Planet fitness members

ItsCasey

I guess it all depends on your target market, but I'm turned off by the concept of "a gym for average people."

I'd prefer not to work out in a gym full of average people who are scared of grunting. It might rub off on me, and nobody wants that. And when I say "average," I'm referring to effort and attitude, not physical condition (everyone has to start somewhere). But give me a warehouse with no A/C, no cardio machines, and the absolute right to judge any and everyone who doesn't give it their all from the minute they walk in till the minute they leave. I don't have the patience for this "please notify a manager if someone looks at you funny or makes a noise while lifting" garbage.

liftingbro

My opinon is if you are so easily intimidated that someone grunting or dropping weights makes you wet your pants and run from the gym you're never going to meet your fitness goals. You have to have a spine to get fit, grow a pair and get over it for God's sake.

Now if you just like the gym and the price that's fine but being intimidated? Really??? It's not like you're likely to be signing up for one of the undergorund BBer gyms.

agentmattdionne

the rest of this thread brought the lolz

joejccva71

I'm gonna get heat for this one, but...

I absolutely refuse to belong to a gym where:

1. They don't have dumbells above 60lbs.
2. They cut the bars on the leg press machine so you could only fit 3 plates on each side.
3. You can't make lifting noises.
4. You can't wear a muscle shirt.
5. You can't drop the weights.

Isn't it GOLD'S GYM that has signs posted that says "If you aren't strong enough to put the weight down, don't pick it up?" Seriously, complaining you can't drop weights might be the silliest reason I've ever seen for complaining about a gym. :indifferent:

Also, I've never seen a rule at my Planet Fitness against wearing muscle shirts. And I've never seen anyone chastised for grunting while lifting heavy.

Not in the corporate owned Gold's Gyms. There are franchised owned ones that have their own little rules.

I'll give you a scenario (and anyone that is serious about bodybuilding will know what I'm talking about):

I can bench press with 90 lb dumbells for 5 reps or so. I lift heavy. When I pull the 90lb DB's off the rack I set them on the floor. I sit on the bench, and my spotter hands me the 90lb db's while I'm seated which then I rest on my quads before I lay down on the bench and start my lift. Once I'm done my lift, trying to carefully ease that much weight down so I don't make any noise will lead to injury. I don't throw the weights on the ground, but I do let them fall somewhat so they make some noise. This would be unacceptable in the Planet Fitness world.

If anyone other person that is in the gym, any PF staff member, or any Gold's gym staff member has a problem with this then I don't know what to tell them. I'll go someplace else and give another gym my money.

Seriously.

koosdel

You get what you pay for.

tigersword

I'm gonna get heat for this one, but...

I absolutely refuse to belong to a gym where:

1. They don't have dumbells above 60lbs.
2. They cut the bars on the leg press machine so you could only fit 3 plates on each side.
3. You can't make lifting noises.
4. You can't wear a muscle shirt.
5. You can't drop the weights.

Isn't it GOLD'S GYM that has signs posted that says "If you aren't strong enough to put the weight down, don't pick it up?" Seriously, complaining you can't drop weights might be the silliest reason I've ever seen for complaining about a gym. :indifferent:

Also, I've never seen a rule at my Planet Fitness against wearing muscle shirts. And I've never seen anyone chastised for grunting while lifting heavy.

Not in the corporate owned Gold's Gyms. There are franchised owned ones that has their own little rules.

I'll give you a scenario (and anyone that is serious about bodybuilding will know what I'm talking about):

I can bench press with 90 lb dumbells for 5 reps or so. I lift heavy. When I pull the 90lb DB's off the rack I set them on the floor. I sit on the bench, and my spotter hands me the 90lb db's while I'm seated which then I rest on my quads before I lay down on the bench and start my lift. Once I'm done my lift, trying to carefully ease that much weight down so I don't make any noise will lead to injury. I don't throw the weights on the ground, but I do let them fall somewhat so they make some noise.

If anyone other person that is in the gym, any PF staff member, or any Gold's gym staff member has a problem with this then I don't know what to tell them. I'll go someplace else and give another gym my money.

Seriously.

When I think of dropping weight, I think of the guy executing an overhead press and then just letting go, not a somewhat controlled descent. Of course, the Devil's Advocate argument would probably say, "If you have a spotter help you lift the weight into position, the spotter can also help you put them back down." I hear weights hit the floor all the time in the Planet Fitness I go to, and never see anyone catch flak over it. Maybe my local Planet Fitness is just odd...:laugh:

ABetterBalance

I guess it all depends on your target market, but I'm turned off by the concept of "a gym for average people."

The sad thing is, most gyms are not targeting body builders or people who are currently fit and/or working out. The "target" is the rest of the population- the majority of people who do NOT workout. And the major reasons these people give for not going to a gym are cost and intimidation.

So gyms brag about their low cost, and their non-intimidating, judgement free atmosphere to bring these people in. They end up not meeting the needs of a smaller, but equally important group of members- the "serious" weight lifters. These "family friendly" or "average joe" gyms (mostly chains) all assume that the "meat heads" and "body builders" can just go some where else. But there is no where to go!

There are many reasons I quit my last job (managing a gym and personal training if/when I had spare time!) but this was a HUGE part of it. I felt like I was constantly fighting the system trying to come up with ways to retain our current membership. The people who would quit because of intimiation were, 95% of the time, really going to quit anyway and just looking for an excuse. The people who wanted to lift heavy were driven away because no one seemed to care to meet *their* needs!

ilovedeadlifts

I'll give you a scenario (and anyone that is serious about bodybuilding will know what I'm talking about):

I can bench press with 90 lb dumbells for 5 reps or so. I lift heavy. When I pull the 90lb DB's off the rack I set them on the floor. I sit on the bench, and my spotter hands me the 90lb db's while I'm seated which then I rest on my quads before I lay down on the bench and start my lift. Once I'm done my lift, trying to carefully ease that much weight down so I don't make any noise will lead to injury. I don't throw the weights on the ground, but I do let them fall somewhat so they make some noise. This would be unacceptable in the Planet Fitness world.

If anyone other person that is in the gym, any PF staff member, or any Gold's gym staff member has a problem with this then I don't know what to tell them. I'll go someplace else and give another gym my money.

Seriously.

injured my elbow like this, at planet fitness.
I saw back with 60s or 65s. nothing really heavy but I just didn't have the right grip on the one in my left hand.
arm wasn't set right and it started to slip.
any other gym: drop the weight
planet fitness: you can't drop weights, they'll sound a ridiculous alarm and come talk to you.
so i tried to save it. ended up pulling something in my elbow during the process.

iuangina

People are really intimidated by grunting? I always get a little chuckle when I hear the grunts because I remember lifting weights that heavy in college and I'm thankful that I don't have to do it any more. I think that some of my family members have gotten in trouble at PF. They are college athletes that have a lot of heavy weights to lift during summer breaks. People who make rules about grunting have obviously never lifted heavy weights. It's almost impossible not to do it (if you are lifting correctly).

Generally, I think this nanny society crap needs to stop. If you are that fragile, how do you leave your house everyday? I can see being intimidated by the people who laugh and point at you. Or the guy who yells at "run fatty run" while you run outside. Even those things should motivate you to do better. Grunting, muscle shirts, and noises are not intimidating! I have been the PF when visiting family and I prefer my YMCA. I workout with members of the armed forces on a daily basis and I've never been intimidated. I think it's awesome to see people who are in amazing physical shape workout. It motivates me to do better! I get sick of the people at the gym who are simply there to socialize. I think these people are the ones that claim to be intimidated/threated by the people who are actually working out. I don't really care what other people are doing at the gym unless they are in my way (I have 2 more months until the January joiners get in my way on the machines).

If you want an excuse not to go to the gym, you can find it. Stop limiting the ability of others who actually want to put in the hard work.

mystiedragonfly

I joined Planet Fitness last January because of the price. I got lucky, because the location I go to bought out an old Gold's Gym. They have all their old equipment. Sure, there is a rule against deadlifting... but I think it's been overlooked there. I do them all the time, as does many of the guys. It's very close to the OSU Campus. So we get a lot of heavy lifters in there. No one really big, but a beginner body builder/power lifter can get a good work out at my location.

My goal right now is to burn fat and build muscle as I go along. When I get to my goal weight/size, then really hit it to build. For my goals at the moment, Planet Fitness is giving me what I need. However, there will come a time when I will need equipment that gives me a higher weight lift and when that time comes, I will have to move to another gym.

"I guess it all depends on your target market, but I'm turned off by the concept of "a gym for average people." "

I find it more sad that there IS a need for a gym for the "average" person. Except for body building... it is sad we need gyms, period. We live in a country where people drive around for an hour trying to find a parking space close to the door rather than park at an open space and walk. People don't get a dog because they have to take it outside and walk it.

Sadly, Planet Fitness is what is needed for the "average" person who doesn't take the time to walk to the store or play soccer with their kids.

UrbanRunner81

I really like it. It has enough strength training for me. I mean I lift heavy for a woman I can't squat more than like 70 lbs anyway (35 lb dumbell in each hand).
I never heard the average people bit. Mine said they are focused on fitness and not catering to bodybuilders and that was all that was said. If you are looking for really heavy weights then this isn't the gym for you. Every gym is different anyway. Well it is sad that people can't get up and walk to places or ride bikes. I think the suburbs started that. I live in the city, I ride my bike or walk to places that are close. You can't do that outside the city, no sidewalks, no place to ride your bike on the roads to places. But gyms have been around for awhile now. They used to be all about weight training but branched out to cardio equipment.
There all different types of people at mine. People who are fit or those trying to get in shape, young and old. It is actually a great mix of people. I just go in and do my thing nobody bothers me.
The no childcare part doesn't bother me, it would be nice but I go to the gym while my kids are at school. Not sure what to do when summer comes.

Schwiggs

They really don't do anything about it I don't think, unless you do act like a complete tool. I've gotten lunk alarmed a few times, but all I do is look at the general direction of the front desk and chuckle, and then continue my workout. Given, I'm not lifting nearly as heavy as some, but I really don't give a **** about what they say, because if they really want me to, I can find another gym.

chevy88grl

And the reason they don't condone weight dropping or grunting is because these are intimidating actions that are completely unnecessary. They focus more on general fitness as opposed to bodybuilding and weight dropping, which is a completely diff concept than most gyms and for the average person, more comfortable.

Grunting and dropping are intimidating noises?

Um. Okay.

I went to PF for one day with a friend and I will NEVER, EVER step foot in there again. I found it to be too crowded and too noisy. Add in the fact that the "guys" using the Smith Machine spent more time laying across it pretending to flex their muscles than working out (and they wouldn't move on so someone else could use it either).

I go to a gym that allows muscle shirts, grunting, weight dropping and where I can do squats and bench presses without the Smith Machine. May cost me a little more, but it is worth it to me.

Schwiggs

And the reason they don't condone weight dropping or grunting is because these are intimidating actions that are completely unnecessary. They focus more on general fitness as opposed to bodybuilding and weight dropping, which is a completely diff concept than most gyms and for the average person, more comfortable.

Advertise somewhere else please.

irishkiss

I just joined pf and I really like it. To each his/her own I guess.

MikeDailyIntake

I'm gonna get heat for this one, but...

I absolutely refuse to belong to a gym where:

1. They don't have dumbells above 60lbs.
2. They cut the bars on the leg press machine so you could only fit 3 plates on each side.
3. You can't make lifting noises.
4. You can't wear a muscle shirt.
5. You can't drop the weights.

I agree with this guy, you can't build REAL muscle at that place and if you grunt, you get kicked out..

mystiedragonfly

I have to admit, I am rather liking the "no dropping the weight" rule. I am hardly intimidated by it, however, if I owned a gym and spent thousands of dollars on equipment, yeah, I'd be a little pissed if someone kept dropping my thousand dollar toys.

I started out in a normal gym where weight dropping and grunting are perfectly fine, but my trainer trained me to respect the iron in my hands and the power of the weight. If you are dropping the weight, it is too heavy for you. It is more "manly" to admit the weight is too heavy than to have a slipped disk, out of place elbow, or a full blown hernia.

Schwiggs

I have to admit, I am rather liking the "no dropping the weight" rule. I am hardly intimidated by it, however, if I owned a gym and spent thousands of dollars on equipment, yeah, I'd be a little pissed if someone kept dropping my thousand dollar toys.

I started out in a normal gym where weight dropping and grunting are perfectly fine, but my trainer trained me to respect the iron in my hands and the power of the weight. If you are dropping the weight, it is too heavy for you. It is more "manly" to admit the weight is too heavy than to have a slipped disk, out of place elbow, or a full blown hernia.

Please look at above comments to see some examples of how this might not be true. Also, if you're doing high weight/low reps your last rep it usually to failure, which sometimes means you can't daintily set down the weights. Also, most of the free weight equipment is designed to be durable because it's expected that they're going to hit the ground.

mystiedragonfly

Sure, weights are made to withstand dropping. If your arm gives out or you have a bad grip and you have to let go quickly... sure. However, I have seen guys actually throw down the weight, tossing it, etc. Either the rep didn't go right or they had a bad day and are dropping dumb bells just to do so. THAT is annoying.

GRINWITHIN

My question is ... what are the pros/cons of PF? Do they really teach you how to use the equipment without charging hidden fees and teach you the basics to get the ball rolling? I get it that it's not a "real gym" because of the rules on grunting and properly breathing, etc.

I know nothing about lifting weights or gym equipment other than a treadmill or bike. PF claims they have daily training sessions that teach the basics at no extra cost which is why I was considering checking them out.

I really have become the EA Sports/Slim In Six fanatic with my "virtual trainers" showing me the ropes and I do make some noises and tend to curse the TV during the extreme squats

I joined another gym a few years back and made it clear I was on a tight budget and could not afford a personal trainer. What brought me in the door was the promise of 2 training sessions included in the premium membership of $40 a month which I could handle. After I joined and had the first session, I was hit with a sales pitch that started with a fee of $2,000 a month and dropped to $600 a month in addition to that $40 a month. When I said it wasn't in the budget, I became a second class citizen and was stuck trying figure out stuff on my own which did not go so well. I actually wound up doing some damage that put me in physical therapy.

I don't want a repeat of that last gym experience in my effort to get healthy and fit.

alyssamiller77

My question is ... what are the pros/cons of PF? Do they really teach you how to use the equipment without charging hidden fees and teach you the basics to get the ball rolling? I get it that it's not a "real gym" because of the rules on grunting and properly breathing, etc.

I know nothing about lifting weights or gym equipment other than a treadmill or bike. PF claims they have daily training sessions that teach the basics at no extra cost which is why I was considering checking them out.

I really have become the EA Sports/Slim In Six fanatic with my "virtual trainers" showing me the ropes and I do make some noises and tend to curse the TV during the extreme squats

I joined another gym a few years back and made it clear I was on a tight budget and could not afford a personal trainer. What brought me in the door was the promise of 2 training sessions included in the premium membership of $40 a month which I could handle. After I joined and had the first session, I was hit with a sales pitch that started with a fee of $2,000 a month and dropped to $600 a month in addition to that $40 a month. When I said it wasn't in the budget, I became a second class citizen and was stuck trying figure out stuff on my own which did not go so well. I actually wound up doing some damage that put me in physical therapy.

I don't want a repeat of that last gym experience in my effort to get healthy and fit.

I just signed up today and used the club for the first time. There is a trainer on site every day. They gave me a copy of the schedule. He does individual sessions at points during the day, the rest of each day he does 30 minute classes (max 5 people) that focus on a particular body group (I.e. chest, legs, abs). It's totally free and it is the opportunity to have a trainer show you how to use the machines and give you an exercise plan. You can get a custom plan if you meet with the trainer for an individual session.

So far what I've seen of PF makes me happy. Plenty of free weights (BB up to 75 lbs, plenty of 45's for the barbells and smith machines), no one had any problem with my muscle shirt, and there were plenty of ripped guys doing heavy lifting without a hassle. I chose PF for their selection of equipment (the place is HUGE), the price and the hours. Personally I think it's a great facility and I'm glad to not have the annoyance of the guys who get off making as much of a ruckus as possible while lifting. I do lift to failure but always work without a spotter. I've never had an issue with not being able to put the weight down properly (although admittedly I don't dead lift). I do grunt when I lift but I don't grunt so half the gym hears me. So far no one had a problem with that. I guess if you need to consistently drop weights to the floor then This isn't the gym for you. Personally, my first impression was exceptionally positive.

Snlong074

I've been trying to figure that out too

debrag12

I'm gonna get heat for this one, but...

I absolutely refuse to belong to a gym where:

1. They don't have dumbells above 60lbs.
2. They cut the bars on the leg press machine so you could only fit 3 plates on each side.
3. You can't make lifting noises.
4. You can't wear a muscle shirt.
5. You can't drop the weights.

some of them cut the leg press machines???? lofl. thats awful.
the one i joined has DBs up to 75, and I get away with my cutoff shirts.
but a friend of mine was lifting one day, and dropped 25s from seriously, maybe 5 inches off the floor, and was lunk alarmed.
it's pretty ridiculous.

My issue is the stupid alarms.

hungrywhodat

* > Planet Fitness

KANGOOJUMPS

PLANET FITNESS???
is this like MARS, JUPITER????

Buff2022

I LOVE my PF. I have been going since April. The 27 pounds I lost LOVES PF too. Now I agree that it is not for everyone. I had a girl roll her eyes at me yesterday. When I came out of the shower an said excuse me to get in the locker room. I gave her my look of death..so that stopped that **** right then and there.

There are all shapes and ages at my gym. I have talked to a few of the younger girls and one older woman. I have seen people there my size and smaller. There is a few even over the 300 to 400 pound mark. Proud of them for doing their thing.

Yep have a trainer and we sat down. He made me a plan. He also showed me how to use the ab machines. I have yet to take classes but that is coming soon.

They are clean and even one of the front desk girls knows my name. I told her that really made my day when she told me that. It meant I was doing something right.

Now I went to another place for some yoga classes. I went one time. Everyone was rude. I even told the owner I won't be back. I am at a place in my weight loss where I will not deal with condosending people. I spent to long feeling bad about myself. To allow anyone to push me back there.

A lot of people don't like PF. That is fine -- don't go. More room for me.

tigersword

Holy two year old topic...