How do I begin a strength training workout?

Learn the proper way to warmup before exercising your muscles...

Regular strength training workouts are an important aspect of overall fitness. They're a must if you want to create a lean, healthy body. Not only do they build and strengthen muscles but they also burn a ton of fat. But, if you're not careful, it is very possible to hurt yourself -- especially if you try to lift weights without warming up properly. This article will show you exactly how to do that.

(Note: If you have any type of health problem and/or injury you should definitely consult with your doctor before doing any form of strength training.)

As with just about all forms of exercise you absolutely must warmup before lifting weights or performing any other type of strength training! This will prevent injury and allow you to get the total benefit from your workout. Your warmup session should last 5-10 minutes and should include some type of light aerobic exercise. Walking, jogging, biking, and elliptical machine stepping are all good options.

When you break a light sweat you know you've warmed up sufficiently. At this time you should follow your aerobic exercise with some slow, unforced stretching, focusing on the muscle groups you're about to work.

Another important thing to keep in mind, especially when you're lifting heavy weights, is the 'warmup set' - an initial set of 10-20 reps done with very light weight. Depending on how heavy you want to go on your 'work sets' (the heavy sets) you may want to perform 2 or even 3 of these light warmup sets using progressively heavier weight.

This is especially true when performing 'big' compound movements like squats or bench presses. Many bodybuilders perform at least one set using 50-65% of the total weight they plan to use on their 'work sets' - a great way to get the muscle group ready to go!

Learn more about warming up to workout...