WEIGHTS BEFORE CARDIO.

Aside from doing interval or circuit training, you should be performing your weights before your cardio. 

Why, you ask? 

Because as you eat throughout the day, your muscles are storing carbohydrate energy, glycogen (aka sugar) that gets broken down for energy through the course of exercise.  If you expend all of that through cardio prior to resistance training, you can perhaps make the resistance training portion of your workout less effective. 

For the first 20 minutes, or thereabouts, of cardio activity your body isn't even burning fat.  It's burning off this stored glycogen and THEN it begins to access fat for fuel (assuming you're exercising in the lower end of your Target Heart Rate zone). 

Use the glycogen for weight training, then perform the cardio of your choice and your body will go right into fat-burning mode.

WHAT CROSSFITTERS DRINK FOR ENERGY.

Cafe Bustelo Cuban EspressoMany Crossfitters, especially those who follow a paleo diet, don't believe in energy drinks and recommend just having a double espresso if you need a jolt.  See the Crossfit forum discussion about energy drinks here: http://board.crossfit.com/showthread.php?t=66734&highlight=energy+drink

And TECHNICALLY, you only get energy from the metabolism of carbs, protein and fats.

Aside from the immense amounts of sugar (carbs) that the non-light/non lo-carb energy drinks offer, a lot of what "energy" drinks offer is not energy, but is simply a stimulant.

Even with long endurance races, there are those who break away from paleo and ingest (compact and easy to carry) high carb gels just to make it through.  See also the Crossfit forum discussion about "Paleo Marathon Nutrition" here: http://board.crossfit.com/showthread.php?t=57564

After years of trying various products on the market, I just gotta turn you on to GURU Lite.  If you're going to drink an all natural energy drink that's not coffee and that doesn't have a ton of sugar (mainly uses Stevia for sweetening purposes) you should try it.  Indeed.  What's it going to hurt?  I find it most often at Whole Foods or Vitamin Shoppe.

Click an image below for details on ingredients.

GURU Lite Energy Drink 4-Pack

GURU Lite Energy Drink 24-Pack

(See all Amazon.com Vitamins & Supplements)

Are "energy drink" and "paleo" a contradiction in terms?  A dichotomy of sorts?  An ironic combination of two fitness theologies?  Perhaps.  But I daresay that if you're going to cut paleo-corners for energy drink purposes, GURU Lite (even GURU Original or GURU 2.0) is probably your best bet.

Have a strong day, energy seekers.