How do you warm up before weight lifting?

I I'm new to weight lifting and I just found four one and a quarter kg weights. Just woundering how to warm up so my arms don't hurt the next day. Thanks.

Public Comments

1. 5 push ups, bend or stretch your legs as far as you can, then reach down to your toes without bending your knees (try 5 times)!
That should be enough!!!

2. Your arms are going to hurt anyway, doesn't matter if you warm up or not(if the workout was good enough, but you as a beginner, even those 1kg weights will be enough). You warm up before an exercise to make your muscles warm. Doing this decreases the chance of injuries, such as muscle tearing, tendon damage etc. Also, working out with muscles that are always filled with blood will result in a way better workout that one with no warm up. These are the main benefits in warming up. Also note, NEVER stretch your body when you haven't warmed up, as i said before, cold muscles result in injuries, stretching a cold muscle to it's limits will result in many injuries. So don't do it.

Now how to warm up. I suggest you start off with 5 minutes of running on the spot, or cable jumping, or plain running from point A to point B. This will get your heart racing. Next you can start with your exercise, think of the exercise you want to do, let's say dumbbell curls, move your body in the motion of the exercise, this will prepare the muscle for the movement. After you went through the movement for another 5 minutes you're all warmed up and may proceed with your routine.
After you're done with your workout, do your stretching, stretching is most beneficial after your workout where your body is warmed up to the maximum, tendons and muscles are very elastic and tense, thus why it's beneficial, stretching relaxed the tense muscle, which allows it to repair itself the next few days.