Thread: Optimal workout time?

it just depends on the goals and what you are doing.

sometimes it may be 75min, other times 60min., sometimes 45min. or maybe 30min. Just depends.

the idea isn't to focus on the time you are in the gym, but the quality of work you are doing.

patrick

One hour of quality workout that will make you grow stronger is about all the body can stand at a time.

If you half assed it though you could spend hours in the gym and accomplish nothing.

For my particular goals I shoot for an hour. Doesn't always work out that way depending on how many other people I'm spotting or how many are bending my ear while I'm trying to workout.

I know this. Sometimes, it takes extra time in the gym just adding/subtracting plates. I can do my squats/leg presses, hams and calves in about 45 minutes to an hour...but then you throw all that extra time in taking off/adding the plates and you can tak on some time right there.

I think I would have to say intensity determines the amount of time you "need" to spend at the gym.

No doubt in my mind that all members of this forum value the benefits that training gives us. When you enter the gym, you gotta "Leave The Thinking at The Door", and focus on Intensity, and busting your ass! I for one can`t train looking at the clock, if your doing that why bother training? I suppose its ok to get a general idea how long it takes you to complete a given workout, but that is all. Your focus has to be on conquering new horizons, leaving total effort on the gym floor. Who the hell wants to " go through the motions" in the gym! You do that at work.
Big Back 51

Several good posts here.

Whatever amount of time it takes to achieve your workout goals for that days workout is the amount of time you need to be there. I never time my workouts. I determine what I'm going to do and then after I do it I might check the clock just to get a general idea of how long that particular workout takes.

Pretty much every workout I've ever done took between half an hour to an hour and a half. As others have mentioned, the time it takes to change plates, the crowd situation and other factors can all effect the amount of time one spends in the gym.

At the moment I don't have to concern myself with that as I'm working out at home.

I guess I'm the odd man out and do try to pay attention to the clock. My initial sets of whatever compound movement I start with have longer rest periods between each set. Second set of movements will have different rep ranges and rest times...etc. By having all my routines down on paper with previous reps per set at X weight I will know if my workout runs too long I'll need to adjust.
I'm not one how works out until I feel like I'm tired or sore. I'd rather know that I'm progressing in one way or another in addition to staying in a set time range.

think more in terms of sets and reps/weights/intensity.

ideally 45 mins but that could be increased or decreased by which machines or weights or bars you want to use, if they're free or not, spotting, recovery times for your targets etc

i always do around 50 mins because my gym is usually empty, 1.5-2 mins between sets and 3 mins between exercises, usually with a superset to change into the next muscle group

i always pay attention to the clock , i usually have a time i need to be out of there by , i try and give my self 1.5 to 2 hours of time available even tho i never use 2 hours , usually about an hour

Originally Posted by johnereb

Several good posts here.

Whatever amount of time it takes to achieve your workout goals for that days workout is the amount of time you need to be there. I never time my workouts. I determine what I'm going to do and then after I do it I might check the clock just to get a general idea of how long that particular workout takes.

Pretty much every workout I've ever done took between half an hour to an hour and a half. As others have mentioned, the time it takes to change plates, the crowd situation and other factors can all effect the amount of time one spends in the gym.

At the moment I don't have to concern myself with that as I'm working out at home.

I agree with this statement, though I do work out at a gym. I'm there to lift not watch the clock or do any sets before I am sufficiently recovered from the last.

I workout hard 3 days a week for a lot longer than 1 hour, but I've made more gains than 95% of the gym folk who rush through a 45 minute or one hour workout 4, 5, 6, 7 days a week.