Planet Fitness?
jryepan
Posts: 36
Thinking abut joining a Planet Fitness near me, but I've hear mixed reviews. Anyone have any input on the matter?
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Replies
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I personally love Planet Fitness.. It gives me the equipment I want, the staff at mine are great (I have heard other franchise's aren't so great), and I really can't beat the price. I mainly use the treadmills and bikes, for a 15-20 minute warm up, and then lift for 30-45. I have heard that many people don't like that you can't do certain exercises, and I don't think their free weights go past 80 pounds, but I'm lucky if I can do 40 pounds on my arms right now.0
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It's 10 bucks a month, try it out yourself and see if you like it0
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It's 10 bucks a month, try it out yourself and see if you like it
^This. It's not for me, but you're not doing my workout. For $10 per month it can't be that wrong. Unless there's no free weights and/or squat rack, because then it wouldn't be worth $10. But with no contract, it's only $10 to find out0 -
I was going to join because it was only $10, but the free weights only went up to 60 lbs, so I would've outgrown it too quickly. It was very clean and it looked like a nice place for someone with different goals.0
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I am not a fan0
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I was planning on going in on Friday to join and give it a try. My main source of exercise to this date has been walking so since I am a beginner with weights I think it will be ok for me. And the location of my local one is very convenient for me.0
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I've been to a few different ones. The first few had serious weights, but the latest one i went to didn't have anything. No squat cage or rack, no real bench press benches. I mean, if you were going to lift weights, i don't think they all have the equipment you need. A lot of nautilus machines though. Tons of cardio equipment though. It's cheap, and i think there's no contract involved, so you can end your membership easily. You can probably go there for a trial. Check it out.0
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There are pros and cons, but I think it also widely varies by the gym. At mine, if I go during off hours, I can do pretty much whatever I want to, or somehow improvise. The dumbbells only go up to 70, but I'm a while away from that being a problem. During peak crazy hours, it can be a pain since their free weight section isn't massive (two sets of each weight, only one bench press and straight bar, etc). Tons of cardio machines if that's what you like. Nice locker room.
Yes, it's $10 a month, but there's also a sign up fee - mine was $40 I think. So if you do give it a try, you ought to go a few months to get your money's worth.0 -
I am not a fan of planet fitness. They are not a gym suited for people that want to push the limits of their body and put their all into a workout. The commercials and 'lunk' alarm at their facility stereotype and make outcasts of the people that do so. Yes I understand it is not necessary to grunt when curling ten pounds or leave weights littered around after supersets. But if someone is deadlifting/squatting/bench pressing double or more of their own bodyweight with correct form and they make a bit of noise so be it. I'm sorry that my dedication is intimidating your new years resolution.0
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I did Planet Fitness for a year. It's great if you're only interested in the cardio machines (I didn't do much in weights) and are very self-motivated. But I wanted to take classes and have more variety. I lost my motivation and joined a regular gym. For $10, try it. Great price.0
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I got to Youfit which I believe is owned by the same people as Planet Fitness, I like it because it's cheaper than renting or buying a treadmill. The staff are friendly, it's exceptionally clean, and they have a nice variety of equipment for beginners and those who may be a bit more advanced. It's not a specialty gym and the weights don't go very high, but if you're like me and just wanted to start somewhere and get your feet wet in a clean and unintimidating atmosphere then it's worth it.0
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If you have a Retro Fitness near you, that's $20. The one near me told me they were planning to offer classes. I've heard some Gold's Gyms are that low, too, but I think it depends on your area.0
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I love it...just came home from my 2nd. day going and did the 30 minute workout which was great..and I have not exercised in over 20 yrs....Can't beat $10.00 a month...0
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I hated gyms but then I joined Planet Fitness and I LOVE IT! That being stated, I've been to a different one aside from my local one and it certainly wasn't as nice so the best way to tell is to just go and see for yourself. I have a Black Card (BC) Membership which affords me certain perks I really enjoy. Each PF is going to vary from location to location but I'm including the pros found at my local PF in Wallingford, Connecticut.
My pros:
- Open 24 hours during the week. I'm a nut and I like to workout late. There is no audience and it feels like you practically have the whole gym to yourself. You can sing, dance, act a fool and no one cares.
- Big, bright, clean.
- A lot of machines to workout on, lots of tvs to watch
- Circuit training rooms
- Massage Chairs & Hydro Massage Beds !!! (BC only)
- Tanning (I don't tan, but some people do), (BC only)
- Bring a friend for free (BC only)
- Workout at any PF anywhere (BC only)
- Canceling membership is (I think) only about $50 which is far cheaper than most other places.
- Free training groups
Cons:
- No classes
- Not open 24 hours Friday - Sunday
- Gets busy during peak times
Overall, if you are an introverted personality type or you enjoy working out alone and you don't need to be engaged in a lot of classes, I think PF is a good choice. If you're intimidated by gyms, PF is really easy to go to and not at all intimidating. I call the equipment "Fisher Price" equipment because it's really simple to use and there are fully illustrated pictures on every machine.0 -
I wanted to ask this question too. I'm fat, broke, and live in a little apartment with downstairs neighbors (jumping around trying to work out at home wouldn't be very appreciated.) I don't understand free weights or know how to do anything with them, and I'm intimidated by the idea. (Even though I know "lifting heavy" is what everyone should be doing.)
I just want to go somewhere with other people who may be fat too, do a weight machine circuit, get on a treadmill for an hour or more, listen to metal, and do internval sprints like a maniac without people making fun of me.
For someone with goals like this, is Planet Fitness a good idea, or would I be wasting my time / money by working out like this? I'm thinking of joining today, so I'd really appreciate the feedback too.0 -
First of all, no one is going to make fun of you. Second, if you don't really want to lift, then you can't beat $10 a month for treadmill rental. I personally wouldn't go to Planet Fitness because I think they're premise is exclusionary and judgmental, and I feel like they don't actually want their clientele to improve. I think they prey on the introverted, overweight New Year's Resolutioners, but then again, I'm biased because I would totally set off the lunk alarm I'm not big, but I grunt, and I lift), and my husband is pretty much the type of person that they mock in their commercials, although he is neither dumb nor vain. (You can see this is a bit of a sore spot for me.) If you are intimidated by gyms, in general, it would probably be a good starter gym for you. But, again, please keep in mind, people aren't going to say anything to you. They are there to get their workout in just like you.0
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This place sounds perfect for me at this stage in my life. I'm 4 months out from a multilevel cervical spinal fusion and have been told that I can't lift over 20 lbs & nothing that will strain my neck, I can't run (at the present time) and was also told no aerobic classes yet but I can use cardio equipment. What type of equipment do they have exactly?0
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I heard that they don't allow deadlifting at Planet Fitness.0
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I just want to go somewhere with other people who may be fat too, do a weight machine circuit, get on a treadmill for an hour or more, listen to metal, and do internval sprints like a maniac without people making fun of me.
That's pretty much every gym in the country...IMHO.I personally wouldn't go to Planet Fitness because I think they're premise is exclusionary and judgmental, and I feel like they don't actually want their clientele to improve.
And agree with this ^0 -
Thinking abut joining a Planet Fitness near me, but I've hear mixed reviews. Anyone have any input on the matter?
I belong to one. Love it. I have never had to wait for a machine, ever.0 -
Planet Fitness has corporate rules that limit you to performing only beginner-level workout routines. They typically do not have squat racks or weight benches, with the only free weights being a limited dumbbell selection. Everything else is machines. If you plan on only using the cardio equipment, it's fine, but it's simply not sufficient for strength training. That being said, because it is a franchise, individual locations can opt not to adhere to the corporate policies and some do have proper equipment.0
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Just go and check it out, they are all different. The one I go to used to be a different gym, and has a lot of the old equipment so there is a ton of free weights for PF. Then there is the one near my work that is only cardio, so you it really is a toss up until you get there. It is true that the dumbells only go up to 60lbs at most PF, but not the barbell weights, they go up to what ever you can get on there.0
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I heard that they don't allow deadlifting at Planet Fitness.
I deadlift at mine and so do many others. I haven't heard that it isn't allowed.
Obviously it all depends on your own personal needs and what you want to get out of a gym. I have done some lifting programs and am currently in stage 3 of NROLFW. Yes, the dumbbells I don't think go past 80 pounds, but the day I need more than 80 lbs in a dumbbell in some exercise where I can't substitute a barbell, I will be too happy to worry that they don't have it. The cardio equipment is plenty and I have never had to wait for it. Sometimes the free weight area is busy, but that is rare. I have also used the free training and he was very helpful as well.
You really can't beat it for the money. I would like it more if there were classes, but I have also then just taken some adult ed yoga classes instead.0 -
I'm not sure if the gym is really for me, since I've always worked out at home or swimming laps at the community pool, but there is Planet Fitness right by me, and I have no clue whether I should join or not since I just moved out of my mom's where my home gym was. But I always hear good things about this gym!0
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I heard that they don't allow deadlifting at Planet Fitness.
I deadlift at mine and so do many others. I haven't heard that it isn't allowed.
Obviously it all depends on your own personal needs and what you want to get out of a gym. I have done some lifting programs and am currently in stage 3 of NROLFW. Yes, the dumbbells I don't think go past 80 pounds, but the day I need more than 80 lbs in a dumbbell in some exercise where I can't substitute a barbell, I will be too happy to worry that they don't have it. The cardio equipment is plenty and I have never had to wait for it. Sometimes the free weight area is busy, but that is rare. I have also used the free training and he was very helpful as well.
You really can't beat it for the money. I would like it more if there were classes, but I have also then just taken some adult ed yoga classes instead.
Corporate policy prohibits it and most PF locations do not stock free weights. As I mentioned in my answer though, they are franchises and individual locations often choose to go against corporate policy. That being said, when giving advice to others over the internet regarding PF, don't automatically assume their location will be like yours and will laugh in the face of corporate policy.
EDIT: The PF I was a member of a couple years back was a "100% compliant" location, meaning they strictly enforced the rules demanded by corporate, and the only equipment in the gym were purple weight machines, cardio machines, a dip stand, an assisted chinup station, a nautilus machine with a weight stack, a smith machine, and a selection of dumbbells that did not exceed 55 lbs. Technically, this is all a PF gym is allowed to stock while maintaining 100% compliance with corporate policy.0 -
I'm not big into lifting right now so I love PF. Their machines are all nice and new and I've never seen anything out of order at the locations I go to. However, I recently switched to 24hr Fitness because I got a great price, they were closer to home, and I was ready to start taking some group classes. I almost want to switch back to PF though because it is so much nicer than any 24hr I've been to. Their machines are all super old, there are lines for some of them like the stairmaster, and stuff is always broken. It's also really loud. I know a lot of people hate the Lunk Alarm at PF, but after switching I now realize how much I liked a quiet gym w/o dropping weights everywhere. It's much less intimidating for beginners IMO.0
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I hated gyms but then I joined Planet Fitness and I LOVE IT! That being stated, I've been to a different one aside from my local one and it certainly wasn't as nice so the best way to tell is to just go and see for yourself. I have a Black Card (BC) Membership which affords me certain perks I really enjoy. Each PF is going to vary from location to location but I'm including the pros found at my local PF in Wallingford, Connecticut.
My pros:
- Open 24 hours during the week. I'm a nut and I like to workout late. There is no audience and it feels like you practically have the whole gym to yourself. You can sing, dance, act a fool and no one cares.
- Big, bright, clean.
- A lot of machines to workout on, lots of tvs to watch
- Circuit training rooms
- Massage Chairs & Hydro Massage Beds !!! (BC only)
- Tanning (I don't tan, but some people do), (BC only)
- Bring a friend for free (BC only)
- Workout at any PF anywhere (BC only)
- Canceling membership is (I think) only about $50 which is far cheaper than most other places.
- Free training groups
Cons:
- No classes
- Not open 24 hours Friday - Sunday
- Gets busy during peak times
Overall, if you are an introverted personality type or you enjoy working out alone and you don't need to be engaged in a lot of classes, I think PF is a good choice. If you're intimidated by gyms, PF is really easy to go to and not at all intimidating. I call the equipment "Fisher Price" equipment because it's really simple to use and there are fully illustrated pictures on every machine.
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$50 to CANCEL membership??? Holy hell, what a rip off! There should not be a charge at all for that!]0 -
I heard that they have a limit as to how often you can visit. Is this true?0
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Corporate policy prohibits it and most PF locations do not stock free weights. As I mentioned in my answer though, they are franchises and individual locations often choose to go against corporate policy. That being said, when giving advice to others over the internet regarding PF, don't automatically assume their location will be like yours and will laugh in the face of corporate policy.
EDIT: The PF I was a member of a couple years back was a "100% compliant" location, meaning they strictly enforced the rules demanded by corporate, and the only equipment in the gym were purple weight machines, cardio machines, a dip stand, an assisted chinup station, a nautilus machine with a weight stack, a smith machine, and a selection of dumbbells that did not exceed 55 lbs. Technically, this is all a PF gym is allowed to stock while maintaining 100% compliance with corporate policy.
Wow dude! Sorry you had a bad experience. I was only relating my own experiences. I will from now on end everything I post on here with "your results may vary" so that I don't give someone else the horribly false impression that everything that happens to me will happen EXACTLY like that to them.
To the person who asked if they limit the number of times you can visit, I am not aware of a limit and go 4 or 5 times a week myself, BUT YOUR RESULTS MAY VARY.0 -
I heard that they don't allow deadlifting at Planet Fitness.
I deadlift at mine and so do many others. I haven't heard that it isn't allowed.
Obviously it all depends on your own personal needs and what you want to get out of a gym. I have done some lifting programs and am currently in stage 3 of NROLFW. Yes, the dumbbells I don't think go past 80 pounds, but the day I need more than 80 lbs in a dumbbell in some exercise where I can't substitute a barbell, I will be too happy to worry that they don't have it. The cardio equipment is plenty and I have never had to wait for it. Sometimes the free weight area is busy, but that is rare. I have also used the free training and he was very helpful as well.
You really can't beat it for the money. I would like it more if there were classes, but I have also then just taken some adult ed yoga classes instead.
Corporate policy prohibits it and most PF locations do not stock free weights. As I mentioned in my answer though, they are franchises and individual locations often choose to go against corporate policy. That being said, when giving advice to others over the internet regarding PF, don't automatically assume their location will be like yours and will laugh in the face of corporate policy.
EDIT: The PF I was a member of a couple years back was a "100% compliant" location, meaning they strictly enforced the rules demanded by corporate, and the only equipment in the gym were purple weight machines, cardio machines, a dip stand, an assisted chinup station, a nautilus machine with a weight stack, a smith machine, and a selection of dumbbells that did not exceed 55 lbs. Technically, this is all a PF gym is allowed to stock while maintaining 100% compliance with corporate policy.
I really don't find this to be true, you can quote coporate policy all you want, but I have actually been to PF's in many states, and have only been to one that has not had any free weights. Like the other poster, I think your bad experience is blinding your judgement. I also see people deadlifting at my PF, which is kind of annoying, because there isn't an actual spot for it, so they take the bars off of the flat or incline benches.0
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