How long in the gym...

However long it takes to finish a work out really.
A few times I've finished a workout and it feels like I've been in there only 20 minutes (actual time of 45mins) and felt like I needed to do more despite being completely drained of energy.

I tend to do 5 different exercises for the muscle group I'm working on with 3 to 5 sets, throw in some cardio after and I'm done.

If you come out of the gym with some energy left, you weren't in there long enough is my view.

I'm doing the routines in New Rules of Lifting Supercharged. These are whole body routines and I work out 3 days per week. The workouts change every 4 weeks approximately. Each workout phase has two or more routines that are alternated. Each workout takes 60-70 minutes. These workouts require some upfront planning time but the results are worth it!

I do 30-45 min. each session. One of the hardest adjustments was learning to not 'hang around' the gym. Instead, have your program in hand, go in, do the reps and get out. After a while, you'll appreciate the extra time available for the rest of your day. Sorry #RossUK88, but if you smoke each session, you're ripe for burn-out in a few weeks. The 'spend all your energy' approach just doesn't work for most.

As far as the program, look up Dan John on YouTube, web. He is the Godfather of Squats and Ultimate Strength. Started following his programs about a year ago and have made huge gains, flexibility and am much happier about my self and my workouts.

I stick with the five major movements instead of Arm-day, leg-day, back-day, no life-day... Do an exercise in each of the five major movements and you are good to go in 30 - 45 min.

1) Loaded carry - Farmer's Walk, suitcase, waiter carry, or combos.
2) Squat - always squat... Loaded or unloaded - Look up Squat 101 to avoid all the mistakes.
3) Hinge motion - kettle swings, Oly progressions,
4) Pull motion - Rows, pull ups
5) Pushes - push ups, bench (incline is my choice of self torture)

A typical workout for me is:
Farmer's walk - 150 - 270 lbs 60 feet up stop 60 back. Length of the gym. Working up to 120 stop and 120.
Squat - 20-30 unloaded to work flexibility. 5 sets of 3/5 at 180 - 270.
Hinge - KB swings - 50 swings each hand at 35lb -- Snatch progressions or Clean progressions weight is light to moderate
Pull - Low row and bar hang, pull up. I can now do 3 wide grip pullups (I still weigh 270) working on 10
Push - incline bench - 5 sets at 5/7 to 3/5 135 warmup then 225/275/315/275/225

I was horrible at trying to remember if today is legday, back, neck, right forearm and left calf with abs thrown in day. And there was always someone doing curls in the squat rack when I needed to front squat. But moving from body parts to motions simplified my workout and my mood.

I did not start seriously working out until I was 55, almost 57 now. Weighed 320 and could not walk up and down stairs. Hard time breathing and was miserable. Went to see my gym training and got into body building routine and really hated it. I was spending more time planning my workouts than actually working out.

I am now 270, running up and down stairs, flexibility is much better, bench press 335, squat 415, deadlift 455. Still learning the Oly lifts, but love them. Snatching a little over 150 and cleaning around 250.. Light, but good for me.

Hope this helps, it only gets better.

Weight Days - Strong lifts 3 days a week = 40 mins + 20min cardio

Cardrio days - 3 days a week - 45 minutes + cool down

Never at the gym much more than an hour

It really depends.
I usually spend about 45 minutes during weight training days (usually 2 days a week), but that could be longer depending on how packed the gym is. (I usually start with a 3 minute cardio, and end with a cool down stretch and maybe a walk on the treadmill)
On my one cardio day I usually do about 30 minutes and a cool down.
On top of that, I try to do one day of a 15 minute core work out at home.

Sometimes I feel like I never want to leave (I never thought I would ever say that!), especially on weight days. Once I start not finishing sets because I hit failure on days like that, I stretch and leave.

I'm just a beginner, and my schedule as a college student is never the same week to week so sometimes I work out less sometimes more. But I'm planning on upping my days in the gym very soon.

I do 30-45 min. each session. One of the hardest adjustments was learning to not 'hang around' the gym. Instead, have your program in hand, go in, do the reps and get out. After a while, you'll appreciate the extra time available for the rest of your day. Sorry #RossUK88, but if you smoke each session, you're ripe for burn-out in a few weeks. The 'spend all your energy' approach just doesn't work for most.

I like this, I'm the same way

Some days I'm in there for 45 minutes. Other days, it's 3 hours. All depends on my energy levels and time. I work out my whole body about 4 days a week with weights, with the other days being just outdoor running with maybe some elliptical

Took me 2 hours in the stupid gym last night...not only was I dragging my *kitten*, but people were driving me nuts. It was a rough one, but I usually spend about 60 minutes to 90 minutes in the gym mixing weights and cardio. I try and get 90 minutes in if I'm doing yoga and cardio.