LogFAQs > #933691341

I stretch by doing my warm up lifts. Your first set should be about 50-70% of your working weight, then you do your normal sets/reps. Worlds better than "5 minutes on the treadmill before"

Usually cardio afterwards because if you're fatigued while lifting heavy that puts you at safety risk. Cardio while fatigued from lifting is a much better scenario.

But that mostly depends on your goals. "to get in shape." is a vague term. Give me some numbers, bro! Trying to lose weight? How much? Either total lbs or goal BF%. Need to have a good 1 mile time for some certification exam? You can hone your practices towards that! Lower blood pressure, visible abs, the ability to wear a tank top in public and be positively judged?

Give us a metric that can be tracked month by month as you become a better version of yourself.

Ryven posted...

IIRC isn't stretching best left at the end of a workout? Otherwise you get sore and stiff the next day?

Cooldown stretching does help, but the usual prevention tool for DOMS is to just regularly exercise in the first place; you get super sore when you exercise for the first time in a long period, but once it's a habit you'll barely feel it the next day even though you're going just as hard.
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