Gym Snobbery - are you unashamedly guilty

Madame_Goldbricker

Someone on my FL just posted that they have signed up for a well known gym franchise. Now personally I think its excellent. Kudos to them for getting out there. However, it rolls back round to the age old debate. "Is my gym better than yours?" In all seriousness I don't care where, how, or what someone is doing to workout. Surely the point is getting off our *kitten* and doing something? Or is there something more to this. Do we need bells, whistles, & the price of a small second hand car gym membership to feel we're doing the best we can?

All that said I can see why some folks want to workout in certain places due to machines, free weights, classes. Just wanted to throw it out there and see what you all think?

JoRocka

I'm a gym snob.

No Power cage no squat rack- no visit.

I can't be bothered.

No dead lifting? GTFO.

The more "meat head" of a gym it is- the happier I'll be.

greenhudler

I wouldn't say I'm a gym snob, but I know what I like and if a gym doesn't have those features I most likely won't be going there.

ZombieGeezUs

If it is planet fitness I can't help but think you aren't serious about working out.

Caporegiem

There's two gyms in my town and I picked the one I did because of the power racks they've got. When I went and checked out the other gym I asked what they had to do squats on and they pointed to the Smith machine. I guess you could call that being a snob but my back sure is thanking me for my choice.

JoRocka

If it is planet fitness I can't help but think you aren't serious about working out.

I have that same gut reaction.

Willbenchforcupcakes

I love my gym for the fact it's close and convenient, almost never have to wait for the squat rack, or anything else. The fact they recently cleared some room to make even more room for people to deadlift and do oly lifts is awesome.

Would I go to a gym that had no squat rack or power rack? No

Would I go to a gym where I'd be in trouble for dropping a weight? No

TarynAngeline

Meh. I just care about location. My gym is practically in my backyard, otherwise I'd prefer the rec center because it has a pool.

ScottyNoHotty

I go to the YMCA.

of course its the only gym within 30 miles of my place

Hestion

I'm not a gym snob, but i want a good range of classes with lots of different time options, good cardo machines, good freeweight area, kettlebells medicane balls etc, pool jacuzzi sauna and steam room, big chains generally have it all there!

Nicola0000

Ive jused a community gym, and a big franchise. Just depends on where Im living etc. But it all depends what equipment they've got. If the weight section is tiny, but got 100 treadmills, then I ain't going!!! lol

WeepingAngel81

There are a lot of gyms in Lincoln and I shopped around a lot before deciding where to join. They all had something great to offer, but in the end the Y offered more for my kids and myself. I'm like you, I don't care where people go to work out as long as they get it done. I've had people from Aspen tell me that the Y crowd is too old for them. I have also heard people from the Y say that Prarie Life doesn't take it seriously enough. I had no idea how snobby people could be about their gym until I joined one. I guess it's a good thing there are so many choices!

Hornsby

I wouldn't go to a gym if it was lacking certain things, but I have never thought about, or cared where anyone else goes, or even paid attention for that matter.

lilRicki

I've been to a plethora of gyms...and the latest one is by far my favorite. It's cheap, tons of cardio equipment that I don't have to sign up for, nobody is allowed to solicit themselves as personal trainers, there's 4 different free weight areas, a pool, hot tub, sauna, food court and it's open late. I can't complain about the people that go there, it isn't a competition, and there's always someone willing to spot you. I have no complaints about my gym. If someone said they were going to the gym I went to previously, I'd probably sneer and tell them not to waste their money on that dump, but to each their own. I also dislike the franchise gyms here that cost way to much and don't have nearly as much to offer as the city owned gyms.

stillnot2late

I would like to know where all of these gyms are where the guys try to pick up women. I'm missing out on all of that.

MayaSPapaya

If they have what I want (And I'm mainly a treadmill person so that's all gyms) i'm fine. But I'd rather go to a smaller/quieter gym where I don't have to wait for a machine.

Danny_Boy13

If the gym does not have a power / squat rack then I am not interested. Must also have an abundance of free weight equipment. Machines are meh, but the free weights better be there.

AngelsFan91106

My idea of a good gym is one that has power racks. Of course, there're tons of people whose idea of a nice gym is one with towel service and a fancy juice bar. I think there are different brands of snobbery.

thekyleo

as long as its not planet fitness i'm good, I go to the Y they have everything I want/need

SkinnyFatAlbert

Feeling like you're better than everyone else helps you burn more calories. MFP fact!

BranMuffin86

If it is planet fitness I can't help but think you aren't serious about working out.

I have that same gut reaction.

I go to Planet Fitness. I'm a gym newbie. Why would you think someone isnt serious about working out just cos they go there? Not offended just curious.

contingencyplan

I think that there are certain pieces of equipment gyms should have if they want to be taken seriously. Things like a squat rack or power rack/cage, a bench, and a selection of free weights that go fairly heavy are musts. I could make due with less, but at that point I might as well work out at home. If it doesn't have those pieces of equipment, then it's not worth the membership fee and yes, it is a lesser, inferior gym.

djeffreys10

If there are two things I hate, it's gym snobs and planet fitness.

contingencyplan

If it is planet fitness I can't help but think you aren't serious about working out.

I have that same gut reaction.

I go to Planet Fitness. I'm a gym newbie. Why would you think someone isnt serious about working out just cos they go there? Not offended just curious.

The lack of equipment and rules about how you are allowed to use what equipment they DO have basically put a brick wall on the progress it's possible for you to achieve. They basically encourage mediocrity by it.

Mr_Excitement

If it is planet fitness I can't help but think you aren't serious about working out.

Either that, or you have a weird and unreasonable view of what a "real gym" is like (probably the silly caricature they push in their ads, come to think of it).

But you can get a good workout there as well, I'm sure. Squatting isn't the end-all, be-all of weights, and I rarely grunt while lifting even though I can. :P

JoRocka

If it is planet fitness I can't help but think you aren't serious about working out.

I have that same gut reaction.

I go to Planet Fitness. I'm a gym newbie. Why would you think someone isnt serious about working out just cos they go there? Not offended just curious.

They seem to think that lifting big heavy weights makes you an idiot and a meat head- they have a very judgy lunk alarm- and will kick you out for grunting. I dislike the fact they supply pizza and doughnuts once a month- my gym does member appreciateion day- but they bring in wraps- and other local 'health' foods. I'm not about demonizing food- but for a gym to openly push 'problamatic' food at people to me is annoying and insulting.

If you actually take lifting seriously- you cant' be there- they don't have the equipment and they have rules against doing some of the most basic compound fundamental lifts (deadlifting)

its great because it's cheap and it's open 24/7... so I would absolutely be a member so I could go work out at 2 AM... but as a whole- I cant' stand the idea of the gym. It premise of all their commercials is insulting to anyone who seriously trains.

cad39too

I work out in my office gym - I love that free quality it has - I will love it even more in the new year once it is refitted with all new equipment including the squat rack I have been begging for for the months; and in my spare room with equipment I have put together myself....as long as a gym has the equipment I want to use and is clean I'm happy

TR0berts

I go to Planet Fitness. I'm a gym newbie. Why would you think someone isnt serious about working out just cos they go there? Not offended just curious.

The lack of equipment and rules about how you are allowed to use what equipment they DO have basically put a brick wall on the progress it's possible for you to achieve. They basically encourage mediocrity by it.

For me, it's the above. Plus the "no-judgment zone." Or whatever they call it, although PF seems to be (corporately, anyway) the biggest judgers I've seen from the chain gyms.

hananah89

If it is planet fitness I can't help but think you aren't serious about working out.

I have that same gut reaction.

but...they use planet fitness of the biggest loser. how could it be bad?
:noway:

ItsCasey

Even among chains, there are good and bad individual entities. But I do hate the entire concept of some gyms, Planet Fitness being one. There is a huge PF on my way to work, so I stopped in once because I thought "hey, it's convenient, it's cheap, I'll check it out." One of the first things they said to me was "Basically, we're a gym for average people." If I wanted to be average, I could do that at home on my couch for free.

PF and gyms like it make their money off people who pay their membership fees and stop coming after a few weeks. These hard core, garage/warehouse-style gyms that are more selective about who gets to train there ... they don't make money from membership fees. They make it either from PT fees or the gym is owned by someone with some extra cash lying around who doesn't mind paying rent and utilities for his/her friends to have a legit place to work out. Honestly, I'd love to do something like that someday.

Hornsby

I'm not even sure if we have a Planet Fitness near me.... Now I'm intrigued.