SO, WHERE DO I START. WHAT ORDER TO DO EXERCISES WHEN LIFTING!

Is exercise order important? Absolutely. It significantly impacts your results. So, what's the ideal exercise order? Let's delve into the science of it.

**Exercise Order: Prioritize Weaknesses and Compound Basics First**

For a long time, the golden rule was to focus on your weakest muscles or muscle parts early in your routine. For instance, if your upper pecs are lagging behind your lower pecs, prioritize incline presses on chest day.

Another rule is to perform your heaviest, compound exercises early when your energy and focus are at their peak. Research supports these rules, as the earliest exercises in your routine are the most effective for strength and muscle gains.

In fact, studies show that the first exercise in your routine leads to the greatest strength gains and muscle growth, with the last exercise providing the lowest gains. This holds true even in circuit training. Therefore, prioritize crucial exercises at the start of each routine.

**Best Exercise Order Principles: Prioritize, Compound Basics First, Pump-Out Last, Mix It Up**

1. **Prioritize**: Schedule your first exercise to target the muscle(s) or strength goal you want to emphasize the most, promoting symmetry and balanced strength.

2. **Compound Basics First**: If you aim to get stronger in lifts like squats, incline press, and deadlift, do them early in your routine.

3. **Pump-Out Last**: As your workout progresses, your ability to add resistance decreases, making it a great time for high-rep sets or drop sets.

4. **Mix It Up**: While the above guidelines work well most of the time, occasional variation keeps your training fresh and motivation high.

**FAQs**

- **Does exercise order matter?** Yes.

- **What is the recommended order of exercise?** Prioritize weaknesses and start with compound basics.

- **Why is exercise order important?** It maximizes the effectiveness of your workout.

- **Does it matter which muscle or body part you train first?** Yes, generally start with the largest body part.

- **Is it better to do cardio or weights first?** Depends on your goals.

- **Which exercise is best to do first?** Generally, a basic, compound exercise.

- **Should you change the order of your workout?** Not mandatory, but it can prevent boredom.

- **Should I do the hardest exercise first or last?** Generally, start with the hardest exercises, but experienced trainers can experiment.

In summary, exercise order does matter, and following these principles can help you optimize your workout routine.