Is cardio a good warm-up before your workout?

[ramone2485]

I was just thinking...is doing cardio a good warm-up to do? I've been told to do AT LEAST 10 minutes of cardio to warm-up. I was just thinking, wouldn't it be better to workout with some light weights to get your blood circulating, and warming up your body? After that, your REAL workout can begin.

I was thinking that because on my leg day, unless I warmup with some light leg extensions, I'll have slight knee pain when I'm done.

[Xuaxace]

I do 5 or so minutes in the elliptical to loosen my body. Then I move to mobility drills, foam rolling and then I start warming up with the bar and work my way.to my working sets.

[GeneralSerpant]

EXRX.net has a article regarding warm-up. It divides it into 3 different types.

Passive: Raising your body temperature through external measures (hot weather, warm water, etc...)
General: Through raised activity unrelated to your workout (general activity, cardio)
Specific: Through direct work of the muscles before you actually start working out (in the manner you are describing).

They typically said that direct warm-ups are the best.

http://exrx.net/ExInfo/WarmUp.html

[CircuitDave24]

A 5 minute light cardio warm can be beneficial on top of direct weight warm ups pre workout. It is always good to get the heart rate going and circulation going to help prevent injury and get a better pump to your muscles.

[GeneralSerpant]

Warm-ups should not be stressed over. That is defeating the purpose of a warm-up. For that matter, they are a hit or miss if you put too much effort into them. I like to give cardio dedicated time for its own sake, and I'll do similar movements before my workout, with plenty of time to rest.

[DJAuto]

I strongly disagree with utilizing cardio as a warmup for weightlifting. It's unnecessary, increases the potential for premature fatigue, and a waste of time. If I'm hitting chest, I'm going to warmup the chest, RC and musculature that's directly associated. Not sit on the treadmill for 10 minutes.

[k9pit]

5 minutes on the elliptical holding the handles throughout the strides helps to warm up my shoulders for upper body sessions.

5 minutes on the elliptical or cross trainer with a high incline warms up my quads/hams and hip flexors for lower body sessions.

[32bulkcycle]

I strongly disagree with utilizing cardio as a warmup for weightlifting. It's unnecessary, increases the potential for premature fatigue, and a waste of time. If I'm hitting chest, I'm going to warmup the chest, RC and musculature that's directly associated. Not sit on the treadmill for 10 minutes.

If doing 5 minutes on a treadmill "fatigues" you then you may want to consider getting in better shape

[GeneralSerpant]

It can depend on your goals. Not wanting to do cardio as a warm-up can make tremendous difference if all you want to do is add muscle mass.

[ramone2485]

I strongly disagree with utilizing cardio as a warmup for weightlifting. It's unnecessary, increases the potential for premature fatigue, and a waste of time. If I'm hitting chest, I'm going to warmup the chest, RC and musculature that's directly associated. Not sit on the treadmill for 10 minutes.

Yeah. I notice that I get tired sooner than I thought I would in my workout. I think I'll start warming up with some light sets. See how that works out for a week.

[DJAuto]

If doing 5 minutes on a treadmill "fatigues" you then you may want to consider getting in better shape

Okay, thanks Richard Simmons.

The point is that it's useless for lifters.

[Xuaxace]

I strongly disagree with utilizing cardio as a warmup for weightlifting. It's unnecessary, increases the potential for premature fatigue, and a waste of time. If I'm hitting chest, I'm going to warmup the chest, RC and musculature that's directly associated. Not sit on the treadmill for 10 minutes.

Wouldn't agree. For me using the eliptical as a warm up has been great to loosen my back and get my whole body warm in 5 minutes. Even when I am benching do the eliptical just because it is such a good way to warm up the body and loosen up. 5 minutes in nothing in reality. Ofcourse then I Do my mobility work.


I have a few friends that have started doing light eliptical warm ups because i recommended it and they all have loved it.

[GeneralSerpant]

Wouldn't agree. For me using the eliptical as a warm up has been great to loosen my back and get my whole body warm in 5 minutes. Even when I am benching do the eliptical just because it is such a good way to warm up the body and loosen up. 5 minutes in nothing in reality. Ofcourse then I Do my mobility work.


I have a few friends that have started doing light eliptical warm ups because i recommended it and they all have loved it.

It pretty much depends on how much it effects your body to do the exercise. Elliptical isn't complicating to a lot of people's at all. A lot less people will be able to do running without exerting too much energy.

[CircuitDave24]

I simply believe getting the heart pumping before heavy weight lifting= better pumps I have noticed significantly especially when doing arms. Give it a try and see if you don't get a better pump. Doing light 5 minutes cardio will get your heart pumping more then doing light weight warm up but I do both.

[Retoaded]

If doing 5 minutes on a treadmill "fatigues" you then you may want to consider getting in better shape

must post pics or at least put on an AVI if you are criticizing someone else's shape and training philosophy. He answered in a logical manner trying to add input to this thread.

[tzamn]

I do a 10 minute run before weightlifting. Anything that gets the heart rate up and your muscles loose without fatiguing you is beneficial before weightlifting.

[DCSpartan]

If doing 5 minutes on a treadmill "fatigues" you then you may want to consider getting in better shape

this.

[DCSpartan]

must post pics or at least put on an AVI if you are criticizing someone else's shape and training philosophy. He answered in a logical manner trying to add input to this thread.

training philosophy be damned . . .if you cant do 5 minutes on a treadmill without fatigueing yourself out you are are heading to an early grave. And being dead impacts anyone's training regimen.

[GeneralSerpant]

How about 4 minutes?

[Retoaded]

training philosophy be damned . . .if you cant do 5 minutes on a treadmill without fatigueing yourself out you are are heading to an early grave. And being dead impacts anyone's training regimen.

increasing potential for premature fatigue is what he said...meaning, your legs may fatigue a little earlier in a set of squats if you've just done 10 minutes on a treadmill or elliptical. which is entirely possible. it doesn't mean he can't run on a treadmill for 5 minutes without fatiguing, it means he doesn't want to risk impacting his weight sets.

[seekay]

correct me if im wrong but cardio mean working your cardiovascular. doing cardio isnt warming up its doing cardio... warm up should be specific to the exercise

[jubjubrsx]

i personally run around 3-5miles for a warmup(depending on my workout for the day legs = less running, abs day = more running) before i even hit the weights.....cardio for me even at a good pace of 7.5mph i barely break a sweat til about 1.25miles.... I've noticed for me atleast if i dont do some running before hand i feel a bit stiff, and its easier to get my heart rate up to burn calories/fat after running.....the flip side of it i thoroughly enjoy running

[32bulkcycle]

must post pics or at least put on an AVI if you are criticizing someone else's shape and training philosophy. He answered in a logical manner trying to add input to this thread.

who cares what shape i'm in. even if i was a fat piece of sheet i still could do 5 minutes of treadmill without getting fatigued. i'm actually at the end of a bulk right now and my body fat is higher than usual (about 20%) and i haven't done cardio in like 12 weeks but I could still do 5 minutes of cardio as a warmup and still have enough energy to get a good workout in. you'd have to be a pathetic fat lazy couch potato to not be able to

[miamibodybuilder]

well i dont think cardio is a good way to warm up before training because i think you'll be worn out to train afterwards. but i do think a light walk on the treadmill is a good way to get the blood flowing and get you ready for your training session. i like to walk about 5 mins or so and then i'll start my regular training. and to be honest, whether it's good or bad, it wont hurt to warm up in my opinion.

[Jwelshman]

I do 5 or so minutes in the elliptical to loosen my body. Then I move to mobility drills, foam rolling and then I start warming up with the bar and work my way.to my working sets.

I literally do the same exact thing haha