When I first got into the gym I had no idea what I was doing.
Familiar story right?
I would go in and watch what other people were doing.
Without meaning to sound too ‘serial killer’ I would almost keep note of how long people were there.
I wasn’t there with a stopwatch and a pen and paper.
But I was aware of the people that were there before me, and if they were still there when I left.
My sessions started out taking about 30-40 minutes and dragged out to about 1.5 hours within a few weeks.
And it ended up much longer.
I could be there for 2 hours, and even at that point, there were guys there longer than I was.
I was really starting to think “Do I want this that bad? Do I need to spend 3 hours here?”
My wife (girlfriend at the time) was working there as a membership consultant at the time, so I would often be there long after sessions just hanging.
I got talking with one of the trainers, an ex-bodybuilder.
I remember asking him what he thought of the 3-hour sessions, and how he got through them.
It was him who first told me how unnecessary it was to do sessions for that long. How 45-1 hour was the ideal time.
He even went as far as saying you only needed to do 3-5 exercises every session.
Not the 12-15 some guys were doing.
So I changed what I was doing.
I started looking into different programs for building strength and doing without spending hours at the gym.
I found the 5×5 stronglifts and this was my real introduction to training at the gym.
It took me about 45 minutes 3 times a week.
This was when I got hooked on the gym.
Even now after everything I’ve learned about exercise, nutrition, and the body.
I still swear by these sorts of time frames with sessions.
While 30 minutes is 100% the minimum you should be doing in a session. 45 minutes is ideal.
If you can do 45 minutes of exercise 4-5 times a week you will be well on your way to achieving your health and fitness goals.
How Long Should A Gym Session take?
Ok, so not to sound too flaky or like I’m going back on what I’m saying, let’s break this down a little bit to see what we’re actually asking.
What is a gym session?
What are we including?
Are we saying from the moment we walk in the door till when we walk out?
What happens if an old friend is randomly there and we end up talking for 30 minutes?
Do we count the warm-up?
What about the cooldown?
So you go back to what I said before, My workouts last about 45 minutes, sometimes longer if I get a bit distracted and chat… It happens
I usually spend around 15 minutes warming up.
So an hour for my session, but the actual time that my goal-specific training or my workout is about 45 minutes.
Depending on what you’re doing, if you train for a marathon your ‘workouts’ are going to be long runs right.
So I can’t sit here and say 45 minutes is the ideal time for marathon training.
But if we’re just talking, going to the gym, lifting weight, and doing some light cardio.
45 minutes is a good time.
The big gym junkies chasing the bulk are going to call me an idiot.
And say they can’t get huge in such a short time.
And maybe they’re right, But I know plenty of big dudes that never train longer than an hour.
So it really is up to you and your goals.
But for the newbie just starting out 30-45 minutes is all you need to get a decent workout in and improve your life.
If you need a guide on how you should get started to have a read through my E-Book.
‘Train Wherever The F*ck You Want‘ Is my guide to all things resistance bands and how you can build the body you want from anywhere you want!
I’ve got some sample workouts and a few tips on nutrition, supplements, and apps you can try.
Will I Lose Weight Exercising 30 minutes a day?
Let’s not forget the most important part of losing weight.
Getting your food right. If you get your food right.
And by eating a calorie deficit you will lose weight regardless of how much exercise you do.
But doing exercise is going to work hand in hand with that process.
You get stronger and build muscle while your weight slowly drops.
You’ll be burning fat and feel better every session.
Getting the balance right with your training routine and your nutrition is still the best way to get it done.
And we’ve only really mentioned the physical benefits.
The mental benefits of eating healthy and exercising are the main driver for me with my health and fitness.
I feel better when I eat well.
I’m fueling my body and brain with the stuff it needs to perform at its best.
It feels good to push my body, the endorphins that are released, the rewards looking in the mirror, and how that makes me feel mental.
Looking and feeling good from getting the balance right.
So look if weight loss is your goal.
Start with 30 minutes of exercise 5 days a week.
Whatever you can do for 30 minutes.
Just move.
And get sweaty.
Here’s just the video to get you started.
Just 10 minutes and you don’t need any equipment!
Once it’s a habit then start looking at your food.
Get onto myfitnesspal, work out your calories.
Track your macros.
But the changes one step at a time and you’re more likely to stick to it.
For more on this check my article here on how to eat what you want and still lose weight.
Sounds crazy right?
If you’d like to go even further down the rabbit whole I can teach you exactly how to eat what you want and still lose weight.
Book your FREE consultation call here and let’s get the ball rolling!