Planet Fitness sucks.

I understand making it mandatory for all members to wear sneakers, obviously lifting weights in flip flops is a really stupid idea, but, having sleeveless shirts? Why?

you saying that reminded me of this: :noway:

I cannot lie...

That is weird to hear...I guess it must be because it is a franchise, but the Planet Fitness I belong to is nothing like that. They have racks and racks of free weights, you can wear whatever you want (within reason), and I have never once heard that stupid alarm go off. I do wish that they had a pool or a sauna in there instead of tanning booths, but they certainly do not provide terrible service like the one you go to does! It's unfortunate that the owners of this PF have to be so ridiculous.

Its simple :

Planet Fitness is not a gym - its a ****in excuse for fatties to go to, stuff their mouth with free pizza and claim that they cant lose weight " coz genetics ". All this bull**** about "no judgement zone " and all this " politically correct/marketing cuddling to death with words " its like something straight out of the Fat Acceptance blog or site ...

My brother-in-law is the head of marketing for a large chain of gyms/fitness centers, not Planet Fitness, and he explained to me how all of this works. Large chains like PF, 24hr Fitness,etc. make the most profit from people they sign up that do not use the facilities very much. Most chains rely on the resolutioners at the first of the year for most of this, followed by the folks getting ready for beach season/summer after that. These chains know that most people will sign up then not actually come to the gym after the first few weeks or months. These people pay for the facilities for the rest of the customers who actually use the equipment consistently and are serious about working out.
Planet Fitness has taken this concept to the next level by actively discouraging people serious about working out from utilizing their facilities. The advertisements disparaging bodybuilding and depicting the women in the locker room body shaming the one customer etc. are the most blatant tactic. These advertisements promote a negative image of people who are serious about fitness. The emphasis on non- fitness amenities like tanning, tootsie rolls, free pizza and bagels, free hair cuts is another more subtle tactic, people who are very fitness oriented generally avoid these foods and who would trust a free hair cut. The equipment at Planet Fitness, no barbells with plates unless they are in a smith machine, no pre-loaded barbells over 75 lbs., the circuit of devices in the center of the facility(at least in our local location), the abundance of cardio machines vs. weightlifting machines, again are geared toward the casual user not the more advanced or "hardcore" fitness enthusiast. The final tool of shame is the "lunk alarm" sounding the alarm whenever someone breaches the rules or grunts, or drops a weight. I am all for good gym etiquette but the lunk alarm is a little much.
I am a member at the Planet Fitness near my home because I use the treadmills when adverse weather prevents me from running. I had to change my weight workout to all dumbbells because of the lack of barbells. When I am in PF the ratio is about 70% people on cardio machines moving at a snails pace,on the treadmill with the incline set at maximum and holding on for dear life while they walk and watch TV, people flitting from machine to machine engaging in what I call mess-around-itis, people socializing. These people are the target customer. The other 30% of the people actually work out seriously and actually are putting out effort.
While Planet Fitness is not my first choice, it is a 20 minute drive to the awesome gyms on Fort Bliss and that is 40 minutes I do not have to spare right now, so PF works for me for now.
I don't like the overall environment and concept of Planet Fitness but I marvel at the brilliance of the concept.

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I've read all this and I still can't figure out what's wrong with pizza and bagels.

Can someone please clue me in? I eat them regularly, so I'm thinking that I might be missing out on some important information.

I didn't read everything, but the argument for why not to eat pizza and bagels with any regularity is simple. If you are cutting/dieting/trying to lose weight the amount of carbs/saturated fat is counterproductive to the mindset of someone who trying to go to a gym in order to get in shape.

A gym like planet fitness has the tendency to attract novices as far fitness/nutrition goes. A lot of people who go to planet fitness, especially people who are over 35 who have no sort fitness/nutrition knowledge/experience, are very impressionable. They either don't have the time, or don't understand that there is more to getting in shape then jumping on a treadmill/elliptical and using the machines that they have in that 30 minute circuit. I am not criticizing anyone who uses machines or anyone who uses a treadmill or elliptical. The point I am getting at is Planet Fitness being cheap, and made out to be a judgement free-zone, presents itself as the perfect place for people who want to try to get in shape without the hassle of being in a gym where everyone is judging you, and you feel intimidated by people there. But along with the feel of being friendly for people who are out of shape looking to get into shape, it's still a gym.The first time a notice walks into a Planet Fitness they more than likely said, 'ok, I want to get in here, get a good workout, and get out of here as fast as I can'. They see the 30 minute workout section, and their question is answered. The same person may interpret that bit of direction as the fact that everything in that gym must be well thought out. So when the same person walks past the pizza and bagels, they might think twice, but in the event they go for the slice of pizza or bagel they more then likely say subconsciously "well, I earned it" or "one isn't a big deal". While TBH that person is right one isn't a big deal, and they probably did earn it. But it is counterproductive, and sending the wrong message to people who may not understand the big picture. Therein lies the problem with Planet Fitness and putting out pizza and bagels.

The big problem with Pizza monday (and Bagel Tuesday) is that EVERYONE comes out of the woodwork to go to the gym that day. I plan my rest day to be on that monday or I go after 8:30pm or so when the pizza is all gone. On the few times I went right after work to pizza monday it was crowded and I had to patiently wait to use the weight machines or a treadmill. I won't go around dinner time on pizza monday now, I just wont.

Thankfully it's one day a month, that's it. Besides, I'm training for a half marathon, so I run 4 out of 6 days a week so I'll only go to the gym if I don't want to run outside and if distance running training has taught me anything is that the treadmill is boring as all get out. I'll have to hit the gym more often come winter but that will only make me happier for the thaw.

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Well, this thread almost made it a year before resurrection....

Well, this thread almost made it a year before resurrection....

Way to go!

I didn't do it.....now it just looks bad cuz I turned the page.

Dammit, RGv2...

...why'd you resurrect this thread???

I've read all this and I still can't figure out what's wrong with pizza and bagels.

Can someone please clue me in? I eat them regularly, so I'm thinking that I might be missing out on some important information.

I didn't read everything, but the argument for why not to eat pizza and bagels with any regularity is simple. If you are cutting/dieting/trying to lose weight the amount of carbs/saturated fat is counterproductive to the mindset of someone who trying to go to a gym in order to get in shape.

A gym like planet fitness has the tendency to attract novices as far fitness/nutrition goes. A lot of people who go to planet fitness, especially people who are over 35 who have no sort fitness/nutrition knowledge/experience, are very impressionable. They either don't have the time, or don't understand that there is more to getting in shape then jumping on a treadmill/elliptical and using the machines that they have in that 30 minute circuit. I am not criticizing anyone who uses machines or anyone who uses a treadmill or elliptical. The point I am getting at is Planet Fitness being cheap, and made out to be a judgement free-zone, presents itself as the perfect place for people who want to try to get in shape without the hassle of being in a gym where everyone is judging you, and you feel intimidated by people there. But along with the feel of being friendly for people who are out of shape looking to get into shape, it's still a gym.The first time a notice walks into a Planet Fitness they more than likely said, 'ok, I want to get in here, get a good workout, and get out of here as fast as I can'. They see the 30 minute workout section, and their question is answered. The same person may interpret that bit of direction as the fact that everything in that gym must be well thought out. So when the same person walks past the pizza and bagels, they might think twice, but in the event they go for the slice of pizza or bagel they more then likely say subconsciously "well, I earned it" or "one isn't a big deal". While TBH that person is right one isn't a big deal, and they probably did earn it. But it is counterproductive, and sending the wrong message to people who may not understand the big picture. Therein lies the problem with Planet Fitness and putting out pizza and bagels.

So, you believe some food is BAD and other food is GOOD? You and I do not share that philosophy. ALL FOOD is good. Moderation and discipline are important factors in all aspects of life, not just nutrition and fitness, but certainly with regards to this specific topic, nutrition. It's total BS to say that pizza is bad for you and you can't lose weight if you eat it.

I'm not saying you can't lose weight if you eat pizza and that it's bad for you. All you are doing by interpreting what I am saying that way in making generalizations. I ate pizza about once every 2 weeks at the beginning of this cut, and it didnt stop me from losing weight.

The statements I made weren't so much directed at you as they were as some sort of reasonable way of rationalizing how Planet Fitness can consciously put out pizza and bagels when they know that most of the client base they are catering to is uninformed when it comes to nutrition and fitness.

I don't think we differ in opinion as much as we do in ways to engage other people in debates.

I'm so confused.

How can a "Lunk Alarm" exist in a judgement free zone?

My trainer gives me free weight exercises that make me "grunt" and a lot of times I clank the weights together.

My boobs are huge and sometimes that's what I have to do to really make the exercise count.

I'm definitely not a lunk, I'm a beginner who would be horrified to be scolded for doing my best during a workout. What a joke.

I looked into PF and was instantly turned off when I read the "rules". I like dead lifts and those are not allowed. Sometimes my weights clank when I'm doing chest flys, not allowed. I do grunt when I'm really pushing myself, not allowed.

No grunting? I really don't like the people who do that for show, but I once managed to grunt loud enough to scare myself *and* spit my gum about 20 feet in the air. Got a new high on bench press though. This was at a Gold's, though. I almost never grunt, and when I do it's completely unintentional, but you're right-- it's also unavoidable if you're pushing yourself hard enough.

I posted before earlier and I too don't understand the pizza/bagel thing but I will tell you this...29 of the 38 lbs I have lost are due to Planet Fitness and eating right (and no, I have never partaken in the pizza and bagels!) So I guess there are two sides to every story...it is not the best gym but probably not the worst...hell, I burn calories there, that is all I know!