I believe that intensity and benefit begin to decline after 60 minutes. In fact, overtraining can also occur if lifting weights for more than 45-60 minutes per session. So, stay focused, keep the intensity and energy high. *This is especially the case if your goal is weight or fat loss.
Being consistent is key. If your exercise program calls for a frequency of 3 to 4 times per week, but you only do it one per week, you will never get your desired results. You must be dedicated and consistent for your body to respond. *Again, this is very important if one of your goals is weight loss. Even the consistency of lifting weights will pay great dividends with weight loss. Exercise will boost your metabolism, but only the frequency and consistency of the workouts will keep it up!
For example, don’t do a leg workout two days in a row. Always allow for a rest day in between. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do anything. Maybe you can do an upper body workout in between your leg days. *There is an exception to this; however, it isn’t for everyone. Working the same muscle group on consecutive days should be done with guidance.
However, it is actually an extremely beneficial component to your exercise regimen. Active rest just means participating in an activity that is not intense and uses your muscles in a different way. For example: The day after an intense leg workout, maybe you take a long walk/hike, do yoga or pilates or even just stretching would be considered active recovery. But if possible, make it fun!
Good: Mild muscle discomfort is to be expected when exercising. If you are pushing your body for gains, then muscle “pain” is to be expected. However, this pain should only be felt while you are doing the exercise.
Bad: Pain that is sharp/stabbing, in the joint, causes swelling or discomfort of any kind. Other than the “pain” felt in the working muscle, nothing else should hurt. This type pain can sometime occur from improper form or execution of the exercise. However, that isn’t always the case. Especially when dealing with previous injuries, arthritis, etc.
Fatigue: Fatigue following a workout is common, especially if you’ve really challenged yourself. However, it should not leave you completely exhausted. With rest, or even active-rest, you should feel reenergized and ready for another workout. If your fatigue lasts several days, then you may have over done it. With examination of what your exercise schedule has been over the previous few days can help determine if you have over-trained, or if there is something more going on.
Soreness: Delayed-onset muscle soreness is both normal and common! Anytime you begin an exercise program after being sedentary for an extended period of time, or try an entirely new activity it is very common to experience muscle soreness. When you start feeling sore will vary from person to person. However, it typically can start as soon as a few hours, but is at its peak at about 36-48 hours after.