Hey all, just wondering what routine you guys go through before hitting up the weights. For me personally I stretch the area which is about to be worked and warm it up with some light weights.(actually kind of injured my shoulder today for not doing it properly -.-). I normally don't cool down, should I?

How about you? What are the advantages of doing it your way?

Everyone is different, Seeing as I always start with squats, I usually just start with the bar weight and do ten reps or so. I might hit the rowing machines for 5 minutes beforehand if i'm feeling particulary stiff.

My program has me starting out on pretty light sets anyway, so that loosens me up.

Don't need to cool down really unless you've been doing aerobic training, even then you don't need to, but it helps you recover faster. You should also stretch any worked muscles after every session.

I generally do 3-4 warm up sets, each one gradually increasing in weight, and lowering the reps as I go. Last warm up is generally about 80% of what I intent to lift, just for about 3 reps, just to make sure everything is working properly. Stretching inbetween warm up sets, and inbetween working sets sometimes also.

I'm doing pure cardio atm, so I'm doing bout 5mins on cross trainer on lightest setting, then 5mins on bike on medium setting, then I'm right to power on.

warm down I do the same.

Skipping and situps as a warmup, then lots of upper body stretching straight after. After session, sitting down and stretching legs and shoulders (more to build up flexibility than a warmdown).

1km rowing machine to warm up then weights, intervals on cross trainer afterwards.