Stretches/warm ups before the workout

[nvedia]

I have heard that its very important to warm the body before doing exercise
can someone please me some exercises to do before starting the weight exercises?

[bluexj]

IF I hit the gym, I jump on the stationary bike or the elliptical for 5-10 minutes and then do a little bit of stretching. If I'm at home I use a product called "the stick" and do some stretching. Just enough to get the blood flowing and muscles warm...

[nvedia]

Thanks...that helps

[Rhone]

Keep in mind that the lower intensity levels, both for the cardio and the weight workouts, are meant as warmups. If you lift through the full range of motion they will provide you with enough of a stretch, as well.

[statona]

I'm with Rhone - I am on the bike for about 5 minutes - nothing hard... just give you some movement before you get going.... then hit it hard. Sets 4-6 are always to failure - so lift hard.

[yakubu]

Originally Posted by nvedia

I have heard that its very important to warm the body before doing exercise
can someone please me some exercises to do before starting the weight exercises?

its important to do the rite type of streches before and after ur workouts . before u shud do dynamic streching and after u shud do static streching.

dynamic is were u move about a lot and static is just ur basic streching like pulling ur foot up to ur backside and tensing ur quad for 1o seconds. if u look up dunamic and static streching on the internet u shud find loads on demo's

before a workout i do a 5 min jog followed by 5 mins dynamic streching and after my workout i do 5 mins static streching. its very simple

[Chris]

yakubu is right... that's roughly what I do too. I walk to the gym and swing my arms quite a bit. I do arm rotations (like circles with my hands) until my shoulders feel good and warm. I have several variations on this that I do... Then I do more deep stretches (like yoga moves) post workout. The deep stretching before your workout will actually inhibit your ability to lift maximally b/c it pre-tears your muscles. I've read that it takes up to 2 hrs to recover from deep stretching before you can lift maximally again.