Planet Fitness?

So it's like basically 99% of all the other facilities.

Apparently, I previously hit all the 1%, "bad example" gyms. Colossal bad luck on my part.

At over 300 lbs, I was certainly never welcomed with open arms at Golds, Bally, 24 Hour Fitness, Aspen Fitness, or even Mademoiselle, who claims to be friendly and female centered. I paid for memberships at one time or another in my life to all of the gyms I mentioned. At two of them, I was actually openly and rather rudely informed by staff that there was "nothing here on (my) level", and that I might be better suited to Curves. At one other privately owned gym, when struggling during a spinning class, I was asked by the instructor "do you need help?" and when I answered affirmatively, was told "then go see a shrink", accompanied by a derisive laugh and a turned back. Ironically, now that I've dropped a large percentage of the excess weight, one of those two major chain gyms has aggressively sales pitched me at more than one street fair where they had a booth. You couldn't pay me enough to set foot back in that place. Stuff like that tends to stick with a person.

I get that there are "good" and "bad" gyms. I just don't understand why so many people are so up in arms over a caricature of stereotypical behavior being called out in advertising. It's a common application in marketing, and happens all. The freaking. Time. What is it hurting you if you're not exhibiting that behavior yourself?

Thinking abut joining a Planet Fitness near me, but I've hear mixed reviews. Anyone have any input on the matter?

I'm under the impression that PF is geared to be beginner friendly. Since it's so affordable and no contract, I think it's worth finding out. You may love it for awhile and then outgrow it and that's ok. This is all about finding out what you like and continuing to grow. I say give it a try!

There is a contract.

Apparently so. I've been a member at two of the gyms you've listed, and other local ones and never observed such behavior.

It's not hurting me at all, I just find it ironic. Judgment Free Zone, but they have a "stupid person" alarm on the wall.

You know what I find ironic? How many times I've seen this argument made, that "if I don't see it, it must not happen". Especially when (dubiously) supported by claims like "we're all too involved with our workouts to notice what other people are doing"...really? So, by that argument, wouldn't the claimant be admitting that they just MIGHT be too preoccupied to notice if such a thing actually did happen? Not saying you do this...pretty sure you don't, because you seem intelligent enough to know better...it just brought up a thought.

It would be nice if gyms like PF didn't have to exist, but the fact of the matter is, not everyone is comfortable with the experiences they have in a traditional gym, and that's why they do what they do. For what it's worth, I don't think the Lunk Alarm at my local PF is even hooked up. I've seen the wires hanging loose behind it.

Stupid Oregon, the nearest Planet Fitness to me is 30 miles in all directions. I would love to go as I have physical limitations (severe) that prevents me from lifting and doing squats. I can do lots of cardio though. I live on a fixed income so this would be great for me. The gyms in my town start off at 100 bucks a month,and are catered to body builders, which sadly I cannot afford and I am not interested at my age to be a body builder. :sad:

the world is free to walk or jog in though

The walking part and low impact cardio (elliptical) I can do daily. Jogging is part of the physical limitation I have. I would like to go to a gym for companionship and hanging around people with common goals. I just don't want to go to a gym where body building is their focus.