Planet fitness

I want to join planet fitness. Any thoughts, or anything you want me to know about. Please tell. Thanks.
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Replies

  • kksmom1789
    kksmom1789 Posts: 281 Member
    I loved planet fitness and lost weight not as much as I could of because I didn't have the knowledge then about calorie counting
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    What are your goals? If you are a competitive lifter, Planet Fitness is not for you, but you'd already know that and wouldn't be asking.

    There's a new PF near me and I'll probably join it when the new equipment smell dissipates.

    Some people hate PF's "normal gyms are scary but we are safe" business philosophy so avoid it for that reason.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    What are your goals? If you are a competitive lifter, Planet Fitness is not for you, but you'd already know that and wouldn't be asking.

    There's a new PF near me and I'll probably join it when the new equipment smell dissipates.

    Some people hate PF's "normal gyms are scary but we are safe" business philosophy so avoid it for that reason.

    I don't think you have to be a competitive lifter...I'm not a competitive lifter in the least...but I was brought up working in the gym with traditional compound movements at the foundation of a good lifting program, most of which aren't allowed, even though they are basically the foundation of any solid program.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    Lol, the new PF near me has two pictures of weights, two of cardio, and the rest are of things like the water fountain and locker rooms. Despite that being incredibly lame, I am confident they have more than enough equipment for me.
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    Take the tour. decide if your local PF is a good fit for you.

    They're a franchise system so YMMV.
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    I've heard that they have kicked people out for openly disagreeing with their political views.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    edited February 2017
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    What are your goals? If you are a competitive lifter, Planet Fitness is not for you, but you'd already know that and wouldn't be asking.

    There's a new PF near me and I'll probably join it when the new equipment smell dissipates.

    Some people hate PF's "normal gyms are scary but we are safe" business philosophy so avoid it for that reason.

    I don't think you have to be a competitive lifter...I'm not a competitive lifter in the least...but I was brought up working in the gym with traditional compound movements at the foundation of a good lifting program, most of which aren't allowed, even though they are basically the foundation of any solid program.

    I'm used to having to do a lot of modifications due to my knees and lower back, so if I belonged to a facility that didn't allow deadlifts I'd find some other way to accomplish similar benefits. Like they say in yoga, "There are 80 postures and 1,000 variations."

    But I can understand if you've been doing deadlifts for decades not wanting to join a gym that doesn't allow them.

    And I agree that prohibiting lifts like deadlifts and the other anti-serious lifter policies they have are lame. However, for $10/month and my fitness goals and abilities I would personally put up with it.
  • Colorscheme
    Colorscheme Posts: 1,179 Member
    I like the one by me. Has lots of cardio machines and equipment, I see buff dudes there lifting all the time. Never heard the lunk alarm go off and the one by me doesn't do pizza and bagels once a month.
  • newheavensearth
    newheavensearth Posts: 870 Member
    I go to PF. They are a basic no frills gym. Cardio machines that vary by location. Weight machines, decent assortment of free weights and fixed barbells. Depending on amount and availability of equipment there could be potential for overcrowding (happens in weight section of mine alot). IMHO, if your goal is bodybuilding, exercise classes, or powerlifting it is not the gym for you. My primary work out is at home, so it gets the job done.
  • englishmuffinruns
    englishmuffinruns Posts: 70 Member
    I will echo the "starter" comment. I was a member for a couple of years before I got into running. What finally lured me away was the opportunity to take classes (spin, zumba/hip hop) with several of my running friends at their gym. It was a great place to get into the routine of working out regularly but my goals changed and they couldn't keep up with them.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    What are your goals? If you are a competitive lifter, Planet Fitness is not for you, but you'd already know that and wouldn't be asking.

    There's a new PF near me and I'll probably join it when the new equipment smell dissipates.

    Some people hate PF's "normal gyms are scary but we are safe" business philosophy so avoid it for that reason.

    I don't think you have to be a competitive lifter...I'm not a competitive lifter in the least...but I was brought up working in the gym with traditional compound movements at the foundation of a good lifting program, most of which aren't allowed, even though they are basically the foundation of any solid program.

    I'm used to having to do a lot of modifications due to my knees and lower back, so if I belonged to a facility that didn't allow deadlifts I'd find some other way to accomplish similar benefits. Like they say in yoga, "There are 80 postures and 1,000 variations."

    But I can understand if you've been doing deadlifts for decades not wanting to join a gym that doesn't allow them.

    And I agree that prohibiting lifts like deadlifts and the other anti-serious lifter policies they have are lame. However, for $10/month and my fitness goals and abilities I would personally put up with it.

    there is really no substitute for a deadlift...romanians maybe, but that is going to work hamstrings and glutes..so no..
  • Chadxx
    Chadxx Posts: 1,199 Member
    I go to one because of price and location. It is clean, always open, and no issues with the staff. They have never said a word to any of us for deadlifting. My only real complaints would be the Smith machines instead of free weights and that the dumbells only go up to 60 pounds.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    Chadxx wrote: »
    I go to one because of price and location. It is clean, always open, and no issues with the staff. They have never said a word to any of us for deadlifting. My only real complaints would be the Smith machines instead of free weights and that the dumbells only go up to 60 pounds.

    if you are deadlifting in the smith you may not be getting the true benefit of deadlifting with a bar on the floor...
  • kaizaku
    kaizaku Posts: 1,039 Member
    uyai11 wrote: »
    I want to join planet fitness. Any thoughts, or anything you want me to know about. Please tell. Thanks.

    I heard they have a free pizza day. ☺
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    What are your goals? If you are a competitive lifter, Planet Fitness is not for you, but you'd already know that and wouldn't be asking.

    There's a new PF near me and I'll probably join it when the new equipment smell dissipates.

    Some people hate PF's "normal gyms are scary but we are safe" business philosophy so avoid it for that reason.

    I don't think you have to be a competitive lifter...I'm not a competitive lifter in the least...but I was brought up working in the gym with traditional compound movements at the foundation of a good lifting program, most of which aren't allowed, even though they are basically the foundation of any solid program.

    I'm used to having to do a lot of modifications due to my knees and lower back, so if I belonged to a facility that didn't allow deadlifts I'd find some other way to accomplish similar benefits. Like they say in yoga, "There are 80 postures and 1,000 variations."

    But I can understand if you've been doing deadlifts for decades not wanting to join a gym that doesn't allow them.

    And I agree that prohibiting lifts like deadlifts and the other anti-serious lifter policies they have are lame. However, for $10/month and my fitness goals and abilities I would personally put up with it.

    there is really no substitute for a deadlift...romanians maybe, but that is going to work hamstrings and glutes..so no..

    I've seen more than a couple people doing heavyish(2-3 plate) deadlifts on the smiths.

    So, while that may be policy, it's not evenly enforced.

    And I know smith deadlifts and squats aren't exactly deadlifts and squats, but that's a different discussion.
  • newheavensearth
    newheavensearth Posts: 870 Member
    kaizaku wrote: »
    uyai11 wrote: »
    I want to join planet fitness. Any thoughts, or anything you want me to know about. Please tell. Thanks.

    I heard they have a free pizza day. ☺

    They also have free bagel day.
  • RamTodd
    RamTodd Posts: 12 Member
    Inexpensive - but stupid alarms go off when people work too hard!
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    edited February 2017
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    What are your goals? If you are a competitive lifter, Planet Fitness is not for you, but you'd already know that and wouldn't be asking.

    There's a new PF near me and I'll probably join it when the new equipment smell dissipates.

    Some people hate PF's "normal gyms are scary but we are safe" business philosophy so avoid it for that reason.

    I don't think you have to be a competitive lifter...I'm not a competitive lifter in the least...but I was brought up working in the gym with traditional compound movements at the foundation of a good lifting program, most of which aren't allowed, even though they are basically the foundation of any solid program.

    I'm used to having to do a lot of modifications due to my knees and lower back, so if I belonged to a facility that didn't allow deadlifts I'd find some other way to accomplish similar benefits. Like they say in yoga, "There are 80 postures and 1,000 variations."

    But I can understand if you've been doing deadlifts for decades not wanting to join a gym that doesn't allow them.

    And I agree that prohibiting lifts like deadlifts and the other anti-serious lifter policies they have are lame. However, for $10/month and my fitness goals and abilities I would personally put up with it.

    The program I run has me working heavy days with traditional compounds as well as moderate rep/weight days and some high rep/light weight days. I do variations on those moderate and light days for sure as I have difficulty with recovery from an all "heavy" program...the problem with variations is that you start to get into more isolation (even though some still provide for a good enough full body program) that isn't going to have the full benefit of doing the actual full version of that movement.

    I grew up involved in athletics of many sorts...I never lifted to be a lifter, lifting was just a part of virtually every sport I played and made me a better athlete and all kinds of movements are necessary for that from traditional compounds to variations of those movements. I got into Olympic lifting (cleans and jerks and snatches) in high school when I was doing track and field...I was a sprinter and jumper and those lifts just made me that much more explosive.

    I only mention it because I think that is one of the falacies of PF marketing...that if you're into that kind of stuff, you're just a big lunk looking for attention when in reality, I'm just an athlete (I use the term loosely these days) trying to improve in my sport of choice (cycling).

    It also kind of annoys me that PF portrays other gyms as these scary places where "you just won't fit in"...the first gym I went to when I got back into things was the local Jewish Community Center...it was wonderful and I had access to everything I needed to do in the weight room, including an Oly platform...there were all sorts in that gym, from the very fit to the very unfit to the just trying to get better (me)...My 2nd gym was a local shop...not small, not huge...very good mix of people. My current gym is a small studio and most people who are working there are being trained...it's not open to the public to come and go as they please...I have an "executive" membership because my trainer and his wife own the place and I trained with him for a long time and we're friends and he knows I'm not going to be doing stupid stuff and be getting in the way of other clients.

    There are lots of really great gyms out there...not all of them are meat markets as PF would have people think.
  • CTcutie
    CTcutie Posts: 649 Member
    I liked it a lot!! Good place for newbies to start. They have "training" sessions to get you aquainted with the basics and can help you decide what/how you want to accomplish. The one closest to me is often SOOO busy after work (5-6:30 pm) I had to wait for a treadmill (sometimes bikes, too); but I also really like 2 floors of equipment and the circuit training areas :-) I stopped going bc I refuse to wait for cardio equipment, lol!
  • DoItNowDarling
    DoItNowDarling Posts: 2 Member
    I like pf because of the hours (no excuses, I got time). I am a basic user. I use the cardio and weight machines and some free weight exercises. Although, some times are more crowed than others, I generally can get in and on any equipment without waiting. They don't have classes and the "trainers" are questionable imho, they can show you how to operate machines and suggest a routine if you need help I guess. . . but for $10 bucks a month and unlimited access, it does the job.
  • kaizaku
    kaizaku Posts: 1,039 Member
    kaizaku wrote: »
    uyai11 wrote: »
    I want to join planet fitness. Any thoughts, or anything you want me to know about. Please tell. Thanks.

    I heard they have a free pizza day. ☺

    They also have free bagel day.

    Really? Wow, what a place to be.
  • Chadxx
    Chadxx Posts: 1,199 Member
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    Chadxx wrote: »
    I go to one because of price and location. It is clean, always open, and no issues with the staff. They have never said a word to any of us for deadlifting. My only real complaints would be the Smith machines instead of free weights and that the dumbells only go up to 60 pounds.

    if you are deadlifting in the smith you may not be getting the true benefit of deadlifting with a bar on the floor...

    It is essentially on the floor when it starts and does start from a dead stop but I despise Smith machines anyway. I would much rather have true free weights and even consider them safer but all the other gyms nearby are more expensive and lock you into a long term contract and as someone working away from home and could easily find myself in a different area, I am not willing to agree to pay as much as a $1200 contract that I may not use when this costs me $14 a month with no contract.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    Chadxx wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    Chadxx wrote: »
    I go to one because of price and location. It is clean, always open, and no issues with the staff. They have never said a word to any of us for deadlifting. My only real complaints would be the Smith machines instead of free weights and that the dumbells only go up to 60 pounds.

    if you are deadlifting in the smith you may not be getting the true benefit of deadlifting with a bar on the floor...

    It is essentially on the floor when it starts and does start from a dead stop but I despise Smith machines anyway. I would much rather have true free weights and even consider them safer but all the other gyms nearby are more expensive and lock you into a long term contract and as someone working away from home and could easily find myself in a different area, I am not willing to agree to pay as much as a $1200 contract that I may not use when this costs me $14 a month with no contract.

    Right, a deadlift variation is far superior to no deadlifts at all due to not joining a gym because other facilities are too expensive or otherwise have unacceptable contracts.
  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    I went for a tour there near by our house. I literally laughed at the rule sheet that the lady gave me because I thought she was kidding. They were just so random and definitely trying stereotype against "intimidating buff dudes". Then she started bragging about their free pizza days, free bagel days, free ice cream social days.......

    I laughed all the way to the parking lot.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    Chadxx wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    Chadxx wrote: »
    I go to one because of price and location. It is clean, always open, and no issues with the staff. They have never said a word to any of us for deadlifting. My only real complaints would be the Smith machines instead of free weights and that the dumbells only go up to 60 pounds.

    if you are deadlifting in the smith you may not be getting the true benefit of deadlifting with a bar on the floor...

    It is essentially on the floor when it starts and does start from a dead stop but I despise Smith machines anyway. I would much rather have true free weights and even consider them safer but all the other gyms nearby are more expensive and lock you into a long term contract and as someone working away from home and could easily find myself in a different area, I am not willing to agree to pay as much as a $1200 contract that I may not use when this costs me $14 a month with no contract.

    my understanding is that it is more of a rack pull than a deadlift....

    I hear you on price. For me it is worth the 70.00 a month for the family membership and I can do what I want and be as loud as I want...
  • Colorscheme
    Colorscheme Posts: 1,179 Member
    kaizaku wrote: »
    uyai11 wrote: »
    I want to join planet fitness. Any thoughts, or anything you want me to know about. Please tell. Thanks.

    I heard they have a free pizza day. ☺

    They also have free bagel day.

    Once a month they have free pizza one day, free bagels another day. But my PF does not participate in it, probably because pizza and bagels here are expensive.