What's wrong with Planet Fitness?

delaney056

I have a Planet Fitness coming near me, but I've heard a lot of negative reviews on this gym.
What's bad about Planet Fitness?

JNick77

I have a Planet Fitness coming near me, but I've heard a lot of negative reviews on this gym.
What's bad about Planet Fitness?

I don't go to one but I've read from several folks that they have limited to no free weights and they don't allow deadlifting or olympic style lifts.

raystark

There is nothing "wrong" with Planet Fitness. Some people just don't like it.

I joined the PF that opened near my home back in January, same time as I started here and working out there as helped me to lose 60 pounds since January 1, 2012.

I like it much more than the 24hr Fitness in town which is the kind of gym some folk here seem to prefer. Dumbbells go up to 75 lbs which is fine for me, the Smith machines are great for me since I am in there before 5am and don't have a spotter when I am doing bench presses and what not and I appreciate the fact that they don't allow the gangsta crap I had to put up with at 24hr Fitness.

JNick77

There is nothing "wrong" with Planet Fitness. Some people just don't like it.

I joined the PF that opened near my home back in January, same time as I started here and working out there as helped me to lose 60 pounds since January 1, 2012.

I like it much more than the 24hr Fitness in town which is the kind of gym some folk here seem to prefer. Dumbbells go up to 75 lbs which is fine for me, the Smith machines are great for me since I am in there before 5am and don't have a spotter when I am doing bench presses and what not and I appreciate the fact that they don't allow the gangsta crap I had to put up with at 24hr Fitness.

@OP: You'll find people that love it and people that hate it. The best thing you can do it see if you can get a trial-membership and use the hell out of that membership to see if you do like it or not.

raystark

There is nothing "wrong" with Planet Fitness. Some people just don't like it.

I joined the PF that opened near my home back in January, same time as I started here and working out there as helped me to lose 60 pounds since January 1, 2012.

I like it much more than the 24hr Fitness in town which is the kind of gym some folk here seem to prefer. Dumbbells go up to 75 lbs which is fine for me, the Smith machines are great for me since I am in there before 5am and don't have a spotter when I am doing bench presses and what not and I appreciate the fact that they don't allow the gangsta crap I had to put up with at 24hr Fitness.

@OP: You'll find people that love it and people that hate it. The best thing you can do it see if you can get a trial-membership and use the hell out of that membership to see if you do like it or not.

Yup

mcrowe1016

For ten bucks a month, you cant beat it.

The service and atmosphere vary based on location, but mine has free weights up to 75lb dumbbells, and I have never had to wait for a weight bench.

So, in my opinion there is nothing wrong with them :-)

Pgarcia413

Daily show did a skit on it. No lunks allowed.

http://blog.pjpride.com/2011/09/daily-show-and-planet-fitness.html

calamitydown

i went there for years and never had a single problem. i actually loved how sanitary all their machines were and how great of an atmosphere it had! if i had the money i would definitely get a membership there again.

KatiD83

I got a few passes to the one in my area, and my only complaint was the machines they had were not meant to handle morbidly obese individuals. I started at 433 lbs and had problems getting the treadmills to work correctly. My friend soon discovered the label rating it to no more than 300 lbs. I ended up buying a treadmill to handle my weight.

dcarr67

I have belonged to one for 4 months now. No complaints. For 10 bucks a month, you literally cant beat it.

ChristyRunStarr

It seems like people either love or hate Planet Fitness-I'm one of the people who love it. But like others have said, it depends on the location. Mine is nice and quiet when I go in the mornings and since I don't do much for weights, I don't mind that they don't go over 75 lbs. There are some gyms around here that my friends love but I don't like at all. I do love the fact that Planet Fitness is 24 hours a day cause I like to work out alone and when no one else is really there.

ptak1sm

A lot of the complaints stem from their weight-lifting policies (already stated above), the "Lunk Alarm" (which goes off after anyone drops weights if the staff care), stuff like that. I've been going for about 2 months now and I love it. My location is wonderful, I've been to another location that wasn't quite as good, but I was probably a bit biased.

I take advantage of the (free) trainer they have on staff. He I've had 2 program designs so far and am going in next week for another redesign. The trainer's knowledge, attentiveness, and encouragement are helping me get into the best shape of my life...and I can now do tricep pushups, which I could never do before :P

Chipmaniac

No grunting and they don't like bodybuilders. I wish it was my gym. Mine is just the opposite (rhymes with Mold's Tim) but it's convenient.

sammys1girly

Nothing wrong with it, I love mine! Free weights and a scale and super clean every day. I think different sites vary due to different franchise owners but I'm really happy with mine, esp at only $10 a month!

hush7hush

I absolutely love Planet Fitness! I've checked out at least ten gyms in my area and it's the only one that seemed to be great quality at a good price. I've had my membership for a year and a half and have no intentions of cancelling it.

LorinaLynn

I'm going to be the one person who doesn't love it or hate it. I was a member for a year and a half, but I outgrew it. I can't stand running on a treadmill, and I hate dragging my *kitten* to the gym to JUST lift weights, so I'm better off running outside and lifting at home.

samntha14

I'm getting into "heavy lifting" so it doesn't work for me. I'll pay $15 more for access to classes pool and a greater variety of weights. Picking the right gym is a combination of your goals, what you expect from them, and how much you are willing to pay. I have MANY gyms in my area so I tried a few before picking. In the end...I really wanted the pool

karylee44

i just started going there.. 10 a month.. cant beat it.. its clean, friendly and has alot of weights.. over 75 pds i belive.. but dont quote me on that. also free pizza on the first monday of the month.. which normall i would say who cares.. but i happen to be there on that night and needed something to eat as i ran out the door for my zumba class.. yummy..

my only complaint is that i dont feel there staff is very knowlegable. even the "trainer"..

rhonniema

The only thing I don't like is the people, but I can't change that. lol.

breckrose

PF is a great value if you like to workout in a gym, very clean and nice machines.

ezBrizy

It's fine if you're just looking to go for a basic workout and they have some nice circuits. There's plenty of machines and it's usually very clean. They don't offer much for the intensely fit, some people find that it's limited once they've passed a certain point. You can get a $10 month-to-month membership and quit anytime w/ no penalty

taso42

They claim "judgement free zone" yet judge (i.e., prohibit) anybody who wants to do legitimate powerlifting. At $10/month, it's an easy choice for someone who wants to use machines, but not for somebody who is interested in real weight lifting.

mtaylor1980

I love it! It is super cheap, very clean, and they have great, modern machines!!!

tabulator32

I notice they have three different plans and monthly fees.

What is the difference between the plans? Its not clear to me on the website.

pamperedlinny

I went to PF for 2 years. I loved it. I only stopped because I started going to classes and they didn't hold aerobic class there. In my opinion though it's the best bang for your buck since you can go for $10 a month with no contract, do circuit training, weight lifting or machines, use the massage chairs afterwards and even tan (though I didn't do the last part).

I've heard some negatives but personally never experienced them. In fact, since it was mostly open 24 hrs I really loved that if I went early or late there was almost no one there.

Lastly, when I started going I was 300 lbs literally. I tried Baily's & Gold's. I always felt like an intruder. At PF I wasn't the heaviest or skinniest person there. And even if I was I never felt judged. It's the motto but that doesn't always mean anything to some people. At that gym I felt like it actually was practiced. And if I join a gym again (which I probably will this winter) it will most likely be PF.

rader1

I am a PF member and I love it. It's affordable ($10/ mo.) or $20 if you want to tan and use massage equipment. You can also bring a friend for free with the $20 black card. I never have to wait for equipment. They have some free weights but not enough for bodybuilders. PF is targeted towards everyday people that wanto to get or stay in shape. Did I mention free personal training., either group or one- on- one. The equipment and facilities are clean and the staff is always friendly.

contingencyplan

There's nothing wrong with planet fitness at all provided that:

1. You are a beginner at fitness (they don't have the type of equipment that caters to people who have moved past the beginner phase, what with no free weights--only machines and light to medium weight dumbbells).

2. Your goals are strictly weight loss oriented (see above--lack of "heavy lifting" tools mean people looking to build legitimate athletic conditioning are left out in the cold).

3. You have the willpower to resist the treat temptations (free pizza one night a week to all gym members, and all the candy you can eat 24/7).

4. You can get through your workout without grunting (along with dropping the weights, it is a violation of their policy and will have you publicly humiliated via an air raid siren-style alarm they sound whenever someone breaks the rules. They call it the lunk alarm, and on top of the public humiliation, they eject you if you do it again).

I could keep going, but basically here's the gist of it: The gym has only machines that do isolation training, cardio equipment, and dumbbells that go up to no more than 50-60 lbs. The only thing they have that other gyms don't is a designated circuit training center that guides you through a half hour circuit training workout using numbered stations. While this is a good and novel idea, I feel it really only benefits beginners who do not yet know how to put their own program together. The fact that they have no free weights to do more advanced exercises, and rules designed to discourage people who are at a more advanced level of fitness from using their facilities, mean they are really only capable of catering to beginners on a budget who either cannot afford a trainer or do now have a workout buddy to guide them through proper workouts.

BigMike915

A Lunk Alarm, really?!? Are you absolutely kidding me? That is insane.

tigersword

I have a Planet Fitness coming near me, but I've heard a lot of negative reviews on this gym.
What's bad about Planet Fitness?

I don't go to one but I've read from several folks that they have limited to no free weights and they don't allow deadlifting or olympic style lifts.

That's exactly it. Between the lack of free weights, restriction of lifts, and the silliness of the "lunk alarm" (we don't judge you, unless you want to lift heavy, then we immediately ridicule you.)

No power racks either, just Smith machines, which are the absolute worst things in the world, imo. Unrealistic movement path, supports most of the weight for you, bodyweight exercises are better than Smith machine exercises...

I had a membership for a year, when I first started getting into shape. Cardio machines were great, but once I really started getting serious about strength training, it just wasn't adequate at all.

I guess it's an ok beginner gym, and a decent general fitness gym (tons of machines,) but not a very good strength training gym.

litnerd4life

I have been going to PF for about 6 months or so. At first I really liked it, and I still do, for the most part. But as others have said, as I am progressing in my fitness, I am starting to feel a little out of place. I am a girl, and I lift fairly heavy on leg days. Their barbells are all pre-weighted, and only go up to 60lbs. I am now using the 60 lb. for most of my leg exercises. I also really like HIIT, and do a fair amount of jumping around, burpees, etc. There really isn't a designated area for this, so I just do it by my weight bench. I have no idea if this is OK or not, but I have never heard the lunk alarm go off (I thought it was just for looks, honestly). It is super clean, always a treadmill handy, and the employees are great. The price is awesome also...but if you think you may ever want to get more "extreme" with your workouts, it's definitely not the place for you. I will probably switch gyms once my year commitment is up. No kettle bells, boxes, or weight racks is really starting to get to me

tinyrah

I'm a member, I love it. It's clean, plenty of machines, 30-min circuit area, never a wait. I don't do any power lifting though so I can't comment on that. I've never ever heard the lunk alarm go off.