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'm not offended by the equipment they do/don't choose to carry.

I'm offended at being called a lunk.

If I opened a gym and advertised it as a 'fatso free zone' there would be outrage. Even if I only did it as a "humorous marketing hook". It all comes back to the fact that apparently it's ok to mock and deride those that have worked hard for what they have (intelligence, fitness, muscles, etc...) but not ok to mock and deride people who are what they are due to a lack of work or dedication (stupidity, obesity, etc...).

OOOH! That's really interesting... You know, I never thought that ALL lifters were "lunks"... I guess I always interpreted it to mean specifically the lifters who postured around and acted like fools were lunks... is it a real word? I am googling now!

This really should be addressed. No business should be allowed to refuse service against people, especially based on how they look!

Well, let's step back from that ledge. Look at Abercrombie for example. They take a real cheap shot approach, making a profit by preying on adolescents, because they really need ANOTHER reason to feel awkward and insecure. I think it's awful and soulless and would never patronize their stores, but they have every right to do it. PF isn't breaking any laws, they can do what they want. I just think it's a disservice to their customers, and said so. Planet will keep turning.

ETA: no pun intended, but, imma go ahead and leave it there.

They do have a right to pick and choose the equipment that goes into their gyms, but I would think there are Laws against discriminating people who look "different" from accessing their gym? That is like turning away a homosexual, or a transexual, or a black individual just because they are "different"

This really should be addressed. No business should be allowed to refuse service against people, especially based on how they look!

Well, let's step back from that ledge. Look at Abercrombie for example. They take a real cheap shot approach, making a profit by preying on adolescents, because they really need ANOTHER reason to feel awkward and insecure. I think it's awful and soulless and would never patronize their stores, but they have every right to do it. PF isn't breaking any laws, they can do what they want. I just think it's a disservice to their customers, and said so. Planet will keep turning.

ETA: no pun intended, but, imma go ahead and leave it there.

They do have a right to pick and choose the equipment that goes into their gyms, but I would think there are Laws against discriminating people who look "different" from accessing their gym? That is like turning away a homosexual, or a transexual, or a black individual just because they are "different"

This really should be addressed. No business should be allowed to refuse service against people, especially based on how they look!

Well, let's step back from that ledge. Look at Abercrombie for example. They take a real cheap shot approach, making a profit by preying on adolescents, because they really need ANOTHER reason to feel awkward and insecure. I think it's awful and soulless and would never patronize their stores, but they have every right to do it. PF isn't breaking any laws, they can do what they want. I just think it's a disservice to their customers, and said so. Planet will keep turning.

ETA: no pun intended, but, imma go ahead and leave it there.

They do have a right to pick and choose the equipment that goes into their gyms, but I would think there are Laws against discriminating people who look "different" from accessing their gym? That is like turning away a homosexual, or a transexual, or a black individual just because they are "different"

This really should be addressed. No business should be allowed to refuse service against people, especially based on how they look!

Well, let's step back from that ledge. Look at Abercrombie for example. They take a real cheap shot approach, making a profit by preying on adolescents, because they really need ANOTHER reason to feel awkward and insecure. I think it's awful and soulless and would never patronize their stores, but they have every right to do it. PF isn't breaking any laws, they can do what they want. I just think it's a disservice to their customers, and said so. Planet will keep turning.

ETA: no pun intended, but, imma go ahead and leave it there.

They do have a right to pick and choose the equipment that goes into their gyms, but I would think there are Laws against discriminating people who look "different" from accessing their gym? That is like turning away a homosexual, or a transexual, or a black individual just because they are "different"

"Target Market: A target market is defined as a specific group of potential buyers for which a business positions its products and services." In this case, PF's target market is people who are put off/"gymtimidated" by "Lunks".

Is it true they have pizza parties and bagels there? Being new to this (no, I'm not a resolutioner, I started in October and still at it ), I can't even imaging being tempted to eat junk at the place where I go to for healthy living.

hmm didn't realize they were so bad...I'm glad I use the Y with the rest of the lunks.

GOD FORBID I drink out of my gallon jug! OMG.

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.

I dont understand this either..if you start with a 100# deadlift that is not advanced….

Figuring out a convenient way to get that 100# deadlift at proper height (using iron plates) can be an advanced problem though.

I just wasn't ready before.

Whoever told you that was lying to you, probably for their own profit.

To counter that notion of "not ready". During gym/trainer shopping early last year I had a couple free sessions with different trainers. A trainer at equinox who had the full run down of my past injuries which I gave to every trainer since having spine surgery is pretty heavy duty and i must disclose, thought I might be able to do a deadlift unweighted after watching me train for 15 minutes. I watched him carefully and worriedly show me how it's done and listened very intently. When it was my turn I stood in starting position MOTIONLESS since i had a mental block where I had trained my muscles over the course of YEARS of debilitating pain NOT to engage those muscles so as to avoid spasms and I couldn't will them to work. In fact attempting to make them work sent my mind into a bad and scary place that I had to turn to the big picture windows so he would not see me tear up. After that little break, I explained what had happened. He stayed silent while I got my mental bearings. He KNEW I would make a 2nd attempt and did not push me nor discourage me. He simply waited. When I informed me I felt ready and HAD to make a 2nd attempt, he did not smirk or cajole or any other thing, he just stood at the ready. OF COURSE I did it. It was a major mental obstacle that unlocked MYRIADS of other activities for me having gotten over the biggest hurdle... the direct and specific use of the muscles in question. I nearly floated out of the gym that day and shudder to think what would have happened if I had done that in a gym that is afraid of the most basic moves. With my past physical injury issues and the confidence and mental hurdles I need to get over I can only say that I cannot afford the $10 a month to attend a gym that will create a "safe" buffer zone for me to never get back to the reality that is my new stronger form. No matter how brightly painted it may be. My heart and mind cannot afford it, neither can my limited time left on this planet. I wasted nearly ten years with back problems, I can't afford another ten seconds with imaginary problems nurtured by a place that wants to nurture the fear in me.

So, are you saying I can pick up a purple squat rack on the cheap?