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What exercises do u guys use to warm-up before starting a workout??

thnx

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shred_head

I just ride the stationary bike for 5 min prior to working out to get my heart rate up a little. Other than that I'll just do two light sets of whatever exercise I'm doing to get my muscles ready for the heavier weight.

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st33lr4t

i start with a light set of whatever lift im performing.

bookerV

5 mins on the treadmill at a fast walk with an incline. Lots of stretching. Then a light set or two of whatever exercise I am doing. After a couple of exercises my light set usually goes from 50% weight upto around 75% weight.

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1slOwCD8

Stretching is very very key, if u dont want to injure yourself. If you dont stretch, you could pull a muscle or hurt yourself severly. Asides that, maybe a light run to get the blood flowing good.

st33lr4t

ive read stretching the muscle before lifting actually decreases your strength. you are better off starting with a few sets of high reps and very low weight.

but again i read this somewhere...probably on www.bodybuilding.com...i tried to find the post but i couldnt...so take it for what its worth.

Paradise Lost

Actually a lot of people go by the stretching before lifting can be bad for you. I'm not sure about stretching before doing cardio, but I always just wait till after a lift to stretch. Besides, stretching a cold muscle is like trying to stretch a frozen rubber band... You gotta warm it up first.

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sailor

I just do cardio and keep my heartrate at around 130-140, which is about 65%-70% of my MHR. Gets the blood flowing without going too hard.

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irateplatypus

no stretching of muscles or joints for me... i have a measurable decrease in performance when i stretch before a workout.

i usually take a brisk jog around the indoor track (usually just under a mile) and then warm up my wrist/elbow/shoulder joints by taking 10lb. weights in each hand and doing several reps for each upper body muscle group. this only takes a minute or two and gives me that flushed blood flowing feeling that is best for workouts.

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amnesia622

I believe stretching and proper warm-up is the key to preventing injury and is necessary to achieve maximum output from your body. Your body is like a car. Does your car perform best when its cold in the morning or 10 minutes after you've been driving it? Obviously after its warmed up. Therefore, my warm-up includes:
Lifting: 5 to 10 minutes of light cardio to bring my heart rate to around 140-150 (about 70% max hr) then I will always stretch my legs and the muscle group I'm working followed by a light warm-up set.
Cardio: the first 5 minutes will be light (50-60%max hr) then I'll increase intensity
Triathlon: for a sprint triathlon normally I'll swim 300m and bike 1 mile very light

Tarl Cabot

I started lifting over 35 years ago. Took detours into karate and golf. Stayed with weights until the last few years, when job and family demands really limited my time.

I am in the early stages of trying to get back into weights. I have a couple of gym memberships, and I'm considering a yoga studio down the street.

In the meantime, does anyone have a good reference for some stretching exercises I could begin?

Thanks.

xrtc11

yoga's the best!! get a basic book or dvd, or check out yogajournal.com, there's some great stuff there.

thingstodo

Yoga is good or pay for a session with a physical therapist to learn some movements.

Some light cardio is best, even some crunches or jumping jacks to get the blood flowing. Then light stretching before lifting is good and you should stretch the whole time you are lifting[U][I] to maintain flexibility. Also, you can't just go to heavy weight right off the bat; start light and work the muscle for a few sets and work up.

Stretching after you lift is also very important.

To not stretch a little before lifting is asking all the supporting muscles to go in cold.

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hannukah harry

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...163192-6765465

i actually own this book... it's got a great selection of stretches for all different sorts of activities or time of day. i'd go to the book store and give it a look if i were you. it might be of interest.

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thingstodo

The full link doesn't work anymore. What is the name of the book?

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If you're wringing your hands you can't roll up your shirt sleeves.

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hannukah harry

it worked for me, but it's:

Stretching: 20th Anniversary
by Bob Anderson, Jean Anderson

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thingstodo

thanks....something is up with my 6-year old PC.

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If you're wringing your hands you can't roll up your shirt sleeves.

Stangers have the best candy.