45–60 minute gym slot, do you spend 8–15 minutes on steady cardio (treadmill, bike) before strength work, or skip it and stick to a short dynamic warm-up so you’re fresher for heavy sets? Which do you prefer, why, and has it changed your performance, soreness, or recovery?
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GoFitYatra Insight
Official guidance, reviewed for clarity
Brief (5–10 min) easy aerobic work is a helpful warm-up—it raises muscle temperature and heart rate without meaningfully fatiguing you, especially when paired with dynamic mobility and activation drills. But 15+ minutes of steady moderate‑to‑high intensity cardio before heavy lifts can induce fatigue and reduce peak strength/power (the well‑documented ‘concurrent training’/interference effect). If your priority is maximal strength or power, keep pre‑lift cardio short and do longer cardio after lifting or in a separate session; if endurance is the main goal, do cardio first.