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(Or maybe youre not an overthinker and you just pick one, in which case, congratulations.)

But is it worth puzzling over which part of your workout should come first?

Heres what you should know when your workout calls for both.

woman sweating in the gym

certified personal trainer and Tonal strength coach

Should you do cardio and weights on the same day?

But if youve been wondering, Should I do cardio or weights first?

But its also about what Fitzgerald calls keeping the hard days hard and the easy days easy.

Woman walking on a treadmill at the gym.

Whatever youre looking to prioritize should come first.

That calculation could change depending on the day.

(Keep your hard days hard, remember?)

Full body female athlete in sportswear using rowing machine during fitness workout in gym.

Another perk of doing your cardio first?

Itll get you nice and warm for your strength session, Fitzgerald says.

Just be sure to also get in somedynamic stretchesbefore you start lifting anything, she says.

Happy woman dancing and listening to music near a green empty wall outdoor in the city.

certified personal trainer and Tonal strength coach

(So, if you dont have any specific goals, its generally recommended to do strength first.)

You wont be getting the same muscular gain if you do the running first, she says.

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Healthy female training in the gym, performing a hip thrust.

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Im a Master TrainerHeres Why You Shouldnt Skip Your Post-Run Stretches.

You have to be very cognizant of the fact that when you go todeadliftorsquat, youre more fatigued.

A young black woman doing post-run stretches in the park on the road amidst green grass and trees.

At the end of the day, it comes down to being consistent and building on that consistency.

That way, youll get the most benefit when it comes to both strength and hypertrophy, Wilking says.

Youll still be able to do cardioitll be secondary but youll still get the benefits of cardiovascular work.

So depending on how hard you went in your strength session, your cardio session could feel quite challenging.

(Think: legs that feel heavier than usual or paces that are slower than youd typically go.)

How to combine cardio and strength training into one workout

Want to make your workout a double-header?

There are lots of ways to combine cardio and strengthhere are a few suggestions from Fitzgerald and Wilking.

Use that lower intensity to build the habit prior to beginning doing the harder stuff.

Already have a fitness foundation?

There are countless ways to program bothcardio and strength into your routine, whether together or separate.

The first thing is always going to be what fits into your schedule, Wilking says.

The second is mapping out your recovery within those workouts.

Whatever you do, be consistent and have a plan.

Want to get your heart rate up during your strength session?

Use lighter weights, increase the speed, and work for longer before taking a rest, Wilking suggests.

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