Planet Fitness removing squat racks? Aroo?

I've got to say, for someone like me who was completely intimidated by going to the gym at the beginning of my weight loss journey, I was relieved and glad to have a place like Planet Fitness. I didn't feel as self-conscious or uncomfortable while I learned fitness. Now that I'm almost a year into my new lifestyle, I've grown more comfortable in a gym setting and would be confident enough to go to another gym. But I'm still grateful that I had my time at Pf in the beginning. I think if I had not had the experience there that I had, I would probably not be where I am now. Perhaps many people who go there are like me and actually need and appreciate their approach. What is so wrong with starting at PF and then moving on to something more advanced once you're ready?

Also, in my time there, I've never seen a squat rack but have seen and used lots of other amazing equipment including weight machines, all types of free weights, three different kinds of bike machines, treadmills, and ellipticals.

if you have been working out for a year and have never attempted a barbell squat or a deadlift then you are just setting yourself behind the eight ball as these are the moves that are going to provide the most gains and increase overall strength and aid in decreasing body fat..

Wouldn't you have rather spent a year learning all the necessary movements to make a better you? Rather than find out a year in that you now have to re-learn certain moves, and are, essentially, a newbie all over again?

Wow. I never said that. I have done squats, just not on a squat rack. I'd never even heard of such a thing and I have some pretty athletic and in shape friends and relatives. And I haven't done a deadlift because my goal in starting my journey was to start with cardio and ease myself into weight lifting. And I did that, by using the weight machines and getting a friend of mine to show me the correct form on the free weights. So, I did learn the proper form for some things and will continue to learn the proper form on other things as I advance. And I did in it a place where I didn't feel stupid while learning.

I'm not saying that people who are more serious about weight lifting should be satisfied with Planet Fitness. If PF doesn't have what you need for your regime, then by all means, don't waste your money there. But for those of us that Planet Fitness does help, don't make us feel less than because we're at the level that they are offering.

I am just trying to point out that you are missing out on two of the most efficient moves for increasing strength and reducing body fat…

I am saying that people that join a gym that restricts them from using two of the most efficient moves in the weight training tool box are missing out, and it is going to make their performance and/or goals suffer.

I think the point is not everyone wants or likes to lift. In addition if made to start with lifting someone may not stick with it. People have different goals and reasons for what they do.

I just wasn't ready before.

we're at the level that they are offering.

That doesn't really mean anything, honestly. There's no "level" you need to be at to do squats and deadlifts. I'm not sure what weight training you're doing at PF, but they clearly fail to offer the most effective tools out there for people in your situation.

There are levels. And the first one is "beginner". At least that's how it was for me. I didn't stay at the beginner level. I've progressed beyond that and I plan to progress beyond the level I am now to more advanced things. And working my way up slowing and adding different activities as I go is how I build discipline. It would mean nothing for me to start at a more advanced level, get frustrated with myself, and then quit. Which I have done in the past. But, when I started off slowly at a beginner's level, I gained confidence, strength, and discipline. And, when I outgrew the beginner's level activities, it made me want to push myself to more. That's all I'm saying. Joining PF helped me do that. I NEEDED that to get myself where I am to day and to help motivate me to more in the future. I will probably outgrow PF soon. And when I do, I'll move on to something else. And that's fine too. As a matter of fact, that was always my goal. The fact that I can say that I am outgrowing PF is a HUGE accomplishment for me when two years ago, a twenty minute walk was painful for me.

Are these Planet Fitness "levels"? These don't make any sense.

The absolute first thing I would teach an absolute, know-nothing newbie is how to squat. Period, end of story. It's the single most effective and efficient exercise you can do for fat loss, strength, and muscle development.

I'm happy for your progress and all, but you're really selling yourself short by convincing yourself (or letting other people convince you) that you're not ready for "real" exercise or something.

I've said this before, I think it's an absolutely a brilliant business model and they know exactly what they are doing. They are not after people who want a gym experience. They are after people that will pay $10 a month and never show up. It doesn't matter to them. They are not after most people here. It's not really a gym, you guys. It's so obvious. It's a membership to a "gym". So, someone can tell their friends, "I joined a gym", and then never go. The $10/month is so small that no one cancels. And, they have lots of people continuing to pay monthly fees that never show up. It's absolutely brilliant. They don't want you and me there because we use the *kitten* out of the place and put wear and tear on the equipment. You and I are not part of their business model.

It's is brilliant. I wish I thought of it first.

I've said this before, I think it's an absolutely a brilliant business model and they know exactly what they are doing. They are not after people who want a gym experience. They are after people that will pay $10 a month and never show up. It doesn't matter to them. They are not after most people here. It's not really a gym, you guys. It's so obvious. It's a membership to a "gym". So, someone can tell their friends, "I joined a gym", and then never go. The $10/month is so small that no one cancels. And, they have lots of people continuing to pay monthly fees that never show up. It's absolutely brilliant. They don't want you and me there because we use the *kitten* out of the place and put wear and tear on the equipment. You and I are not part of their business model.

It's is brilliant. I wish I thought of it first.

Same point I tried to make....business model as they are a business and can still help some...

And this is all perfectly fine. But they can do it without calling us 'lunks' (still can't quite believe I can consider myself part of a group identified as 'lunks'). While at the same time claiming to be judgement free. I don't care whether it's good or bad business. I'm peeved by the hypocrisy.