How does everyone go about increasing the amount of weight they use to warm up?

For instance...ever since I could bench 135lbs, I've used that as my warm-up. Just the other day I upped it to 155lbs and am going to start using that as my warm up. Currently I can bench 225 three times. Should I increase my warm up weight more or stay at 155lbs for now? How does one know when to go up?

Thanks,
Chad

I warm up w/ the bar for 8 reps. Then I do ~50% of my rep weight 4 times, then ~75% 2 times.

These bump as my rep weight goes up.

I figure this helps stretch, get blood flowing to the area, and the last two warm up sets are for weight acclimation, just be sure you are not fatiguing yourself during warm up, as it may hinder your "real" sets.

I warm-up like this: 10 x 60%, 6 x 75% and then move into my working sets with 2 x 3-5 x 100%. I do two heavy sets for each muscle three times per week though.

Generally, warm-up sets, depending on your rep range, use anywhere from 40-70% of your set weight, while acclimation sets work from 70-100% of your set weight. You shouldn't ever feel fatigue or be lifting to failure while warming up.

I use similar methods. I use the bar for 10, then 50% for 8, and 75% for 2. Then I go.

For listing in the 1-3 RM range I do more warmup sets than indicated above. For 4-8 reps I do 1-2 warmup sets for the muscle group.

If I were going to try a 2 rep max, for instance, I would do something like:

6-10 x 40%
6-10 x 60%
3-4 x 80%
2-3 x 90%
2 x 95%
2 x 100%
2 x 100%

Starting with 1-2 min rests for the easy sets and increasing to 3 mins for the last 3. The ranges are because I stop if I start to feel fatigued, or keep going if I feel good or feel something might be wrong (then I can test my muscle/joints before moving up).

I always like to do 1-2 sets close to my working max, going straight from 75% to 100% seems too much if I am working my 1-3 rep max. I mignt not pick up a muscle twinge or problem before my heavy set.

I only every do 1-2 exercises in this rep range per workout.

I am very concerned about getting injured and am not exactly young (32), so that may partly explain my care!

I don't really do much warming up. I start with 225 for 10, then 315x8, then 365xfail (5-6 right now). Then maybe 405x3.

I don't like wasting energy warming up :)

Thank you all for your responses it is very helpful. I am also 32, don't want to get hurt, but I'm hard headed sometimes and want to get to 315 sooner than later. Most I've done is 285 one time, twice in my life.

supirman - if I can do the following now what do you recommend?

135 x 12
205 x 6
235 x 3

Personally, I'd just do 135x10, 185x5, then MAYBE 215x1 and then to235x3. The 215 set would depend on if I felt particularly tightthat day and needed a tad more loosening first, but I rarely need this.

Thank you all for your responses it is veryhelpful. I am also 32, don't want to get hurt, but I'm hard headedsometimes and want to get to 315 sooner than later. Most I've done is285 one time, twice in my life.

supirman - if I can do the following now what do you recommend?

135 x 12
205 x 6
235 x 3