Getting in shape requires a lot of time. There’s no workout regimen that will magically transform your body in just 7 days.
You might be wondering, as I have in the past, about how long you should be spending time at the gym. You might be working and simply squeezing in gym time, or you might have decided to get rid of those bulges and get back in shape. No matter the reason, you’re undoubtedly curious about how long it will take to hit that mark.
Does a Magic Number Exist?
Most people are convinced that spending a certain amount of time in the gym will GUARANTEE results. I can’t blame them; when you have a fitness goal in mind, you want to make sure that you meet that goal, right?
You see, that’s the thing. You need to have GOALS.
Whenever you start a workout routine or fitness regimen, you usually begin with a certain target you want to hit: flatter tummy, toned arms, rounder butt… you get the drift.
Let’s say you want to have wider shoulders and a lifted chest. Based on these body goals, you should be doing certain exercises to be able to get what you want. Each exercise you decide to do (with the assistance of a personal trainer), and how many reps and sets you should be doing is correlated to how long you should be spending time at the gym.
So how long does a typical workout take?
Some of you might be searching for a specific number in this post, but unfortunately I can give you a guestimate (a guess + estimate):
Typically, a workout would last around half an hour to 120 minutes. On average, I’d say 45 to 90 minutes would be a good, rough estimate of how long a workout routine takes.
Why all the uncertainty? I go to the gym to gain muscle/lose weight/get active. Shouldn’t there be a recommended time frame?
The answer is simple: no.
There are a million factors why you could be spending 2 hours at the gym one day, and then find yourself done in 40 minutes. For example:
- Did you shower before and after a workout?
- Did you chat with the regulars by the weights area?
- Did you check Instagram before starting your cardio?
- Did you have an engagement to attend to after a workout?
I can name many other reasons why you could be spending more time than usual at the gym but I think you get the idea. The time spent at the gym is not the issue here; it’s how your workout program is designed to meet your specific goals.
Benefits to Timing Yourself
Typically speaking you will spend as much time as you need at the gym, depending on your workout routine. However, for some of us who view the gym as a sort of social hotspot, it wouldn’t hurt to try to stick to a schedule. Here’s why:
- You’ll less likely do other exercises that you don’t really need or are counterproductive to your fitness goals. With a set time frame in mind, you won’t be over-training your muscles. Remember that your body needs to recover and rest for it to be able to perform again.
- You won’t be wasting your time doing non-gym related things like texting, taking mirror selfies, etc. You’ll be surprised to see how much time things like these take. Be more focused and stick to a schedule.
Time is Gold
In a nutshell, you can spend as little as 30 minutes to 2 hours in the gym. It really doesn’t matter! There’s no “magic” number to adhere to. In the end, what you should be focusing on is the workout routine and how it’s supposed to benefit your body and support your fitness goals.
You’re most welcome to drop by anytime at any of our 5 branches. Our friendly staff is available during business hours to accommodate you and answer any questions you may have. The best part? You can stay as long as you want.