Planet Fitness
Varamyr38
Posts: 258 Member
My wife and I are trying out Planet Fitness tonight. Seems very affordable and I like the concept of no gymtimidation. I've lost around 50 pounds so far without going to the gym. Hopefully this will help even more because I can't stay on target every single day. We all have bad days. PF being 24 hours helps a lot too. Me and my wife are night people. What are your thoughts about this place if you've attended before? If you want to add me, go right ahead as well. Have a great night!
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Sounds like it is perfect for you and your wife. My biggest issue with them is they do not take credit cards. There is no way they are getting my bank info. When they get hacked I do not want to deal with checks bouncing and other nonsense that using a credit card eliminates.2
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I love PF. I was there when I lost my first 75 pounds. I even worked there for 3 years, got my PT certification when I was working there, and was promoted to fitness instructor.
PF gets a lot of hate on here. Before anybody starts bashing:
Yes, you're allowed to deadlift.
No, there's probably not a squat rack.
Yes, they have free weights, but they only go up to (about) 75 pounds.
Yes, they offer free pizza, once a month!
Yes, free bagels too, also once per month.
Training's also free.
Yeah, there's more cardio machines than weights.
No, no daycare or classes.
But if it fits your needs, especially if you're a beginner, it can be a wonderful place to work out! They don't "cater to bodybuilders." That's true. Neither does McDonald's, but people seem to hate PF for that. They're a business, and their marketing is what it is.16 -
I belong there and its ok. They have such a tiny weight area that often gets too crowded for me. They don't have any row machines for cardio which is my favorite, but oh well. I mean for the price its worth it but you don't get everything.2
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I pay the same price that PF costs for a gym that doesn't judge and has free weights past 75lbs. I prefer my gym.5
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Chef_Barbell wrote: »I pay the same price that PF costs for a gym that doesn't judge and has free weights past 75lbs. I prefer my gym.
Yeah, we have a Gold's Gym Express that has the same pricing a PF.
They have the cardio stuff (including rowers), weight machines, plus 2 real lifting platforms 4 squat racks, dumbbells to 150 pounds. In addition there is a large back room for "functional fitness/crossfit" type stuff. This has a prowler (and a long track to push it or do loaded carries), actual stairs you can run or walk, battling ropes, sand bags, kettlebells to 90 pounds, medicine ball, etc and a tractor tire out the back door to flip.
Look around and see if you have something like this.5 -
I love PF. I was there when I lost my first 75 pounds. I even worked there for 3 years, got my PT certification when I was working there, and was promoted to fitness instructor.
PF gets a lot of hate on here. Before anybody starts bashing:
Yes, you're allowed to deadlift.
No, there's probably not a squat rack.
Yes, they have free weights, but they only go up to (about) 75 pounds.
Yes, they offer free pizza, once a month!
Yes, free bagels too, also once per month.
Training's also free.
Yeah, there's more cardio machines than weights.
No, no daycare or classes.
But if it fits your needs, especially if you're a beginner, it can be a wonderful place to work out! They don't "cater to bodybuilders." That's true. Neither does McDonald's, but people seem to hate PF for that. They're a business, and their marketing is what it is.
Glad to see somebody on here that's even worked for them before. There is so much hate on the internet about them, it's insane. That could probably be said about anything though. It's the internet. We're there just to lose the weight through the machines. Might do some of the lifting machines later but that just isn't a priority right now. The giving out free food thing is just weird. Went in tonight and there was a bowl of tootsie rolls at the check-in desk. It's just like real life and we have to avoid temptation out in the real world too so why not test your limits in the gym as well? The guy didnt even give us a tutor. Seemed like he was going half you know what. Just pointed at where stuff was and said if we have any questions, to come ask him. Treadmills arent rocket science so had no questions. Good to get in there and do some work tonight. Now back at it tomorrow and got my Spotify ready to go this time. Let's get it done! Allons-Y!2 -
I've been a Planet Fitness member for the past two years. I've lost a ton of weight and toned a ton of muscle by working there. You're going to get a lot of hate because 1) They don't have personal trainers 2) They do have "snack days" 3) You're not allowed to throw weights around and yell like a Primate/Neanderthal then you drop your weights.
However it I give a giant Internet High Five to people who use Planet Fitness as their gym and has successfully lost weight there. You don't have some Bro-Tank wearing guy screaming at you to do one more set. It's up to you to push yourself. It's up to you to up the ante.
As far as snack day it's temptation, sure. But it again shows how strong you are to walk right by them. The 2 Planet Fitness locations that are near me, one of them has a BK & KFC right next door and the other has a Jimmy Johns and Panda Express by them. And I drive by them 95% of the time on my way out the door. It's up to you to avoid the temptation.
As far as screaming, yelling, and grunting. I've never had the Lunk Alarm go off on my closest location. It's understandable that if you're pushing yourself you're going to grunt and groan. And if the desk hand makes the alarm go off for that then they really do not understand how lifting works. As far as throwing weights around once again if you're lifting slightly above your threshold it's going to be undestood that you're going to drop/aggressively put down the weights after a few sets.
but by any means don't let anyone discourage you from working out and bettering yourself.3 -
I was a PF member for a couple of years. My goals at that time were different than they are now, and back then my only goal was weight loss. PF did just fine for cardio equipment and minimum weight equipment. Just avoid the free pizza, tootsie rolls and donuts that they provide.
Each PF seems to be run slightly different. Some heavily discriminate to weight lifters, while others don't seem to mind body builders at all. Serious weight lifters will usually not use a PF though due to the severe lack of equipment. PF has a very poor public relation with the weight lifting community, and discriminate heavily against them, even to the point of using a "lunk alarm" to target people out. They don't want to cater to that type of fitness community.
PF is fine depending on your goals. I have no interest to support such an idiotic, discriminatory business model though, which is fine since now I know better and my goals have also changed.1 -
More precisely, you MIGHT be able to get away with it. Officially, it is disallowed; however, some PF locations turn a blind eye to it.I love PF. I was there when I lost my first 75 pounds. I even worked there for 3 years, got my PT certification when I was working there, and was promoted to fitness instructor.
PF gets a lot of hate on here. Before anybody starts bashing:
Yes, you're allowed to deadlift.
To be more precise, we can be thankful that this only happens once a month. It's still a foolish policy when many of the clients are struggling with poor eating habits, but at least it doesn't happen more oten.Yes, they offer free pizza, once a month!
Yes, free bagels too, also once per month.
Again, for the sake of accuracy, their "training" isn't up to the par of what you can expect at a more thorough gym. In fact, their president has gone on records as ridiculing the whole notion of having a personal trainer. So their "trainers" may show you a few things, but not with a great deal of expertise, and they won't tend to push you as hard as other trainers would.Training's also free.
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But if it fits your needs, especially if you're a beginner, it can be a wonderful place to work out! They don't "cater to bodybuilders." That's true. Neither does McDonald's, but people seem to hate PF for that. They're a business, and their marketing is what it is.
That's missing the point. They go way beyond just not catering to bodybuilders. Rather, their entire marketing campaign is centered around the notion that bodybuilders and other accomplished athletes are "lunks" -- horrible people who deserve to be shunned. As one of their own executives said, they declare that bodybuilders are "jerks" and "animals" who deserved be "locked in a cage" so that others can work out without these people being in sight. (http://milkandcookies.com/link/267592)
Curves doesn't cater to bodybuilders either, but they don't get the vitriol that PF receives. Why? Because they don't resort to such hateful and dishonest tactics.
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If it helps a group of people who would not otherwise be helped, it's good.6
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what exactly is "gymintimidation" ????0
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its great for newbies, but if you ever want to progress to squatting, deadlifting, etc, then you are going to have to switch gyms....1
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I've been a Planet Fitness member for the past two years. I've lost a ton of weight and toned a ton of muscle by working there. You're going to get a lot of hate because 1) They don't have personal trainers 2) They do have "snack days" 3) You're not allowed to throw weights around and yell like a Primate/Neanderthal then you drop your weights.
However it I give a giant Internet High Five to people who use Planet Fitness as their gym and has successfully lost weight there. You don't have some Bro-Tank wearing guy screaming at you to do one more set. It's up to you to push yourself. It's up to you to up the ante.
As far as snack day it's temptation, sure. But it again shows how strong you are to walk right by them. The 2 Planet Fitness locations that are near me, one of them has a BK & KFC right next door and the other has a Jimmy Johns and Panda Express by them. And I drive by them 95% of the time on my way out the door. It's up to you to avoid the temptation.
As far as screaming, yelling, and grunting. I've never had the Lunk Alarm go off on my closest location. It's understandable that if you're pushing yourself you're going to grunt and groan. And if the desk hand makes the alarm go off for that then they really do not understand how lifting works. As far as throwing weights around once again if you're lifting slightly above your threshold it's going to be undestood that you're going to drop/aggressively put down the weights after a few sets.
but by any means don't let anyone discourage you from working out and bettering yourself.
never seen the bolded part at any gym I have been too ...sounds like you have been drinking the planet no gains kool aid...8 -
never seen the bolded part at any gym I have been too ...sounds like you have been drinking the planet no gains kool aid...
You're not listening to much then. And if you're thinking i'm 100% dead serious I'd like to introduce you to sarcasm.
Picture on the top left is June of 2014, picture on the bottom right is June of 2015. And I could really care less about "bulking up" I have no interest in bulking. Fitness comes in many different shapes, fashions and forms.
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Well you can't beat the price and hours of operation! I also think it's a great place for beginners in particular. You don't feel like you're in a competition and people are not walking around kissing their muscles. lol3
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It depends on what you need/want out of a gym...Don't expect to get into any kind of major strength training there...most traditional lifts are banned and the one I belonged to years ago had very limited free weights. It's fine I suppose if you want access to a lot of cardio equipment and you don't mind machines for resistance training...I personally prefer free weights and I like to be able to do squats and dead lifts and cleans and jerks and whatnot so I'm not allowed in that place...I'm just an intimidating lunk I guess...whatever that is besides clever marketing.1
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I've been a Planet Fitness member for the past two years. I've lost a ton of weight and toned a ton of muscle by working there. You're going to get a lot of hate because 1) They don't have personal trainers 2) They do have "snack days" 3) You're not allowed to throw weights around and yell like a Primate/Neanderthal then you drop your weights.
You're not allowed to do traditional weight training at all...like movements that are generally the back bone and foundation of any well programmed lifting routine. And some lifts require dropping weight...a clean for example or a snatch...you drop the weight on those lifts when they're heavy or you'll rip your shoulders out.
This is my problem with PF...doing something very traditional and functional from a training standpoint is seen as neanderthal behavior...but yeah...PF don't judge...not one bit.
Effing joke!11 -
I liked it. I liked it more than my new gym which has a lot of people who aren't doing exercises right whilst growling and slamming weights down.1
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never seen the bolded part at any gym I have been too ...sounds like you have been drinking the planet no gains kool aid...
You're not listening to much then. And if you're thinking i'm 100% dead serious I'd like to introduce you to sarcasm.
Picture on the top left is June of 2014, picture on the bottom right is June of 2015. And I could really care less about "bulking up" I have no interest in bulking. Fitness comes in many different shapes, fashions and forms.
Hmmm I don't understand sarcasm, but when I use it you don't understand it...? Interesting..
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Yeah, I don't understand what gyms these people are going to with people yelling at each other and growling and walking around kissing their muscles...I've been in and out of gyms most of my life and have rarely if ever witnessed that kind of behavior. I mean, yeah...when something is heavy I'm probably going to grunt a little lifting it...that is just working...but the kind of nonsense that people talk about I've just never really seen.
Personally, I think people are full of *kitten* and just remarking based on some pre-conceived notion they have...probably from being at PF and being indoctrinated.5 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »I've been a Planet Fitness member for the past two years. I've lost a ton of weight and toned a ton of muscle by working there. You're going to get a lot of hate because 1) They don't have personal trainers 2) They do have "snack days" 3) You're not allowed to throw weights around and yell like a Primate/Neanderthal then you drop your weights.
You're not allowed to do traditional weight training at all...like movements that are generally the back bone and foundation of any well programmed lifting routine. And some lifts require dropping weight...a clean for example or a snatch...you drop the weight on those lifts when they're heavy or you'll rip your shoulders out.
This is my problem with PF...doing something very traditional and functional from a training standpoint is seen as neanderthal behavior...but yeah...PF don't judge...not one bit.
Effing joke!
For me it works. Everyone is different. Three years ago I broke my left arms Radius Bone. Shattered in a few places and I went from not being able to open a sugar packet at the time I started PT, to butterflying 175 pound, and benching roughly 120 pounds. Now granted i know those numbers are that high for some. But it's helped me get to where I am today. I focus more on my running and cycling. But I understand that resistance training is required and warranted. And they allow me to do that during the colder months when I go indoors. Once again I was being sarcastic on the "Primate/Neanderthal" comment, That's why i saidAnd if the desk hand makes the alarm go off for that then they really do not understand how lifting works. As far as throwing weights around once again if you're lifting slightly above your threshold it's going to be undestood that you're going to drop/aggressively put down the weights after a few sets.0 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »I've been a Planet Fitness member for the past two years. I've lost a ton of weight and toned a ton of muscle by working there. You're going to get a lot of hate because 1) They don't have personal trainers 2) They do have "snack days" 3) You're not allowed to throw weights around and yell like a Primate/Neanderthal then you drop your weights.
You're not allowed to do traditional weight training at all...like movements that are generally the back bone and foundation of any well programmed lifting routine. And some lifts require dropping weight...a clean for example or a snatch...you drop the weight on those lifts when they're heavy or you'll rip your shoulders out.
This is my problem with PF...doing something very traditional and functional from a training standpoint is seen as neanderthal behavior...but yeah...PF don't judge...not one bit.
Effing joke!
For me it works. Everyone is different. Three years ago I broke my left arms Radius Bone. Shattered in a few places and I went from not being able to open a sugar packet at the time I started PT, to butterflying 175 pound, and benching roughly 120 pounds. Now granted i know those numbers are that high for some. But it's helped me get to where I am today. I focus more on my running and cycling. But I understand that resistance training is required and warranted. And they allow me to do that during the colder months when I go indoors. Once again I was being sarcastic on the "Primate/Neanderthal" comment, That's why i saidAnd if the desk hand makes the alarm go off for that then they really do not understand how lifting works. As far as throwing weights around once again if you're lifting slightly above your threshold it's going to be undestood that you're going to drop/aggressively put down the weights after a few sets.
I would agree which is why I said in my original post that it depends on what you want out of a gym...and maybe you were being sarcastic, but that's also basically the company line...
I'm a cyclist and I go to a gym that caters primarily to cyclists of various disciplines. The owner and my coach and very good friend is one of the team USA BMX coaches and he's also a USAC road coach...everything he has us do in the gym is centered around Olympic lifts and other traditional compound movements...so we're just a bunch of BMX and road and dirt bike riding "lunks" up in there...that's what is so irritating...the notion that if one is lifting in this manner, one is a "lunk"...no...we're just really into our training and want to be the best athletes (in my case I use the term loosely) we can be. Lifting like a boss isn't always about body building..as a cyclist I'm about 180* from a body builder...lifting like a boss is about functional training and being all you can possibly be.4 -
I've got issues with Planet Fitness as a company, but as a gym, if it fits your needs, go for it.2
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I too am a PF person. I understand why people who like to lift & who are what I'm going to call more serious athletes don't like the place. It is not a gym that caters to their needs.
Personally I think the color scheme inside is atrocious & the idea that you get free pizza at a gym is insane.
I like it because at least when I go the other people there are just like me: middle aged, slightly (or more) pudgy people who are trying. You get some 20 somethings at other times because it's cheap. There are some cut guys & girls there but they are the minority & they don't seem to mind working out near us less serious attendees.
For me it's helpful to look around and see "like" people. When I have walked into a gym where everybody looks like they want to be on next month's cover of Muscle & Fitness, Shape or Men's Health magazine I know it's not the gym for me.
Since I re-joined PF, I met with their in-house trainer twice. The 1st time he helped me design a program to deal with my issues & limitations. Today I attended his 30 minutes Abs class. He was so patient and encouraging. He's a fit 23 year old but he wasn't looking down on the 3 women old enough to be his mom. those tow women were great sources of encouragement for me. In fact today was the first say in my LIFE that I ever received praise in a gym. All of my childhood memories of gyms involve humiliation and abuse. So to me, if a gym can make me feel like I fit in without requiring me to commit to becoming an athlete it's a good place.
While bashing weight lifters may irk some people, if you are PF's target market -- usually a relative newbie who is more about movement & doing something as you lurch off the couch maybe for the 1st time, like me -- it's a good place because you feel accepted.7 -
That lack of courtesy, respect and basic manners has seeped so far into the psyche that they appear to not have noticed that identifying a group of people as inferior because of their chosen pass time and their physicality is totally reprehensible
It's discrimatory and promotes fear and hatred, and it's embedded in policy and infrastructure
Disappointing it's allowed to stand as a marketing tactic ...
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Even if it means telling people that bodybuilders and other athletes are horrible people? Even if it means telling the public (incorrectly) that deadlifts and other highly functional moves are only to be performed by such detestable human beings?If it helps a group of people who would not otherwise be helped, it's good.
Somehow, I doubt that PF would get a pass if they were to discriminate against the overweight in that manner. Middle America would be in an uproar. PF demeans highly accomplished athletes instead though, and so the people around here applaud their tactics. Something is wrong with that.
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What if the tables were turned, though? what if they were to bash the overweight instead? Or the elderly? Or women? If that were to make other people feel accepted, would this still be a good thing?While bashing weight lifters may irk some people, if you are PF's target market -- usually a relative newbie who is more about movement & doing something as you lurch off the couch maybe for the 1st time, like me -- it's a good place because you feel accepted.
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