Cardio machines bad for pre-lifting warm up?

We all know that static type stretches held for many seconds at time may decrease the ability of the muscles to produce maximal strength for many minutes afterwards. We also know controlled dynamic stretches imitating part of the sporting movements has minimal adverse effect on exercises or the lifts that are about to take place during our workout. One thing that fails to get talked about and you see it happen day in and day out at every health club is the use of a bike or treadmill at a low pace for a warm-up (pre-lifting/sporting). What's so bad about this your asking? This "action" as a warm-up tends to decrease the functional range of movement of the hip flexors in particular "got this from the great Mel SIff". Unless your counteracting this with some hip flexor stretches or funcional flexability movements you should be cautious about the overuse of cardiovascular machines pre-lifting. If all this dynamic mobility and overuse of cardio machine mumbo jumbo is to much for you then simply use a couple of bodyweight exercises or carry out your training exercises with very light loads on the bar and progressively take it from there. All in all an enhanced warm-up will lead to a better workout!

What the iron has done for me..

The iron has a special meaning to many of us. To me it's like a gift from god. A way to define myself, push myself, challenge myself. A true antidepressant in every sense of the word. Over these last couple of weeks throughout my birthday, christmas and new years I really took thought to what "The Iron" has meant to me an and done for me. It has brought me life, business, friends, health, challenges and a way to express myself. Throughout the deepest and hardest times in life "the iron" has never failed me. I realize to many of you the iron has done nothing, in fact many hate working out period. Everyone however has something in their life that brings them hope, joy, a sense of well-being. I strongly urge everyone to find that and embrace it to the fullest in 2010!

-LT