re: Why do people take so long to work out

What people do/need varies from person to person and their goals. That said, I do feel some people add time and volume for the sake of just being in the gym for longer workouts, because thats what people do.

For me, 5-10 mins of warm up, and 30-35 minutes of lifting (following a progression program focused on main lifts) is my sweet spot. This works for my age, capacity for recovery, time availability and goals. What small amount I may sacrifice in my max lifts by using shorter times between sets and lower total volume, I gain back in time for other stuff, easier recovery, etc.

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I have recently figured this out as well. Although I was never a marathon workout guy, I still was 1-1:30 in lifting only. The past month I've been doing Andy Baker's shoulder specialization program, and I've had people comment that I look bigger. Starting that program I would have said no way that's enough volume, way to easy. It takes me 35 mins. Only leg day takes me 50ish mins, that's only because I've laid off squats and doing hack squat and leg press will make me vomit if I don't rest 3 mins.

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I was a huge volume guy back in the day. 20 to 25 sets for chest, back, shoulders, and legs. Of course I was on a shite ton of test, tren, eq, dbol, and hgh, insulin so I would do the 2 hr marathon workouts no problem and I was also younger. I wouldn't even be able to get through one of those workouts now without my joints going to shite or even worse tearing something. I thought people that did HIT or variations of HIT with lower volume were idiots. How could they possibly grow with such little volume? I was wrong. Training natural at 45 is night and day to training enhanced at 25 or 30. It just makes sense that I won't need all that volume nor would I benefit from it even if I tried. I just try to keep it as simple as possible and use as much intensity as I can muster for every workout. Some days are better than others but I just do the best I can. I am the healthiest I have ever been right now with brief shorter workouts and I hope I can continue to do this well into my 50's.

I usually start with heavier lifts and longer breaks between sets but then move to bouncing around between different things with much shorter rest periods.

Workout can vary between 45 minutes on short end to 2 hours. Although the 2 hr is usually adding a class like Ultra Fit, Strictly Strength, Barbell Strength so rarely is the entire 2 hrs in weight room.

I spend an hour and 15 mins but I will perform a set of whatever, quickly walk 2 laps around the weight room on a small track (23 laps to a mile), then perform the next set, repeat the walking between each. I’ll get a mile and a half in, work muscle groups, and keep moving. If someone wants to work in, I let them.

But, I do see people hogging a machine or space and spend waaaay too much time in one spot.

Then you have the guy who puts his water bottle on one bench, his hoodie at another station, and won’t share either spot if someone wants to work in. Booooooo that guy