Due to time limitations for the next few months, Ive decided to switch to a full body workout 3 times a week. I want to start slow by focusing on compound exercises and keep rests to a max of 60secs in between sets, 2 sets per muscle.

Squats
Deadlifts
Bent over Row
Bench Press
Shoulder Press
Barbell Curls
Close grip bench press

How would you guys suggest warming up? I was thinking along the lines of 50% *12 , 75% x 10 and then working 2 working sets of 8.

Would I have to warmup before every exercise or could I say warmup on Squats and then hit them hard for 2sets (not Deadlifts as lower muscles should be warm) warmup on Bent over Rows, warmup on Bench (not on Shoulder Press, Barbell curls and close grip bench press, as they should already be warmed up by the time I hit them) Would this warmup routine work?

I cant jump on a cardio machine before lifting weights, because I always find that when I'm psyched before weights I have a great workout but whilst on the cardio machines I become relaxed and then just dont enjoy the rest of the workout.

Thanks

I work out fullbody 3 times a week.. I spend ten minutes or so doing mild calisthenic type body movements that mimic the ex's I do.. if I figure I need to warm up some more with weights for a particular ex I'll do one set of 10 reps at 50 percent of max and then get right into that ex.. I change my actual sets and reps up quite a bit all the time for different ex's as far as the actual lifting goes.. oh, what I meant was I do 10 minutes of warmup at the beginning of the session (cal type movements).. I always like to warm up for awhile before I start but there are many out there who don't..

Im on a Darden's HIT program 5 weeks now with some GREAT results:

I warm up pre-work out (loosen up) by stretching the full body for 10-12 minutes. Post work out I'll do the same or maybe walk on tread mill for 3 minutes or so to cool down.

Gotta get that lactic acid in the right area's ya know, I heard & read that stretching pre & post work out is VERY important.

In darden's book he mentions that about 3 minutes of some type of cardio/stretch should be ok, if I'm not mistaken.

Good Luck on the change up to HIT, I think you;ll like the results.

LTF.....

Troy :bb:

I don't do any warm-ups or stretching.

Darden says a total of 3 min of some activity is all that is required. You don't need warmup sets of exercises, the first 3-4 reps take care of that. His cool down is a walk arounf gym and get a drink of water, relax.

You see people make a production out of warming up. They spend all their energy on warmups and have little left for lifting. I saw somebody post about warmups where the warmups took longer than workout. I have also seen that on rest times. :lol:

rtestes you advise not to warm up and just jump straight into my working sets? That would be perfect! I hate warming up. I may walk around for 1-2 mins but thats as far I'll take it. Saving the energy for my working sets and keeping my focus on my lifts!

My routine is not really HIT. If I can lift a weight for more than 8 reps I increase weight. I think as I progress I will begin to add isolation exercises and start to follow the HIT principles. But for now its quite basic.

Thanks guys for your replies!