how long should my workout be?

[shermdizzle]

i hope that this isnt' to vague of a question here. before i was working out for about 2 hours...now i'm tryin to stick to an hour and a half. this is so i can lift only 4 times a week, i don't have all the time in the world, though i wish i did. So, my question is, how long should my workout be? if i workout an hour and a half on 3 different body parts, is this hurting me at all?

also, if workout lenght is not a concern, don't be shy to tell me so, the moreinfo on this topic the better

thanks

[NickSpinnat03]

What are you training for bro?

In general, you wanna try to keep lifting sessions as close to an hour as possible, but often that doesn't happen. A lot of guys go over an hour and do fine. I'd say 2 hours is overdoing it though, no more than an hour and a half. If you're going that long and rest plenty between sets, try making the rest periods shorter.

[genepool]

if you are doing 3 parts a day an hour and a half is ok. for a single part 45 should be max

[NickSpinnat03]

if you are doing 3 parts a day an hour and a half is ok. for a single part 45 should be max

Tim!?

[genepool]

that would be me

[westtexasfury]

Studies show/suggest that working out for more than an 1 1/2 hours at a time lowers testosterone levels 12 hours later.
These levels stay low for about 24 hours if no strenuous exercise is exerted during this time.
If strenuous exercise is exerted, low levels can last 36-48 hours, assuming that the following workouts lasted less than 1 1/2 hours.

And I assume that everyone on here knows that testosterone is one of the driving forces for increased muscle strength/growth.

[iatethebunny]

I have a question, why should the workout time be so short is it because to long and you will become catabolic. And if that is the case can you bring a meal replacement drink and sip on it through out the workout.

[Definitelynotme]

around an hour.

test levels start dropping otherwise

[NickSpinnat03]

It's because beyond an hour and cortisol levels start to rise, test starts to decrease, and your liver glycogen typically has just about run out.......all of which make for a bad situation to say the least.
We were talking about this over at another forum, and the idea arose of throwing down some quick EAA's at the 60 minute mark.

[daazndood]

dont athletes work out for more then an hour? my workouts are normally 1.5 hours (i aint no athlete though)

[genepool]

dont athletes work out for more then an hour? my workouts are normally 1.5 hours (i aint no athlete though)

there is a difference between endurance training/practice and straight up bodybuilding.

[sapaz85]

I train a max of an hour. but it also depends how busy the gym is. sometimes I have wait for the equipment.

[shermdizzle]

ok, so whats the difference between working out an hour and a half all at once, and working out 45 minutes 2 different times a day?

[martymcfly]

preferred 45-60 mins for the anerobic part (lifting weights) anything after that you'll be dragging, and i looked for the study where it shows your test levels peak and then start to drag after an hour. if its longer than an hour or so (especially by yourself) how long are you waiting, how long are you dawdling, how many exercises are you doing? if you're with a friend and you guys talk or something, i guess it could be a bit longer, but i try to keep the gym all serious. its a sanctuary for me.

[Rick_Trahan]

Everyone is different. I personally will spend about an hour and half at the gym training but sometimes I'll go up to 2 hours. I think you should just worry about the amount of set you do first, then worry about time in between sets. If you have a good split you can work 5-7 days a week. Personally I try to listen to my body and have a 6 day cycle taking breaks when my body tells me. You dont hit muscle exhaustion/fatigue unless you have the following symptoms, naseau, consistently tired, lack of appetite, and sluggishness.

[dannyswo]

Short work outs will keep you more focused. I find that going as fast as possible between exercises gets better results and concentration.

[NY Money Mike]

Exactaly 72 minutes. If you go over tat you gonna get catabolonic and you will loze all muscle hypertropial gladisphere and you will be teh overtrained.

[I dont work at Ballys]

Exactaly 72 minutes. If you go over tat you gonna get catabolonic and you will loze all muscle hypertropial gladisphere and you will be teh overtrained.

finally a good reply.


seriously though, you guys who are all spouting your "low test level" and "catabolic" crap need to understand the other factors involved, including:

-genetics
-diet
-sleep/hormone management
-volume of workout
-TUT and rest intervals

among other things, these will determine the right amount of time for each individual. the best answer is, work out until you feel like you've worked out enough. and that knowledge comes with TUI (time under iron)

[nuyork143]

I train a max of an hour. but it also depends how busy the gym is. sometimes I have wait for the equipment.

Why wait for a machine, theres always something else you can do or another variation of the same workout.

[nuyork143]

finally a good reply.


seriously though, you guys who are all spouting your "low test level" and "catabolic" crap need to understand the other factors involved, including:

-genetics
-diet
-sleep/hormone management
-volume of workout
-TUT and rest intervals

among other things, these will determine the right amount of time for each individual. the best answer is, work out until you feel like you've worked out enough. and that knowledge comes with TUI (time under iron)

WORD G!!
I mean AGREED!
+1 Gay Ass Rep point...

[NickSpinnat03]

finally a good reply.


seriously though, you guys who are all spouting your "low test level" and "catabolic" crap need to understand the other factors involved, including:

-genetics
-diet
-sleep/hormone management
-volume of workout
-TUT and rest intervals

among other things, these will determine the right amount of time for each individual. the best answer is, work out until you feel like you've worked out enough. and that knowledge comes with TUI (time under iron)

We said it was an average, "about" an hour. I said it was ok to go over that, even up to an hour and a half, I usually go about that long myself. But going far over that up to like 2 hours is probably overdoing it.

[Darkpyro12]

i hope that this isnt' to vague of a question here. before i was working out for about 2 hours...now i'm tryin to stick to an hour and a half. this is so i can lift only 4 times a week, i don't have all the time in the world, though i wish i did. So, my question is, how long should my workout be? if i workout an hour and a half on 3 different body parts, is this hurting me at all?

also, if workout lenght is not a concern, don't be shy to tell me so, the moreinfo on this topic the better

thanks

It should take however long it takes you to get in the gym, do your lifts, and leave. Dont waste time chatting or w/e. You went to the gym to work out right? keep it that way.

[sapaz85]

Why wait for a machine, theres always something else you can do or another variation of the same workout.

Yeah i could. but then I not stick to my program and plus I'm not going to lighter and my weights. equipment does really mean machines only, it's also free weights and ect.

[ChingChang]

everyone's different.

My best workouts are 1.5-2 hours. One muscle group per day.. sometimes two. 6 days a week.
If I don't have enough time and I only have an hour to work out, I just increase the intensity, doing super slows and 21s with some of the exercises.

[mikestraussen]

Everyone has a different opinion.

I know guys like Lee Priest say 45 minutes is not enough.

I also read somewhere he recommends at least 20 sets per body part or else you are wasting your time.

[Merkava]

45 minutes works great for me.

[Fighterpilota10]

1hr < X < 1.5hr

[Al Faz]

everyone's different.

My best workouts are 1.5-2 hours. One muscle group per day.. sometimes two. 6 days a week.
If I don't have enough time and I only have an hour to work out, I just increase the intensity, doing super slows and 21s with some of the exercises.

So you are telling me you weork shoulders for 90 - 120 mins? Don't be ridiculous!

[ChingChang]

So you are telling me you weork shoulders for 90 - 120 mins? Don't be ridiculous!

yeah, shoulder workouts are usually 90 minutes. This past Friday I went for 2 hours, did a lot of speed bag that day though.

[Fanatik]

I try to make it 1 hour not more but i always go over.
When i started taking N.O i would stay in gym for 2+ hours without even realizing it.

I do 5x5 and take 2-3 min rest