Planet fitness

AnvilHead wrote: »

I think that Planet Fitness is very judgmental, especially considering that they're a company who pushes the "no judgment" agenda so hard. Their advertisements stereotype and ridicule people who are in shape and strength train, and they have a "lunk alarm" that patrons can hit to publicly humiliate anybody they feel is acting too much like they're actually in a real gym. They prey on (and foster) the ridiculous misconception that every other gym in the world is full of giant meatheads on steroids and bikini centerfolds who will ridicule and laugh at you if you dare step foot in their hallowed gym. Instead, Planet Fitness ridicules and humiliates you if you happen to be in shape and lift anything heavier than soup cans. All in the name of *not* being judgmental, of course. Because they're a "no judgment" zone.

That's spot on.

In all seriousness, this is a gym that not only provides pizza but also bagels at the front desk throughout the month. They have a neverending supply of tootsie rolls. They ban you from doing all sorts of exercises like jump roping because it's "intimidating".

They don't have a squat rack or a bench press because again "initimidating".

God forbid you are actually in shape because you are likely to get the alarm rung on you or lose your membership altogether because other members find you "intimidating".



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/20/too-fit-for-planet-fitness_n_5002658.html

This gym makes its money by selling memberships to 99% overweight and obese people who actually have no intention of using the gym. But they want to keep their membership because "what if" type of thing. The ones who actually go almost always do cardio via walking on the treadmill and you can tell because there are literally a hundred plus treadmills in this gym.



So they set the monthly membership low to get the most amount of people to sign up and without it being TOO expensive for them to cancel even though they aren't going.


In my opinion, if you are even remotely fit or genuinely intending to get and be fit, planet fitness is NOT the place for you. If it's all you can afford.... good luck. They offer free tanning and their wonderful judgement free zone.

You're likely to get heated arguments on both sides.

The above posters have pointed out the ridiculousness and hypocrisy of some of their stated policies.

I guarantee someone will come along shortly to say THEIR Planet Fitness isn't like that at all; they've never heard the lunk alarm go off; their PF has a squat rack, etc.

Here's the thing.

While I tend to agree more with the former group (even IF my local PF was more like the latter group, I still wouldn't want my dollars supporting them simply because of many of their stated positions), ultimately YOU need to decide what works for YOU. What do YOU want out of your gym? What features are important to YOU? And which gym meets YOUR requirements.

For example, In some smaller communities, PF may be the only 24 hour option - so if extended hours are important to YOU, it may be the right choice.

But I'd explore all your options before making your choice.

Planet Fitness gets a fair amount of bad press and I believe much of it is overstated and undeserved. I've been a member at the local PF for about year, and I go a couple times a week to lift/strength train. There are many people there who attend regularly and are serious about their fitness. Also, I can only remember hearing the lunk alarm maybe once or twice.

I guess the bottom line is we all need to do what works best for us and .......... "To each his own"

ruffin04rhodes wrote: »

Well...my opinion is its a great place for those who are simply interested in training and not the flash and image of LA Fitness. Been there for 6 years now and I love it. Listen, gyms are like cars, find one you like and drive it.

I think you misspelled Lifetime Fitness. LA Fitness is the blue collar alternative to Lifetime.

rainbowbow wrote: »

In all seriousness, this is a gym that not only provides pizza but also bagels at the front desk throughout the month. They have a neverending supply of tootsie rolls. They ban you from doing all sorts of exercises like jump roping because it's "intimidating".

They don't have a squat rack or a bench press because again "initimidating".

God forbid you are actually in shape because you are likely to get the alarm rung on you or lose your membership altogether because other members find you "intimidating".



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/20/too-fit-for-planet-fitness_n_5002658.html

This gym makes its money by selling memberships to 99% overweight and obese people who actually have no intention of using the gym. But they want to keep their membership because "what if" type of thing. The ones who actually go almost always do cardio via walking on the treadmill and you can tell because there are literally a hundred plus treadmills in this gym.



So they set the monthly membership low to get the most amount of people to sign up and without it being TOO expensive for them to cancel even though they aren't going.


In my opinion, if you are even remotely fit or genuinely intending to get and be fit, planet fitness is NOT the place for you. If it's all you can afford.... good luck. They offer free tanning and their wonderful judgement free zone.

That bad huh? I bought an exercise bike for cardio at home because apparently that is the quickest way to burn off a few calories but, planet fitness is like the cost of netflix a month. If I had a way of actually getting to the closest one to me without asking for a ride I would consider joining it. For $10 a month though if like alot of people you just want access to a treadmill while you work off a few calories it seems like a decent deal. I mean i looked at a gym that is about 1 mile from my house they wanted $45 a month and a 2 year commitment. To me that is like leasing a Lamborghini when all i really want to do is drive the 1 mile between my house and my job.

My biggest gripe with PF is that I have been a member there for like 9 months and have never gotten free pizza. Everyone talks about this free pizza jawn, but I've never gotten any.

I do LOL at the "no gymtidation" dress code sign though because who is intimidated by someone working out in jeans and boots?? That's where my judgment lies. People that work out in jeans and boots.

starfish235 wrote: »

Juggernaut I am nearly 59. I don't work. My favorite thing to talk about is fitness and eating right. So yes to me it is a social club of sorts. I belong to a social club for old ladies as well. I love people. gym is another place to meet people. I lost an inch in height and gained it back through gym work outs. So I use the gym as it is meant to he used.

That's all well and good. Just realize the vast majority of people don't view it the same, and if you're trying to socialize with people while they're working out, you're not likely to get very positive responses.

That said, I still don't know what any of that has to do with Planet Fitness, and I see my prediction of the "My PF isn't like that" posts proved to be spot on, so I'll gracefully bow out of this thread.

it depends on what you actually want out of your gym. i had a membership a couple of years ago simply to utilize the cardio machines when the weather was *kitten* or i didn't feel like schlepping my bike and all of my gear to the office. it was fine for that purpose.

while they do have weights and other resistance machines, it's mostly dumbbells and preloaded barbells. compound movements are the backbone of any good weight training program and you can't do most of them at PF and/or you are substantially limited as to the weight you can move (like doing dumbbell squats is next to pointless for me) so if you really want to lift, PF wouldn't be the place.

it has it's place, but i find the "no judgement zone" is laughable hypocrisy.

AnvilHead wrote: »

cwolfman13 wrote: »

it depends on what you actually want out of your gym. i had a membership a couple of years ago simply to utilize the cardio machines when the weather was *kitten* or i didn't feel like schlepping my bike and all of my gear to the office. it was fine for that purpose.

while they do have weights and other resistance machines, it's mostly dumbbells and preloaded barbells. compound movements are the backbone of any good weight training program and you can't do most of them at PF and/or you are substantially limited as to the weight you can move (like doing dumbbell squats is next to pointless for me) so if you really want to lift, PF wouldn't be the place.

it has it's place, but i find the "no judgement zone" is laughable hypocrisy.

No doubt that it's sufficient for many people, and the membership cost is reasonable (intentionally so, for retention purposes). My issue with them is the ridiculous, overdone hypocrisy. It would be like having an all-you-can-eat sushi bar in my neighborhood, but it's owned by somebody who openly supports <insert cause/agenda you're against here, to avoid derailing the thread>. I love sushi and what he's selling fits my needs, but I'm not going to support his agenda. I'd rather go to the all-you-can-eat sushi bar across town, even if it means I have to drive further and pay a little more.

yeah, it's ultimately why I moved on. now i pay $20 for 20 sessions at a local community rec center when i feel the need to bore myself to tears on a piece of cardio equipment...$20 usually takes me through about 6 months.