Warming up

[ron79]

I know that warming up is crucial before I start my workout. How long should I be warming up for and what things do you suggest I do to warm up my muscles?

[Iron Troy]

You must warm up first. You can do dynamic stretching to help you warm up. You just need to warm up to prevent injury. Do not skip it.

[Fazc]

Usually I just do my warm up sets. I generally do quite a few warm up sets, as much as 8-10 sometimes.

If I'm feeling unusually stiff I might stretch a little an hour or so before I train, but generally too much of that is considered a bad idea prior to hard exercise.

[Ryano]

Stretch each bodypart you are going to train, then do some light sets to warmup each. ANYTIME you train heavy you should stetch/warmup your rotator cuffs. You gotta protect the little muscles to work the big ones!

[MVP]

Originally Posted by ron79

I know that warming up is crucial before I start my workout. How long should I be warming up for and what things do you suggest I do to warm up my muscles?

I usually warm up with 50% and then 75% or 80% of my working weight. I only warm up with my first exercise of that particular force. Once I bench press, my shoulders/chest/triceps do not need to warm up again before overhead presses, but my upper back might for rows.

Remember this though, don't stretch until AFTER you have already warmed up or after your workout. More studies are saying now that stretching a cold muscle actually causes more injury than it prevents.

Imagine taking a cold rubber band and stretching it, BAM, it's easy to snap isn't it? The same thing with your muscles. If you take a warm rubber band you can flex it, extend it, and stretch it all day long no problem.

[ron79]

Thanks so much. This will really help me out with my warming up.

[Transformed]

Skipping it will lead to injury. It does not take long to warm up so why people skip it is beyond me.