Kit's thoughts on warming up.

[Spud]

https://youtu.be/kSPuTWbEdkU?t=1m53s

Kit you say in this video, somewhere between 2:00 and 2:20 that you don't believe in warming up. Please would you be so kind as to expand on that?

Almost exactly 4 years ago you responded to a post on this thread in agreement with the statement that " The best warm up for any activity is the to the activity at a lower intensity."

https://kitlaughlin.com/forums/index.php?/topic/427-what-are-some-good-warm-upsstretches-to-prevent-injury/&tab=comments#comment-2263

Kit - Have your thoughts on warming up changed in the last 4 years?

[Spud]

Sorry, posted in the wrong thread. This reply can be deleted as it's now showing in my workout log.

[Kit_L]

On 4/13/2018 at 3:34 AM, Spud said:

The best warm up for any activity is the to the activity at a lower intensity.

That is the answer to your question. No warm up is needed for this step, which was mis-attributed to me; what I said was "The best warm up for any activity is the activity itself at a suitable intensity"—not too hard; primary attention to form and the sensations coming back from the body, etc. 

What are your thoughts about warming up?

[Spud]

Kit thank you for the response. I apologise If I misunderstood the "no warm up". My thoughts on warming up have been evolving rapidly in recent times because I'm going from a point of very little understanding, to a point of some understanding. Warm up is a fine balance. Things certainly feel better with some warm up vs no warm up. However I've found that I can easily overdo warming up to the point where I'm too fatigued to actually stretch with good form. There are times when I've used my lower body workout as a warm up for my stretching and I've gone into stretching almost immediately after my final set and found that everything was "weak and wobbly" and I couldn't stretch at all. Now when I do that, I'll give myself up to 15 minutes break at the end of a lower body workout and when then start stretching, it's obvious to me, based on the sensations in my body, that everything is still very much "warmed up" but I have the control to make sure that form is good and that I'm not being mentally distracted by the level of fatigue I'm experiencing.

I'm still experimenting with warming up for stretching on days where I'm not performing a lower body workout, and I'm settling on some bodyweight movements (squats and cossack squats) and then as you say, just working the stretch itself at a lower intensity until I feel things begin to loosen up a little. It seems to be working pretty well for me, although ironically, in the last 2 weeks I think I've injured a hamstring or abductor so I'm not looking to keep things mobile in that area whilst not stretching it too vigorously. Live and learn. I'll  keep injury related talk to my workout log.

Thanks once again for the response.

[MarkusO]

On 8/12/2018 at 9:28 AM, Spud said:

There are times when I've used my lower body workout as a warm up for my stretching and I've gone into stretching almost immediately after my final set and found that everything was "weak and wobbly" and I couldn't stretch at all.

Hi Spud. Keep in mind that a lower body workout is very taxing on the whole CNS and you might struggle to focus on any kind of deeper stretching after such a workout. Also do not confuse "warming up" with "working out". If you consider a whole workout as your warm-up you will be sufficiently tired until you start to stretch. Going into deep lower body stretches after a strenuous leg workout might not work as expected as you will lack the required mental energy if your batteries are already drained. Limbering is another story though.

On 8/12/2018 at 9:28 AM, Spud said:

 I'm still experimenting with warming up for stretching on days where I'm not performing a lower body workout, and I'm settling on some bodyweight movements (squats and cossack squats) 

That is a good idea ? Try to find specific strengthening exercises that also stretch the required muscle groups that you can do beforehand. E.g. RDLs, Sumo Squats and so on. I find this works good for me if the strengthening exercises are not performed with too much intensity.

[Nathan]

12 hours ago, MarkusO said:

Going into deep lower body stretches after a strenuous leg workout might not work as expected as you will lack the required mental energy if your batteries are already drained. Limbering is another story though.

In general, I would agree. But I believe the required mental perseverance can be developed. I do my intense side split and pancake work after my lower body session, and it is tough but doable. I have done the stretching after hill sprint intervals as well, which is a good compromise as the legs will be thoroughly pre-exhausted, but mental reserves are much higher than following heavy deadlifts. Stretching after a nice limbering session will work great for almost everyone, but stretching after intense/exhausting exercise can work well too once you adapt (as with most things).

[MarkusO]

4 hours ago, Nathan said:

In general, I would agree. But I believe the required mental perseverance can be developed.

Yes for sure. As always, it depends on many factors. I am not saying I do not recommend this style and agree with what you say :-)