⏱️ Why You Don’t Need Long Workouts to Get Lean

PLUS: Intensity > Duration

AuthorAuthor

Michael Pender & Ryan Engel
July 23, 2025

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TODAY’S LEVEL UP:

  • Coach’s Corner: Why You Don’t Need Long Workouts to Get Lean

  • Quick Hit Reminder: Intensity > Duration

  • Question from Our Readers: Can I get in shape with just 30-minute workouts?

  • Fit Trivia: Which 80s action star played a gym owner and ex-bodybuilder in a movie that inspired a generation to “train hard or go home”?

Why You Don’t Need Long Workouts to Get Lean

If you think you need to spend 90 minutes in the gym to make progress, think again.

For most men over 40, the magic happens when workouts are:

  • Focused

  • Efficient

  • Intense (with proper rest)

In fact,

30–45 minutes of structured strength training 3–4x per week will:

  • Burn fat

  • Build muscle

  • Boost energy

  • Improve hormone balance

The key? No wasted time. No wandering around. No scrolling between sets.

Short workouts work—if you show up and go hard.

FROM RYAN’S DESK

There’s no shortcut. Change demands sacrifice. It’s supposed to hurt. That’s the signal you’re moving forward. Embrace the pain—it’s the tax every strong man pays to level up.

Quick Hit Reminder:

Intensity > Duration

You can get more results in 30 minutes of focused effort than 90 minutes of going through the motions.

Show up. Warm up. Lock in. Get out.

Question from Our Readers:

“Can I get in shape with just 30-minute workouts?”

– Alex, 49, from Orlando

Yes—absolutely.

Try this 3-day template:

  • Day 1: Upper Body Strength

  • Day 2: Lower Body + Core

  • Day 3: Full Body Circuit

Stick to compound lifts (pushups, rows, goblet squats, RDLs), time your rests, and keep the phone in your locker.

30 focused minutes, done consistently, beats 60 distracted ones.

Fit Trivia: Which 80s action star played a gym owner and ex-bodybuilder in a movie that inspired a generation to “train hard or go home”?

Answer: Lou Ferrigno in Pumping Iron II: The Women (1985)! While the original Pumping Iron starred Arnold, Lou Ferrigno returned in the sequel with a cameo as a gym owner and coach. It showcased the era’s gritty, no-nonsense approach to fitness—and proved that you don’t need frills to build muscle, just discipline and iron.

Ryan Engel, Intl. Fat Loss Coach

Ryan is a leading fitness coach and one of the most known professionals in the space.

He specializes in Body Recomposition and visual body aesthetics and has reached millions worldwide with his powerful messaging. He brings a unique, non-nonsense, yet sophisticated approach to body change.

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3M Coaching: Offering Free Consultations for Limited Time Only

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Publisher: Ryan Engel

Editor: Michael Pender

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