Surprised at how unpopular express workout is at the gym
CarvedTones
Posts: 2,340 Member
I joined PF just a few days back and have been taking trainer led sessions. I really like the 30 minute express with the whole routine numbered and a red/green light moving you around from station to station. It makes a lot of sense to me because I don't have to remember what 10 machines in what order and the next one will always be available as I need it. I get why body builders and serious fitness enthusiasts trying to isolate and work hard on specific muscles or areas wouldn't care for it. I am doing a trainer led abs session on Friday; I don't plan to do nothing but the express circuit. But it is hardly used at all. I was the only one in my session and no one else used it during the entire 30 minutes ( which extrapolates to ~55 minutes as no one was anywhere on the circuit when I started).. There were a fair number of people at the gym (mid afternoon). I have been going early AM and I rarely see more than a couple people over there.
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I always liked the station set up as well. I like circuit workouts, it’s what I base my at home workouts on now.2
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I couldn't imagine a 30 minute trainer led abs session. Doesn't seem very productive.4
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How many times does planet fitness have to explain that they're not a gym, for people to figure out they're not a gym? Gyms are for people to work hard to get in shape. And that's why people don't like gyms.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdNz38i4qnU 21 -
I tried it and didn't like it. I thought 1 minute for a lot of the weights was to long unless the weight was really light0
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That is great that the circuit is empty, usually there is someone who doesn't understand what it is for, uses one machine and throws everyone else off.1
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It's always empty at my gym, too, even though I know people who say they love it. Occasionally I go in there for a couple of the machines but I've never done the whole circuit.0
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There is a circuit at my rec center and it seems pretty popular. I see a variety of people use it--from college age through seniors.0
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Packerjohn wrote: »I couldn't imagine a 30 minute trainer led abs session. Doesn't seem very productive.
They mostly teach and don't push people hard unless they ask to be pushed. I don't know which machines in what order will help me the most with abs.0 -
IHaveMyActTogether wrote: »How many times does planet fitness have to explain that they're not a gym, for people to figure out they're not a gym? Gyms are for people to work hard to get in shape. And that's why people don't like gyms.
There are people working hard to get in shape there. How hard you work at it is a personal decision; where you do the work has little to do with that as long as they have equipment that can get you to your goals. I guess if you are really seriously into it, peer pressure and hard core trainers could be a good thing. One thing that appeals to me about the circuit is that it will give me a push. I end up doing a lot less during a workout if I wander around thinking about what to do next.15 -
If you're enjoying it and feel the benefit then more power to your elbow CT. Do what works for you.
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If you like it, then do it. I can't say why people at your gym don't like it. When I went to the gym I saw lots of people using the weight machines, although we didn't have a "circuit" thing set up. Although I personally wouldn't use any machines for abs. I just do planks, hollow hold, that type of stuff. No weights.0
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As a powerlifter, it takes me 30 minutes to get through my warm-up, but if you like it and it works for you than don't worry about what other people think. I know too many people that use the "I don't have time to workout" as an excuse. You do you.2
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Main reason for throwing this out there was to see if I got responses from people who tried it and stopped because it didn't seem as effective as using the time differently. The time part of it definitely makes it attractive. I am going early AM very near my office, showering and going to work. I would have showered anyway, so a one hour workout only costs me one hour at a time when conflicts are very rare. I am taking steps not to get caught up in the "no time" excuse. I am not a powerlifter. i am a guy who lost a bunch of weight last year and the beginning of this year, took up SUP paddling and got in good shape and I don't want to lose that over the winter. I think it will fit my goal.9
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This reminds me of the Curves gym workout I tried for 1 month years ago. I learned that the circuit/bootcamp style workouts wasn't for me.
I prefer doing separate cardio and strength training sessions and I like working out on my own and going at my own pace. I can see the appeal of those kind of workout though.
If it works for you that is great! Plus it seems like it fits into your schedule well. Good luck with it!2 -
IHaveMyActTogether wrote: »How many times does planet fitness have to explain that they're not a gym, for people to figure out they're not a gym? Gyms are for people to work hard to get in shape. And that's why people don't like gyms.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdNz38i4qnU
$10 seems like a reasonable amount of money for the fun experience of achieving a lifetime ban from Planet Fitness; sign me up !0 -
To the OP
Please don't worry about what anyone else thinks.
Enjoy your training and best of luck!3 -
I used to go to a different gym that had a similar circuit class. It was lead by a trainer and take would play music, tell us when to rotate. A lot of us did the circuit class before another really popular group class in the enclosed classroom.0
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DancingMoosie wrote: »I used to go to a different gym that had a similar circuit class. It was lead by a trainer and take would play music, tell us when to rotate. A lot of us did the circuit class before another really popular group class in the enclosed classroom.
At PF, it isn't in a separate room, but a separate area with a half wall except where you walk in/out and clearly marked as the 30 Minute Express area with instructions about changing stations in order. The main area has multiple higher end machines that match every machine on the circuit. This morning there were a couple of people using it differently but knew it and told me they would be out of my way before I reached the stations they were at. Other than them, no one else used it for the entire half hour I was in there and there were a fair number of people there. I feel like I got a pretty good workout but I can make it better/harder as I keep doing it. One thing I have to pay attention to is not getting lazy on the step platforms between each machine. I need to up the weight on a few machines.1 -
CarvedTones wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »I couldn't imagine a 30 minute trainer led abs session. Doesn't seem very productive.
They mostly teach and don't push people hard unless they ask to be pushed. I don't know which machines in what order will help me the most with abs.
Congrats for starting an exercise program. To be honest, diet helps the most with abs. If you want to use the machines for a while, that's fine. If you thing about it though when you sit on some machine that is supposed to work the core, you are actually supporting the core with the bench of the machine. You will most likely be better served regarding core strength if you wean yourself away from core exercise that use machines. If it's too hard as shown you could use a bench or stool to support yourself as needed until you build strength to do without the bench.
This is a fun exercise that is a great total body warm up and develops practical core strength:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0_DoicHg2E 2 -
Packerjohn wrote: »CarvedTones wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »I couldn't imagine a 30 minute trainer led abs session. Doesn't seem very productive.
They mostly teach and don't push people hard unless they ask to be pushed. I don't know which machines in what order will help me the most with abs.
Congrats for starting an exercise program. To be honest, diet helps the most with abs. If you want to use the machines for a while, that's fine. If you thing about it though when you sit on some machine that is supposed to work the core, you are actually supporting the core with the bench of the machine. You will most likely be better served regarding core strength if you wean yourself away from core exercise that use machines. If it's too hard as shown you could use a bench or stool to support yourself as needed until you build strength to do without the bench.
Interestingly enough, it turns out that I was wrong about the abs class. It was floor exercises. I did a little sigh and eye roll but went ahead and did it. I was the only male in the group. About 10 minutes in, the ladies are talking among themselves and having very little trouble with the exercises. My eyes are crossed, I am breathing irregularly and in so much pain that death begins to sound like a reasonable alternative. I do have lower back trouble and that was part of the problem but my back is fine now and the muscles in my gut still feel sore.
I have done pretty well with the diet part.
The picture is deceiving. Look close (can't look too close; it was clipped out of a group shot so not much detail) and what looks like muscle is mostly loose skin masquerading as a six pack. I got in shape from paddling, which does work the core but not intensely enough in the abs to give me much strength there.
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CarvedTones wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »CarvedTones wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »I couldn't imagine a 30 minute trainer led abs session. Doesn't seem very productive.
They mostly teach and don't push people hard unless they ask to be pushed. I don't know which machines in what order will help me the most with abs.
Congrats for starting an exercise program. To be honest, diet helps the most with abs. If you want to use the machines for a while, that's fine. If you thing about it though when you sit on some machine that is supposed to work the core, you are actually supporting the core with the bench of the machine. You will most likely be better served regarding core strength if you wean yourself away from core exercise that use machines. If it's too hard as shown you could use a bench or stool to support yourself as needed until you build strength to do without the bench.
Interestingly enough, it turns out that I was wrong about the abs class. It was floor exercises. I did a little sigh and eye roll but went ahead and did it. I was the only male in the group. About 10 minutes in, the ladies are talking among themselves and having very little trouble with the exercises. My eyes are crossed, I am breathing irregularly and in so much pain that death begins to sound like a reasonable alternative. I do have lower back trouble and that was part of the problem but my back is fine now and the muscles in my gut still feel sore.
I have done pretty well with the diet part.
The picture is deceiving. Look close (can't look too close; it was clipped out of a group shot so not much detail) and what looks like muscle is mostly loose skin masquerading as a six pack. I got in shape from paddling, which does work the core but not intensely enough in the abs to give me much strength there.
Nice progress.
Some good ideas/progressions in this article:
https://www.t-nation.com/training/anterior-core-training0 -
CarvedTones wrote: »IHaveMyActTogether wrote: »How many times does planet fitness have to explain that they're not a gym, for people to figure out they're not a gym? Gyms are for people to work hard to get in shape. And that's why people don't like gyms.
There are people working hard to get in shape there. How hard you work at it is a personal decision; where you do the work has little to do with that as long as they have equipment that can get you to your goals. I guess if you are really seriously into it, peer pressure and hard core trainers could be a good thing. One thing that appeals to me about the circuit is that it will give me a push. I end up doing a lot less during a workout if I wander around thinking about what to do next.
I don't doubt that there are hard workers at PF.
You asked a question - why isn't the circuit more popular, and I told you. Planet Fitness markets themselves specifically as a place where you aren't going to need to put in a lot of effort. So you get a lot of clients that aren't going to want to do a circuit. Like one of the commercials that I posted, the woman specifically stated she just wanted to walk on a treadmill for 20 minutes and bounce on a ball.
And I'm really seriously into it, and it's the equipment at PF that's part of the issue. Most of my workouts include barbells. There are always people looking for barbells at my gym and they have plenty. PF has none. How many squat racks does PF have? None.
Plus the lunk alarm.
Why do people drop weights? Because they chose a weight too heavy to gently put back, and there is little left in the tank when they finish their set. That's how people get progressively strong, to really work at their upper limit. So no working at your upper limit at PF. Because if you are, there will be grunting and you might put down a weight too loudly, all of which are against the rules at PF. Those are things that are commonplace in gyms, and Planet Fitness has stated, innumerable times, that they are not a gym.
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CarvedTones wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »CarvedTones wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »I couldn't imagine a 30 minute trainer led abs session. Doesn't seem very productive.
They mostly teach and don't push people hard unless they ask to be pushed. I don't know which machines in what order will help me the most with abs.
Congrats for starting an exercise program. To be honest, diet helps the most with abs. If you want to use the machines for a while, that's fine. If you thing about it though when you sit on some machine that is supposed to work the core, you are actually supporting the core with the bench of the machine. You will most likely be better served regarding core strength if you wean yourself away from core exercise that use machines. If it's too hard as shown you could use a bench or stool to support yourself as needed until you build strength to do without the bench.
Interestingly enough, it turns out that I was wrong about the abs class. It was floor exercises. I did a little sigh and eye roll but went ahead and did it. I was the only male in the group. About 10 minutes in, the ladies are talking among themselves and having very little trouble with the exercises. My eyes are crossed, I am breathing irregularly and in so much pain that death begins to sound like a reasonable alternative. I do have lower back trouble and that was part of the problem but my back is fine now and the muscles in my gut still feel sore.
I have done pretty well with the diet part.
The picture is deceiving. Look close (can't look too close; it was clipped out of a group shot so not much detail) and what looks like muscle is mostly loose skin masquerading as a six pack. I got in shape from paddling, which does work the core but not intensely enough in the abs to give me much strength there.
But you have great lats. Give yourself some credit! Good job!2 -
Motorsheen wrote: »IHaveMyActTogether wrote: »How many times does planet fitness have to explain that they're not a gym, for people to figure out they're not a gym? Gyms are for people to work hard to get in shape. And that's why people don't like gyms.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdNz38i4qnU
$10 seems like a reasonable amount of money for the fun experience of achieving a lifetime ban from Planet Fitness; sign me up !
Yeah, I had ($)10 reasons for signing up too. Does it have the same equipment as the gym I left after they doubled the monthly fee? Maybe not as many free weights but they have up to 75lb dumbbells which is more than I could ever need and about the same selectorized equipment that I was using at the other place. Open 24 hours most of the week. Of course it can’t meet the needs of hardcore lifters but it more than meets mine and for a fraction of what I was paying. It’s also right on my way home. I guess I’m also lucky that the staff are easy going. Never had the “lunk alarm” go off.5 -
Money, location and hours were big draws for me. Actually works out to about $13 a month as they will hit you with a $40 annual fee in November. I never thought about it, but one way they can afford that is to alienate the people who would be in there 15 hours a week. They probably have a really high number of members per location, which is fine if the average usage is low.1
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CarvedTones wrote: »Money, location and hours were big draws for me. Actually works out to about $13 a month as they will hit you with a $40 annual fee in November. I never thought about it, but one way they can afford that is to alienate the people who would be in there 15 hours a week. They probably have a really high number of members per location, which is fine if the average usage is low.
This article suggests 50% of PF never go to to gym after signing up. Yes utilization is low.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/01/05/what-your-new-gym-doesnt-want-you-to-know/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.75013ea836650 -
Packerjohn wrote: »CarvedTones wrote: »Money, location and hours were big draws for me. Actually works out to about $13 a month as they will hit you with a $40 annual fee in November. I never thought about it, but one way they can afford that is to alienate the people who would be in there 15 hours a week. They probably have a really high number of members per location, which is fine if the average usage is low.
This article suggests 50% of PF never go to to gym after signing up. Yes utilization is low.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/01/05/what-your-new-gym-doesnt-want-you-to-know/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.75013ea83665
PF takes that to a whole other level by specifically marketing to people that hate going to gyms.
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IHaveMyActTogether wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »CarvedTones wrote: »Money, location and hours were big draws for me. Actually works out to about $13 a month as they will hit you with a $40 annual fee in November. I never thought about it, but one way they can afford that is to alienate the people who would be in there 15 hours a week. They probably have a really high number of members per location, which is fine if the average usage is low.
This article suggests 50% of PF never go to to gym after signing up. Yes utilization is low.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/01/05/what-your-new-gym-doesnt-want-you-to-know/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.75013ea83665
PF takes that to a whole other level by specifically marketing to people that hate going to gyms.
Their marketing is dumb but I don't think anyone takes it seriously or has much impact on who goes to their gyms (other than eliminating serious weightlifters). When I went to a Planet Fitness it was mostly middle-aged women and teenagers. Now I go to an Anytime Fitness where almost all the floor space is dedicated to strength training and most of the people there are middle aged women, teenagers, and some very dedicated weightlifters. I have no idea who wasn't showing up at either place but at Planet Fitness I definitely did not see the stereotype of someone walking at 2.0 mph with pizza.
FWIW when I went to a Y with a Planet Fitness-like circuit nobody really used it either.2 -
CarvedTones wrote: »Main reason for throwing this out there was to see if I got responses from people who tried it and stopped because it didn't seem as effective as using the time differently. The time part of it definitely makes it attractive. I am going early AM very near my office, showering and going to work. I would have showered anyway, so a one hour workout only costs me one hour at a time when conflicts are very rare. I am taking steps not to get caught up in the "no time" excuse. I am not a powerlifter. i am a guy who lost a bunch of weight last year and the beginning of this year, took up SUP paddling and got in good shape and I don't want to lose that over the winter. I think it will fit my goal.
Anything that fits your goal and schedule is great, you're doing better than 90% of people.
I was going StrongLifts for a while. My doctor sent me to a physical therapist for a bike fit, then we had another session to talk about weights. She held me come up with a routine to meet my goals. That was pretty great, and it's what I do now.3 -
Packerjohn wrote: »CarvedTones wrote: »Money, location and hours were big draws for me. Actually works out to about $13 a month as they will hit you with a $40 annual fee in November. I never thought about it, but one way they can afford that is to alienate the people who would be in there 15 hours a week. They probably have a really high number of members per location, which is fine if the average usage is low.
This article suggests 50% of PF never go to to gym after signing up. Yes utilization is low.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/01/05/what-your-new-gym-doesnt-want-you-to-know/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.75013ea83665
There is a big caveat on the $10 rate - besides the $40 annual that will be charged in November, if you cancel before 12 months you have to pay $84. I don't know what happens with the annual fee if you don't cross November but for people who don't go for a while and then decide to drop it, a lot of them probably find out it would be cheaper to keep the membership until the year is up. Then probably a decent percentage of people forget to cancel.
But hey, if people want to join and not go to lower my membership costs, more power to them. It's too early to say for sure that won't be me also, of course. But I have been more dedicated and diligent about losing the weight and getting in shape than ever before. I have been overweight with occasional attempts at getting back in shape for decades and not were truly successful before this one.
BTW, about rolling around on an exercise ball...
After I read that article about ab exercises @Packerjohn posted earlier in the thread I tried some exercises with the ball that kicked my butt. Actually it would be more correct to say kicked my gut; the muscles there are still burning but I didn't get the eye crossing back pain.3
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