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Cardiovascular Training

# I want to lose fat and tone my muscles. I heard that doing your cardio…

The question

I want to lose fat and tone my muscles. I heard that doing your cardio before weight training will burn more calories. However, I also heard that doing your weight training first will burn the excess sugar in order for you to burn more fat during cardio. So which one should I do first?

Dan's answer

Dan Wirth, MA, CSCS

Hello, I prefer to do my weight training first only because doing the cardio first affects how much weight I can lift\! There really isn't any sound physiological evidence that proves whether doing cardio before or after weight training will maximize fat loss. It's more of what your goal is. If you want to build muscle and strength but you also want to be as lean as possible and have a healthy cardiovascular system then do the cardio last.

Dan

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## More in Cardiovascular Training

- [I'm starting week 3 of my program. When I get to the gym if a tread mill is open I run for 10 Min. before my work out. Is it ok to run after for another 10? When is it best to do cardio?

ps I'm 31 and have always wanted to do this. Your program has given me the confidence to go the gym and not look completely lost\! I'm hooked for life, thank you\!](https://www.workoutsmart.com/ask-dan/cardiovascular-training/im-starting-week-3-of/125)
- [I have heard that the optimum target zone for weight loss is lower than the target zone for good cardio fitness and endurance. I have heard this from trainers, friends, and even see it written on fitness machines (they have a graphical depiction of your weight loss zone being lower than your cardiovascular zone). So my question is: Is this true?? How can it be? Where can I read more about this? It seems contradictory to lose less weight by training in a higher zone. Thanks for the help\!](https://www.workoutsmart.com/ask-dan/cardiovascular-training/i-have-heard-that-the/1461)


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