Compound Lift as First Exercise?

[atrain11b]

I am new to these forums, but I have been lurking for a few days.

My question to the members here is: Do you do a Compound Lift first in your routine, or do you do an isolation type movement first as a warmup?

Heres an example of what I am talking about, take Chest Day for example. Do you immediately go to the flat bench, knock out some warmup reps, then add weight for your working sets? -Or- Do you do something like Flyes for a warmup, then move into your working bench sets.

The reason I ask, is I am newer to this sport and I have read that you are to always open your workouts with a Compound Movement, however it was not until recently that I learned for “myself” that I perform better if I do a pre-exhaust exercise prior to my compound lift.

I know, most will say do what works for you, but I just thought I’d see how others do it, like to broaden my horizons some, and learn from others through trial and error of my own, through the experience of others.

 

[pmiller383]

Well it really depends on the individual. Say you are working your chest with a bench press, but when you press you are tricep dominant. A pre-exhaust isolation movement may cause you to actively engage the chest more if the movement. In my own personal experience I always start my lower body workouts with a hip/glute mobility movement so that I activate those muscles properly during my lifts.