We are pleased to announce that on March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor will be introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the upcoming changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

Do I have to warm up before I lift?

Sarahliquid
Sarahliquid Posts: 201 Member
edited March 3 in Fitness and Exercise
I just always have, but I see a lot of not so sweaty people lifting. Am I doing it for nothing? I only do between 5-10 minutes of cardio, but I really hate it.

Replies

  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    I would do some form of warm up- even if it's warming up with the bar and technique.

    I usually do 3-5 min of warm up- not enough to really get me sweaty- me thinks you're confusing warm up with cardio.



    you should never go pick up heavy things cold- but you don't need to be dripping sweat to be lifting. I sweat very little for the first 50 min of my lift.
  • TheBookSiren2316
    TheBookSiren2316 Posts: 226
    I don't know if you have to, but I warm up and stretch before I lift and then cool down and stretch again after. It feels good to stretch after and I've never lifted without warming up and stretching so it wouldn't feel right if I didn't.
  • Sarahliquid
    Sarahliquid Posts: 201 Member
    You may be right. I thought warming up was literally getting to the point of breaking a sweat and that somehow equalled getting my blood flowing to the muscles. Should that be in the Dumb Stuff Heard at the Gym thread?
  • tross0924
    tross0924 Posts: 909 Member
    My warm up is a few reps of whatever lifting I plan on doing at a light (50% or so of 1RM) weight. Then 60%, then 70%, and away we go.
  • wan2b21
    wan2b21 Posts: 147 Member
    I usually just stretch so that I can loosen up the muscles. Its good to get them loose so they can flex and stretch while you are using them for the weight training. I usually hit the weights and then follow with cardio so that I don't have to work on the benches all sweaty. I think I have a sweat phobia lol...
  • laurarunnels
    laurarunnels Posts: 2
    My trainer has me warm up with lights set(s) of whatever the first weight exercise I do... (Advice from a trainer can be different depending on who you ask, but it seems to work for me). If my first lift is bench press, I do the bar only for 15 quick reps before I start with my training weight. If I do two sets of bar only, I'll wait a couple minutes before starting with the full training weight. :)
  • Sarahliquid
    Sarahliquid Posts: 201 Member
    Ok, I've definately been overthinking the warm up.
  • laurarunnels
    laurarunnels Posts: 2
    What tross0924 said... :)
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    I just always have, but I see a lot of not so sweaty people lifting. Am I doing it for nothing? I only do between 5-10 minutes of cardio, but I really hate it.

    You don't have to, but you should.

    As I'm getting older, I really have to warm my knees up before squats.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories