Workout Advice

A GOOD WORKOUT depends on more than just the right exercises. It also means doing them in the right order. After all, no exercise is performed in a vacuum. Every move you make affects the ones that come after it and, ultimately, your results, says fitness expert Ashley Borden, Borden's advice: Do your strength training before you even look at a piece of cardio equipment. Why? If you tucker yourself out on the treadmill, you're going to have trouble eking out reps in the weight room. When you're tired, your form suffers, and the last place you want to be struggling with your hip positioning is under a heavy barbell, she says. Plus, strength training is what really builds muscle and burns the most calories over the long term.

Similar logic follows when it comes to the order of your strength moves. "You always want to hit your major muscle groups first. 

Also, to keep from wearing out any one muscle, Borden recommends completing two "pulling" exercises for every one "pushing" exercise. For example, follow up a dumbbell incline press (pushing) with a couple of pulling exercises, like a seated row or bent-over reverse fly with dumbbells.

It sounds a lot more complicated that it really is. Once you get into a routine  you won't even have to think about ordering your exercises the right way. 

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