Weights before cardio I know. But often people do abs after cardio. What's best? Abs before or after cardio?
408581
It really depends on your focus.  Most people leave abs as tag-on at the end of their workout.  Since the abs are needed as a stabilizer during weight and some cardio training exercises, most people don't want to exhaust them prematurely.  However, this leaves many to perform a half-azz job at training the abs since fatigue sets in at the end of most workouts.\n\nI never recommend ab training before a weight training workout, but I do insist on it before cardio.  People are just too exhauseted after a cardio workout to have the right focus for an ab training session.  The fast-twitch fibers of the abdominals need to be stimulated just like every other muscle and no more than 30 repetitions per set.  Once you've entered into the aerobic zone, it's becomes increasingly difficult to train the abdominals for strength and hypertrophy as they should be.\n\nMy best advice:\nTrain abs after weights and before cardio (most cardio training such as elliptical, treadmill, bike) can deal with a little abdominal fatigue and you will quickly get used to it.
951624
Cardio. And more specifically, pilates.
276709
There is no one right answer.  But first things first, cut out all the crap from your diet.  Lower your fried food, carb, soda, salt, and butter intake.  Next is cardio.  I recommend 20-60 minutes of cardio at least 4 times a week.  Now to the actual ab question.  As for the number of reps and sets.  Find a few exercises you like and do a minimum of 3 sets of 30-40.  See how you feel.  If that is too much, drop the reps if too easy, add some reps.  Still not challenged, shoot me an email I will send you a destructive ab workout.  Then find a few exercises that you don't like and do those as well.  I personally like to do a set of abs or obliques in between each set of my main workout.  Keeps the heart rate high, keeps you focused on your mission which equals more burning of fat.  Most importantly take your time and use proper form on every single rep.  Slow is good but if you concentrate on yoru form you will do more good for the flat sexy look.  Too slow and you will find yourself growing a whole midsection of muscle like bodybuilders, not so much the sexy definition you are looking for.  I sometimes do so many reps and sets that I separate upper abs, lower abs, and obliques on separate days.  Enjoy!
590031
Perhaps you would be better off doing the weight training first then your cardio. When doing cardio the first three minutes your body is operating in an anaerobic state, after that it goes aerobic but does not enter the KREBS cycle until the 16th minute where you really begin to utilize fat as you primary energy source.\n\nSo my point is that if you weight train you will put your body into a fat burning state therefore when you begin your cardio you will have already bypassed that first 16 minutes.\n\nPersonally from what I have studied the most effective way to burn fat is on an empty stomach (Preferably shortly after waking up) with a little L-Glutamine in you to avoid muscular breakdown, finally you must eat within 10 minutes after your session is over. Do your weight training maybe 6 hours or more later.
602616
You can do them both.  Once the fat is gone, you will see the ab work. Remember, the problem is not starting a workout but continuing one.  Best of luck.
753471
for getting ripped ,doing lots of cardio with high rep,high intensity training is the way to go...do your cardio before weights,then its done...it must be priority...at your weight and activity level i say between 1300 and 1700 cals daily,wil work
683858
Depends on what you are doing?\nCardio in the morning before eating anything, if your trying to save your muscle have a protein shake before your cardio. Weight training in the late afternoon/early evening.
654575
Cardio is the best, and fastest, way to get a six-pack. Doing situp and crunches won't help, cuz all they do is strengthen your abs. If you want your abs to show, though, then you need to get rid of the fat. What I used to do is ride a bike (stationary, or real) one day, run the next day, row (you know, one of those rowing exercise machines?), stair climber, and then do one of the others the next day. Then I would rest the next two days, and start over. Depending on your stamina, you should at least go for 30 mins at whatever pace you can hold; the important thing, however, is to keep your heartrate up above 100. At the time, for me, I would go for a heartrate goal of 170. There exists a chart that gives what heartrate for what goal at what age (ie, at age 20, to burn fat minimum heartrate is 150; to work on cardio minimum heartrate is 165). Something like that; and yes, that was an example; actual numbers vary. Hope that made sense.
498523
lifting weights burns fat...cardio is heart exercise and won't really burn fat...i'm 32, 5'1" 140 pounds..(need to loose 20) and when i lift weights, i need to make sure my heart rate does not exceed 25 beats per 10 seconds, cuz then i'd be burning muscle...it's according to your weight, height and age...ask your doctor, if they're a good doctor, for you specifically...BEFORE STARTING ANY FITNESS PROGRAM!!!
504249
You can do all the weights you want, but if you don't have cardio, your new muscles will be covered by a layer of fat! So, yes, cardio is very much important. Even if you are thin, you still need to do cardio for your heart. Its recommended to do at least 30 minutes of cardio 3 times a week. Thats the bare minimum. Cardio will help you burn fat, and then lifting weights will help you tone up. And don't forget to eat healthy because if you're eating junk food all the time, exercise won't help too much.
569698
You should do both!  Cardio one day then weight training the next!  Make sure you change your diet too!
936086
Be sure to do cardio because your abs won't show if they're covered under a layer of fat.\n\nInterestingly, push-ups, chin-ups, and jogging work your abs because to do all of those properly you need to hold your stomach in.
860726
I think it really depends. I would probably ask a personal trainer this question. From my personal experience, I eat something light before I work out. Like half a penut butter sandwich, and drink a glass or two of water, so I have some energy to burn while I'm working out. I hate feeling like I'm starving while I'm working out so I like to eat something before hand. Now, if you DO want to eat something afterwards, it's best to eat some lean, red meat, so that you get protien and iron in your system to help your muscles bounce back from working out. \n\nThe only time I don't eat before I work out is when I go to the gym early.... like 5:30 AM early.... simply because I am not a morning person and the last thing I want to do is focus on eating as well trying to work out, too.\n\nGood luck!
833041
if you have the energy..... do the fat burn first... any Muscle training (and the heart is a muscle) is much more effective when the blood is pumping fast before you start.....\n\nhowever the fat burn will tire you out and the cardio is usually high energy training....\n\nso many people are getting the wrong idea hear.... cardio isn't a warm up.... der.... the warm up is TOTALLY separate and very important, she's talking AFTER warm up, two sessions... and the cardio IS MUCH more effective after a fat burn
684470
A cardio workout burns calories. The harder the workout the more calories burned. One of the absolute best workouts for fat burning is to job at a pace above 6 miles an hour. \n\nWeight lifting is also great for burning calories, but it does not teach your body how to maintain energy while doing activities. Cardio workouts allow you to do things like play basketball without getting fatigued. If all you do is lift weights, you wouldn't be good at fast paced sports because you would get winded easily.\n\nBottom line, Cardio burns calories, fat comes from stored calories. Eat Less, exercise more.
266284
push ups and crunches or curl ups. pull-ups help too. Lifting weights helps more with your arms than your abs depending on what you do and vice versa. And depending on your fat percentage you may want to do something to burn fat. But don't burn too much fat or you wont have much to turn into muscle. And one more thing, low weight and high rep keeps you from bulking up do the opposite if you want to bulk up.
402276
Strength training - every other day.  Be sure to consult a personal trainer on how to do exercises correctly and what weight/sets/reps you should be doing.  Since muscle weighs more than fat, if you build muscle you will weigh more but your body fat percentage will not increase.