I did the following experiment:
1 cardio alone in a session
2 weights alone in a session
3 weights followed by cardio in a session
4 circuit training with weights (one set, move to next exercise, continue until all sets complete)
5 circuit training with weights and cardio (do a set, do 1-2 mins cardio, continue same muscle group...complete entire routine in this fashion)
I've come to the conclusion that to get the best out of a workout they need to be separated and not combined in the same session.
Weights followed by cardio, meant that cardio suffered particularly after leg work; it was almost not worth doing cardio for the amount of energy that could be expended
Circuit training with weights gave less "pump" to any muscle group and seemed less effective than doing one set followed by the next set for the same exercise.
Circuit training with cardio, was done ensuring that cardio time was exactly what it would be had cardio been done separately, and the entire weight routine; so they were intermixed, but both complete sessions were in one. This was the worst resulting combo, it was even worse than the circuit training with weights alone.
Since the 5th combo was the worst of the lot, it made me wonder why that was the case, since all of the weight reps and sets were done in correct order and at normal weight loads, and the cardio added up to the full cardio time limit of one session as well. So, obviously chopping and changing throughout a routine has a negative impact.
Taking the above into account, when it is stated that doing 3 lots of 10 minutes of cardio/exercise is equivalent of doing a 30 minute session, is it really equivalent in terms of intensity and what the body gets from it or only equivalent in terms of time, especially since I kept the intensity at the same level and noticed that I did not get as much benefit as I would had I kept sessions separate.
Has anyone else tried any combos like the above, and what did they notice?
Cardio/weights/circuit training
Linear Mode
