Yes a warmup is necessary. At this point it may not be necessary in order to get the weight up but it will make it go smoother and most importantly help prevent injury.

On the crunch machine thing It's ok but I wouldn't rely on it exclusively. Crunches are mostly a bullshit made up thing designed to islolate the abs by taking the hip flexors out of it. There are all sorts of ideas behind that but my simple view on it is the abs DON'T work in isolation. Therefore "isolating" them has no value. I recommend different types of situps (weighted if necessary) and hanging knee or leg raises for the majority of you ab work. Some extra oblique work can be done but you don't need a huge amount.

Some people also believe in "stabilization work" done on those inflatable balls. I've tried that too but I don't really do it because I don't see it doing anything that all the deadlifting, squatting plus all the unilateral stuff I do doesn't take care of. That may have some merit for you since you're just starting out.

My basic preferences are:

*Weighted "roman chair" situps (with a good stretch but not overarchig the back)

*Standing situps with high weigthed pulley

*Hanging knee raises

*Cable side bends (and you can incorporate twists into the situps also.

*Other stuff for variety

But these are just MY preferences.

On the front page there is a Personal Journals section (under Members Section) to click on. You'll see those journals I mentioned fairl close to the top.

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If you act sanctimonious I will just list out your logical fallacies until you get pissed off and spew blasphemous remarks.