Planet Fitness??

I have been a member at pf for a few weeks now and although I can only speak for the place I go I have never been happier with any fitness center. I have been a member at quite a few places and at pf I feel the most comfortable. I love the place and I can't wait to get back to it.

I was very uncomfortable about going to the gym and have never used one before...went as a guest once and wont name the gym but was looked at stupid and no one answered any questions i had...you have to be a black card holder to get the tanning n all the benefits which is 29.00 less than what i was paying for unlimited tanning at celcius...the trainer is always nice and helpful and i was self consious at first and i still have some snooties but its not what they do just their personality its a great place and i feel very comfortable their and as far as the judgementals girl just smile and say hello n claim your territory n get ur groove on...they will go their own way n do their own thing good luck

The best gym is the one you'll use! I wish you the best of luck finding one you'll use that fits your needs.

Bingo.

People need to get over their own insecurities and just work out.

Best reply so far. As much as a person "thinks' they are being judged at the gym, they're not. Nobody cares.

This thread has so much pot, meet kettle in it.

I think PF is a good starter gym (like a gateway drug) for pretty much everyone. If you get or have more advanced goals beyond the basics, you might need more than they provide. My biggest problem with it was that the locations nearest me didn't have free weights.

When I was first starting out and pretty much just wanted a treadmill because I didn't want to run in the snow, it was perfect. Now, I'd rather run in the snow. :happy:

I'm a member there. It's a great deal. There are no classes (other than they will teach you how to use the equipment). I have treadmills, elipticals, bikes, arc trainers. There are plenty of machines, and free weights. I use their 30 minute circuit workout once in awhile when I don't have a lot of time. I'm a "black card member" so I bring a guest in with me a lot. But I also use the massage chair and massage tables a lot.

There does seem to be a little less stress in the air. No one is trying to impress anyone. I went with a friend to LA Fitness recently and I felt like a fish out of water. Everyone was wearing all this expensive workout clothes, the weight area had these guys benching 300lbs. The general feeling was a little more upscale and nightclub like. I mean no one was looking down on me, but still.

What I do like about PF is that there are cleaning stations all over with spray and paper towels and people are pretty good at wiping down the equipment after they use it. I didn't see any cleaning or towels at La Fitness.

If you're just looking for a place to workout, without a lot of hype. PF is fine. But if you want to take Spin Classes and Zumba, and kickboxing, pools, spas, saunas, etc, Then pay the $25 extra month and join LA Fitness or LifeTime or something like that!

- Mike

It's $10/month and well worth it! Compared to $29-49 that others would charge. No frills no thrills, just a workout gym that you can work as hard as you like! Unless you plan to lift more than 300lbs, this would suffice your needs. I've been a member for 4years and have never heard the lunk alarm. I've accidentally dropped weights on the machine, and I'm concious not to do it again...but I've never been reprimanded for it.

I'm living in the UK now, and I don't believe there are PFs here. But if I was back in the US, no way would I join one. I find their attitude towards people who lift to be really ugly and ridiculous. I'm also pretty suspicious of them handing out pizza and stuff, and the attitude that mediocrity rules. So yeah, I'm not a fan of their philosophy at all.

I was a Gold's Gym member for years and a member of a privately owned gym in my city back in the US. Over here I'm a member of a chain gym (Virgin Active). Not really a fan, but it's a nice walking distance from me and it works for now. When my contract is up, I'll re-evaluate.

As for anyone who harbours this strange fear of fit people--it is in your best interests to get over it immediately.

At different times in my life, I have been both one of those fit people lifting, and later a really fat chick on the cardio machines who sometimes ventured over into the free weight section, as I knew what I liked doing best. Now I'm a less fat (but still fat) chick busting a move in the free weights section just like anyone else and throwing the kettlebells around. I will admit I felt a bit intimidated going back to the gym after putting on all my weight (I gained over 100 lbs), having been the really in shape "before" person. But what was the alternative? Stay home until I lost 100 lbs? No.

I got over my initial fear real quick by deciding to just focus on me and do my thing. I showed up with a plan as to what I was going to do when I hit the free weights (no standing around looking lost or stupid that way), and I had my ipod with earphones to drown out whatever, and that was it. And guess what? Everyone else was in their own worlds, focusing on themselves, too.

And you know, back when I was in great shape, young, etc. I wasn't checking out the fat people at my Gold's Gym and giggling at them! Why would I? Just like now, I was in "the zone" and only concerned with what I was there to do that day. I'm happy to report that as a fat chick, the vast majority of men and women lifting are the same way I was back then--focused on themselves! That was true at my gyms back in the US, and same goes for over here in the UK. Disclaimer--at any given gym, there happen to be at least one or two really annoying people who you'll notice are there working out whenever you are. Maybe it's that super stinky guy who never mops up his sweat puddles and yells instead of talks in a normal voice. Or maybe it's that woman who wants to be the gym nazi and tell everyone what they can and can't do. Whatever! They are everywhere too. You just accept their existence as you do a pillar in the middle of the zumba studio and ignore them...sidestep them and do your own thing. :laugh: