Lets take it slow...all the training variations 5x5, OT, 3x-week etc have a specific application.
They also allow us to vary our training to keep the gains going when we hit a plateau with a routine.
Set your mind on one routine and stick with it for 8 weeks, take a week off and come back with another! After 2 decades I have tried damn near everything...its all good as long as it takes into account a few simple things. Realy high volume tends to do more damage than good...and without any variance the plateau can happen quicker.
If you are
losing fat as a primary goal (1-2 pounds a week) you can also gain .3-.5 pounds a week muscle.
If you are
gaining muscle as a primary goal (1-2 pounds a week) you can drop .3-.5 pounds a week fat
would this be over training, and is it bad that its over an hour?
Training over 45 minutes is training in a negative hormone state. Mostly breaking down muscle at a very high rate to provide energy for the training. ALso the prolonged stress causes other catabolic stress hormones to be released. If you are training to GAIN muscle then it is bad.
I train my whole body in under an hour. I am gaining 1.5 pounds of muscle a week. I know I am not overtraining..because my gains are regular and my energy and stamina + health are fine.
Over-training roughly refers to doing so much damage to muscles that the body is unable to do the repair in a reasonable time frame...and it is not able to repair to a stronger place than you were before training.
You can get all the nutrition info here:
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/ How on earth can you have a 2 hour routine?
Do I read this right "5 sets of 5 reps... The reps were of 8,8,8,6,6."
Do you mean 5 exercises doing 5 sets with reps at 8,8,8,6,6
Thats not how 5x5 works!
http://www.vegsource.com/articles2/mahler5x5r.htm My recommendation is to go with the 3-day and follow it TO THE LETTER for 8-12 weeks.
He is very specific about variations, volume, rests etc.
I have trained this way and had some amazing gains!
After that, Take a week off and After that you might go with the 5x5
After 8 weeks of that, a week off and you might go for the Max-ot for 8 weeks.
In that time you should have gained upwards of 15-30 pounds.
You will also hear about many more routines.
Post the exact workout you are doing now, so I can see why it is taking 2 hours...