How Much Time Do You Spend.....

**lizzyb** · October 17th, 2009, 06:07 PM

As I started to feel frustrated with myself for the amount of time my workout is taking me, I thought what a great topic to discuss here!

I am quite curious to know how much time everyone spends in total on their daily workouts?

Lately mine have been lasting waaaay too long, it feels. I always seem to be stretching it out to about 2hrs (not my planning) and it is driving me nuts!! I recall a time when I could pop in a Disney dvd (I train at home, so I entertain my kids with a movie while I work out) and be done my workout, cardio included just as the credits were rolling. Nowadays it's 2 movies later!!

Anyhoo, I'd really like to hear from all of you, no matter what your goals or if you compete or not......just would like to get a feel for what a general 'norm' may be so as I may be able to modify to my needs or find alternatives.

Any input, as always, is greatly appreciated!

**A1food4U** · October 17th, 2009, 06:25 PM

I've been getting up early and working out at 5:30 am. I'll usually get in 45 min. It's the only time I can go uninterupted as well as not having the feeling that I am cheating the wife and kids out of time we could spend together doing other stuff. I usaually start with cardio, 15 min day 1,3,5 45 min 2,4. I number the days this way because getting them in all in unbroken succession is difficult. As the Exec I get the call whenever one of my staff gets ill so I find myself cooking breakfast and that takes precident over the work-out.

I'm not building or reducing. Just trying to stay fit...

**lizzyb** · October 17th, 2009, 07:02 PM

That's actually a great idea to number your days......I like how you have boken it up. Now, the 45mins, is that inclucing your lifting too or is this just cardio you are talking about?

**IMFREAKZILLA** · October 17th, 2009, 07:28 PM

when I m lifting I m all business 1 hr 15 minutes tops ,thats if I can
get to the weights,dumbells etc and thats with very little rest between
sets some say you should rest 1,2,3 minutes I get it and hit it course
since I have been off going on 8 weeks things may be a little bit
difference just call me the incredible shrinking man cause thats what
I am right now btw hows everybody elses time in the gym thats a
good question?I stretch and get loose at home since I live only five
minutes from golds gym.Thanks for listening .IMF ,been raining for
a while here but great news calling for 60s all week and a low 70
thursday,what a CHANGE.

**A1food4U** · October 17th, 2009, 07:29 PM

That's just cardio. I'm currently just in a maintainance mind set. i was making good progress then work got goofy. So rather than giving in to the temptation of doing nothing I came up with this format. On 1,3,5 I lift a total body circuit twice takes about 30 min. Got the timing down pretty well. So if I miss a day i just look at the number I have written on the calendar and start again. I'm pretty happy with it so far. When work goes back to normal I'll do cardio at 20 min everyday then go into the Arms/chest, legs/core, shoulders back 45 min skipping day four. I'll never be a behemouth this way but at 45 I just want to get an occasional glance from a twenty something and my wifes undivided attention when I'm naked.... I'm a simple kinda guy.

**tooncesthecat** · October 17th, 2009, 07:52 PM

I am never in the gym more than an hour. Currently doing a 4 way split with 2 days on and a day off. Only rest about a min or less between sets. I think this is the key. Longer rest breaks are fine for those looking to build power/strength, but I think the shorter rest is keeping me leaner than I was last year at this time. I'll be glad to have less to lose next spring for contest season!

**IMFREAKZILLA** · October 18th, 2009, 05:46 PM

I forgot to mention,I do 50 yard sprints in the park where I live and besides
walking the dogs 1.5 miles a day thats about all the cardio I do..................
If you do too much cardio,you lose muscle mass and start getting atrophy...
It does not mean you have a disease or anything like that it means you
gonna lose size and mass.The bike,treadmill,stair stepper etc etc etc etc
would be good for someone wanting to cut size off their body and lose
the mass I spoke of ,Thanks IMF

**lizzyb** · October 18th, 2009, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A1food4U

.... I'm a simple kinda guy.

Aint nuthin' wrong with that either

toonces: gotta LOVE that....an hour you say?! How long were you training for when you prepping for your competition?

IMF: I've been known to use my machines for metabolic stuff too, but nothing beats the great outdoors!

Thanks guys keep it coming!!

**pliny_2001** · October 18th, 2009, 06:36 PM

I'll lift 3x a week (after work - AM lifting never really feels right for me). When I get lazy and start taking too long of breaks, I'll find the clock starts ticking up; same thing with 'feature bloat' where I start adding in more and more exercises/sets. I realize there's a problem when I'm in the gym for 1:30:00, so I'll examine what I'm doing and knock down the time. I like to max out at 1:15:00 of lifting and am rarely under an hour on my split.

Cardio's usually an AM thing for me, either running or crossfit type stuff. Rarely more than 40 minutes, usually closer to 20. I'll periodically do hour-long spin classes, though I really do question why the session is so long - you're either burning aminos by then, or not working hard enough. Swimming takes extra time, too - maybe up to an hour when I do that. Cardio's done between 1 and 7 times a week, depending. Right now I'm doing 20-25 min, 3x a week.

**Insex** · October 19th, 2009, 03:03 AM

A couple hours is usually the norm for me. Although, that includes everything (cardio warm-up, lifting, and stretching). I can be in the gym for as long as three hours depending on how crowded the gym is.

**mooshue** · October 19th, 2009, 06:12 PM

I stopped doing cold stretching after reading a bit about how ineffective it is. I started doing 2 warm up sets first on whatever bodypart im doing. I superset everything, blast through the weights in 30-45 min depending on what routine is, followed by 40 min of cardio.
I too get up at 5am and get my workout over, then come home and get ready for my day with my family.

I have found that you do not need a long drawn out 3 minute break in between sets, just get it over with. You can still go heavy and go hard with minimal rest.

**lizzyb** · October 19th, 2009, 09:45 PM

Just wanted to say thanks guys for all of your responses!! You all have provided me with some great feedback and insight......helped me get over the hump so to speak! I have become more mindful of my rest periods, and have been able to keep my focus....meanwhile I'm not sweating the small stuff either......rather, trying not to anyways, lol!!

Thanks again for the feedback!

DEALER · October 20th, 2009, 06:48 PM

in and out in 1:45 - warmup + stretch + weights + stretch + shower.