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No intimidation "gyms"
Replies
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It's almost a meme to crap all over PF in the fitness community, but I think it's pretty stupid. PF fills a specific niche and it's important not to get too presumptuous and uppity about other people's exercise preferences or motivations. Any exercise is better than no exercise, not everyone is about to throw themselves full force into powerlifting. Some people have no need for more sophisticated or equipped gyms and don't want to pay for it. I had a PF membership at one point because it was the cheapest in my area and I really just needed it for the barbells, dumbbells, and an elliptical machine. Never ran into any troubles with people "discouraging me" from working out too hard (and, quite frankly, when I had a Lifetime membership, I didn't like that some people would practically throw their weights to the ground and scream at random, it was just 1 or 2 regulars who would do this but it seemed pretty dramatic and obnoxious). I'm a small woman who had just started out with weight training and I wasn't about to outgrow the weight range PF had available any time soon so their available selection was no issue for me.
Then, and now, I exercise mostly to maintain a decent level of fitness or to burn some calories and that's it -- I am not bodybuilding or training for a particular sport. I think that is probably most people who go to gyms. So far it's worked out more than fine for me.
Maybe the gym's concept doesn't suit your needs, and that's fine, that's why there's other gyms. But I think it's weird that the same people who *kitten* and moan about how people don't exercise regularly are probably the same ones turning around and saying "oh, well okay they're exercising but *sniff* I don't like the gym they're going to". Grow up and mind your business, it doesn't matter. Not everyone needs to be you.
Applause!
I don't get why (some) people are so upset about it. It doesn't need to impact on your life or your goals, at all.5 -
Packerjohn wrote: »GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »mortuseon_ wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »While I think the concept itself of "no intimidation" gyms is silly and unnecessarily instills fear of gyms, I have no problem with the existence of 'less hardcore' gyms. Not everybody is (or wants to be) a hardcore powerlifter or bodybuilder, and that's perfectly fine. In terms of general health, any exercise is better than no exercise.
I do have a problem with the blatant hypocrisy of Planet Fitness' marketing strategy. They label themselves as a "no judgment zone", yet they're highly judgmental of fit people and their commercials stereotype and mock them in various ways. If any other gym chain wanted to project a more 'hardcore' image and made TV commercials stereotyping, mocking and belittling fat people and scrawny non-lifters in a similar way, they'd be crucified for it.
Well said!
I kinda had to laugh because I’m pretty sure I go to an “intimidation gym” lol
I guess as long as people are getting fit and healthy right? 🤷🏼♀️
I belonged to a Gold’s Gym in the late ‘80s/early ‘90s that was the home gym for several bodybuilders, both pro and amateur, men and women, so I guess some people would consider that an “intimidation gym”. Thing is, they were the most chill people in the whole gym - so into their own workouts that they hardly even noticed anything going on around them. They always racked their weights, put away their dumbbells and wiped down the equipment because it’s what they were taught to do, and because the other bodybuilders would call them out if they didn’t. They’d say hi, but never offered unsolicited advice or harassed anybody. The only times I ever saw them do anything like that was when the high school gym bros would get rowdy and start acting stupid - a few quiet words from one of the bodybuilders and the stupidity would cease very quickly.
I’ve had worse experiences in the “non-intimidation” type gyms - brain dead people hogging stations while they text, take selfies for their instasnapface accounts, or sit there and gossip about their dates. If you’re there to workout, then workout - if you’re there to socialize and impress your social media followers, go do it somewhere where you’re not hindering everybody else from getting their workouts done. That kind of garbage is more likely to happen in those kind of gyms because everybody is afraid to say anything to them because of the “judgment free” thing.
I’d much rather be in a gym with a bunch of hardcore “lunks” going quietly (or even noisily) and efficiently about their workouts than with a bunch of sheeple randomly stumbling around from station to station, competing for social media ‘likes’ and leaving a trail of their “toys” strewn around the gym behind them.
Spot on:
Heaven forbid you have to ASK to work in during someone's set! And god forbid they use an app to track their training, lest they be judged by Ye Olde School Gym Bros. This is ridiculous. If someone is hogging the squat rack, use your words and ask them politely to move. It's not that hard.
Believe me, I have no problem asking someone hogging a piece of equipment to move their *kitten*.
Thing is, God forbid, people should have enough common sense to do it without being asked
You want people to anticipate your needs in a gym?
Honestly, the gym I belonged to that was the worst for bros on phones and people hogging squat racks, benches, and power cages was an LA Fitness.
The best gym I ever belonged to was a gym that was part of our local health complex/wellness center, but it was a small gym (to accommodate the swimming pool) and had a limited number of benches. If you hit it at a crowded time, there was a lot of waiting.
Planet Fitness was a mix of people, including dudebros who were helpful. It was my first gym because of location and cost. I'm not fond of their marketing, but that's not the only thing that influences my decisions to join gyms.
No I do not expect people to anticipate my needs in a gym. That's why I have no problem asking to work in.
It should be common courtesy to not hog space/equipment in a public place. Wouldn't you think someone was s total douche if you were at a crowded airport and someone had their crap on 3 seats in the waiting area and you had to ask them to move some of it so you could sit?
Yes, but I wouldn't be trying to use those people to prove a point about certain types of airports either.3 -
mortuseon_ wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »While I think the concept itself of "no intimidation" gyms is silly and unnecessarily instills fear of gyms, I have no problem with the existence of 'less hardcore' gyms. Not everybody is (or wants to be) a hardcore powerlifter or bodybuilder, and that's perfectly fine. In terms of general health, any exercise is better than no exercise.
I do have a problem with the blatant hypocrisy of Planet Fitness' marketing strategy. They label themselves as a "no judgment zone", yet they're highly judgmental of fit people and their commercials stereotype and mock them in various ways. If any other gym chain wanted to project a more 'hardcore' image and made TV commercials stereotyping, mocking and belittling fat people and scrawny non-lifters in a similar way, they'd be crucified for it.
Well said!
I kinda had to laugh because I’m pretty sure I go to an “intimidation gym” lol
I guess as long as people are getting fit and healthy right? 🤷🏼♀️
I belonged to a Gold’s Gym in the late ‘80s/early ‘90s that was the home gym for several bodybuilders, both pro and amateur, men and women, so I guess some people would consider that an “intimidation gym”. Thing is, they were the most chill people in the whole gym - so into their own workouts that they hardly even noticed anything going on around them. They always racked their weights, put away their dumbbells and wiped down the equipment because it’s what they were taught to do, and because the other bodybuilders would call them out if they didn’t. They’d say hi, but never offered unsolicited advice or harassed anybody. The only times I ever saw them do anything like that was when the high school gym bros would get rowdy and start acting stupid - a few quiet words from one of the bodybuilders and the stupidity would cease very quickly.
I’ve had worse experiences in the “non-intimidation” type gyms - brain dead people hogging stations while they text, take selfies for their instasnapface accounts, or sit there and gossip about their dates. If you’re there to workout, then workout - if you’re there to socialize and impress your social media followers, go do it somewhere where you’re not hindering everybody else from getting their workouts done. That kind of garbage is more likely to happen in those kind of gyms because everybody is afraid to say anything to them because of the “judgment free” thing.
I’d much rather be in a gym with a bunch of hardcore “lunks” going quietly (or even noisily) and efficiently about their workouts than with a bunch of sheeple randomly stumbling around from station to station, competing for social media ‘likes’ and leaving a trail of their “toys” strewn around the gym behind them.
Spot on:
Heaven forbid you have to ASK to work in during someone's set! And god forbid they use an app to track their training, lest they be judged by Ye Olde School Gym Bros. This is ridiculous. If someone is hogging the squat rack, use your words and ask them politely to move. It's not that hard.
Seems like this would be harder for a newbie/someone with social anxiety/someone who didn't know people weren't permitted to just hog equipment when not using it. So I vote for it being pretty rude to wait for others to ask to work in.5 -
GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »Honestly, the gym I belonged to that was the worst for bros on phones and people hogging squat racks, benches, and power cages was an LA Fitness.
I don't think anyone is claiming PF is worse for that. I thought AnvilHead brought it up in a list of easy rules for people who are new to not annoy others at the gym (or at least be able to feel confident they were in the right).
People occasionally make it hard to work in at my gym too.3 -
comptonelizabeth wrote: »It's almost a meme to crap all over PF in the fitness community, but I think it's pretty stupid. PF fills a specific niche and it's important not to get too presumptuous and uppity about other people's exercise preferences or motivations. Any exercise is better than no exercise, not everyone is about to throw themselves full force into powerlifting. Some people have no need for more sophisticated or equipped gyms and don't want to pay for it. I had a PF membership at one point because it was the cheapest in my area and I really just needed it for the barbells, dumbbells, and an elliptical machine. Never ran into any troubles with people "discouraging me" from working out too hard (and, quite frankly, when I had a Lifetime membership, I didn't like that some people would practically throw their weights to the ground and scream at random, it was just 1 or 2 regulars who would do this but it seemed pretty dramatic and obnoxious). I'm a small woman who had just started out with weight training and I wasn't about to outgrow the weight range PF had available any time soon so their available selection was no issue for me.
Then, and now, I exercise mostly to maintain a decent level of fitness or to burn some calories and that's it -- I am not bodybuilding or training for a particular sport. I think that is probably most people who go to gyms. So far it's worked out more than fine for me.
Maybe the gym's concept doesn't suit your needs, and that's fine, that's why there's other gyms. But I think it's weird that the same people who *kitten* and moan about how people don't exercise regularly are probably the same ones turning around and saying "oh, well okay they're exercising but *sniff* I don't like the gym they're going to". Grow up and mind your business, it doesn't matter. Not everyone needs to be you.
Applause!
I don't get why (some) people are so upset about it. It doesn't need to impact on your life or your goals, at all.
Maybe some people are "so upset" about it but I don't see that in the majority of the comments here. Many just find their marketing approach kinda polarizing and offensive for no reason other than profits. If there is a segment of the population that is served by them, good for those folks. But the choices they present, lunks vs. nice people is just plain a fake dilema.
But hey, while they may not be for me, anyone else who want to go there does not make me, or most others, "so upset". That is their choice and their life. If it improves their fitness great. I can feel that way and still feel that PF's marketing approach is offensive without being upset about it.6 -
L1zardQueen wrote: »lynn_glenmont wrote: »Bry_Fitness70 wrote: »
They don't really have bagels in my country either.
I am so sorry for you and your compatriots.
Hopefully you have some other wonderful national foods to make up for it.
They do! And there is one bagel place here that does sell a mostly authentic bagel, so I always have there.
Plus I'll be in New York in less than 2 weeks and I'm going to eat ALL OF THE BAGELS
From where are you visiting?
Panama City, Panama. I was born and raised in New York though.
Happy Homecoming!!!
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Packerjohn wrote: »GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »mortuseon_ wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »While I think the concept itself of "no intimidation" gyms is silly and unnecessarily instills fear of gyms, I have no problem with the existence of 'less hardcore' gyms. Not everybody is (or wants to be) a hardcore powerlifter or bodybuilder, and that's perfectly fine. In terms of general health, any exercise is better than no exercise.
I do have a problem with the blatant hypocrisy of Planet Fitness' marketing strategy. They label themselves as a "no judgment zone", yet they're highly judgmental of fit people and their commercials stereotype and mock them in various ways. If any other gym chain wanted to project a more 'hardcore' image and made TV commercials stereotyping, mocking and belittling fat people and scrawny non-lifters in a similar way, they'd be crucified for it.
Well said!
I kinda had to laugh because I’m pretty sure I go to an “intimidation gym” lol
I guess as long as people are getting fit and healthy right? 🤷🏼♀️
I belonged to a Gold’s Gym in the late ‘80s/early ‘90s that was the home gym for several bodybuilders, both pro and amateur, men and women, so I guess some people would consider that an “intimidation gym”. Thing is, they were the most chill people in the whole gym - so into their own workouts that they hardly even noticed anything going on around them. They always racked their weights, put away their dumbbells and wiped down the equipment because it’s what they were taught to do, and because the other bodybuilders would call them out if they didn’t. They’d say hi, but never offered unsolicited advice or harassed anybody. The only times I ever saw them do anything like that was when the high school gym bros would get rowdy and start acting stupid - a few quiet words from one of the bodybuilders and the stupidity would cease very quickly.
I’ve had worse experiences in the “non-intimidation” type gyms - brain dead people hogging stations while they text, take selfies for their instasnapface accounts, or sit there and gossip about their dates. If you’re there to workout, then workout - if you’re there to socialize and impress your social media followers, go do it somewhere where you’re not hindering everybody else from getting their workouts done. That kind of garbage is more likely to happen in those kind of gyms because everybody is afraid to say anything to them because of the “judgment free” thing.
I’d much rather be in a gym with a bunch of hardcore “lunks” going quietly (or even noisily) and efficiently about their workouts than with a bunch of sheeple randomly stumbling around from station to station, competing for social media ‘likes’ and leaving a trail of their “toys” strewn around the gym behind them.
Spot on:
Heaven forbid you have to ASK to work in during someone's set! And god forbid they use an app to track their training, lest they be judged by Ye Olde School Gym Bros. This is ridiculous. If someone is hogging the squat rack, use your words and ask them politely to move. It's not that hard.
Believe me, I have no problem asking someone hogging a piece of equipment to move their *kitten*.
Thing is, God forbid, people should have enough common sense to do it without being asked
You want people to anticipate your needs in a gym?
Honestly, the gym I belonged to that was the worst for bros on phones and people hogging squat racks, benches, and power cages was an LA Fitness.
The best gym I ever belonged to was a gym that was part of our local health complex/wellness center, but it was a small gym (to accommodate the swimming pool) and had a limited number of benches. If you hit it at a crowded time, there was a lot of waiting.
Planet Fitness was a mix of people, including dudebros who were helpful. It was my first gym because of location and cost. I'm not fond of their marketing, but that's not the only thing that influences my decisions to join gyms.
No I do not expect people to anticipate my needs in a gym. That's why I have no problem asking to work in.
It should be common courtesy to not hog space/equipment in a public place. Wouldn't you think someone was s total douche if you were at a crowded airport and someone had their crap on 3 seats in the waiting area and you had to ask them to move some of it so you could sit?
I currently work out at the campus rec center. Love it—beautiful facility, cheap, convenient. The only pet peeve I have is the groups of college students (3-4) who workout and talk and keep a station occupied for an hour or more. I noticed this more here than other, public gyms. I just go early on the weekends (or late on Friday/Saturday nights) Most college-aged folk are still sleeping in weekend mornings.
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GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »Honestly, the gym I belonged to that was the worst for bros on phones and people hogging squat racks, benches, and power cages was an LA Fitness.
I don't think anyone is claiming PF is worse for that. I thought AnvilHead brought it up in a list of easy rules for people who are new to not annoy others at the gym (or at least be able to feel confident they were in the right).
People occasionally make it hard to work in at my gym too.
Oh, make no mistake. I have plenty of beefs with PF's marketing and think it's terrible because it preys on people's fears.
At the same time, I also have issue with people posting memes about other people's behavior at a gym and acting superior about it in a thread where they're also taking PF to task for... doing the same thing.
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lynn_glenmont wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »gallicinvasion wrote: »youcantflexcardio wrote: »Recently found out this is a thing beyond the obvious Planet Fitness.
I think this is a completely BS thing. I will admit it is a genius business model (Keep membership costs so low people will keep it even if they don't use it, discourage the culture of people who will put wear and tear on your equipment, and could possibly teach newcomers something). I will give credit to the idea from a financial standpoint.
From a fitness standpoint, it's completely pointless and is the embodiment of our lazy, overly PC, overfed American culture, at least IMO. It would be better for our country as a whole if there was less of this "you're fine the way you are, but if you want to work out you can but whatever is ok" and more of the attitude "you are obese, here is the means and knowledge to fix it - now put in some work."
That's just my .02. Debate
Do you think that intimidation is important for habit changing? Nothing wrong with encouraging people to put in some work (that's what all gyms generally are for, regardless of if they're considered "intimidation gyms" or not), but why is intimidation necessary? Don't you think that people are more likely to make changes when they don't feel like they'll be judged for their beginner fitness level? Everyone starts at the beginning, and fear of judgment holds an awful lot of people back from what we know they can accomplish.
The problem is, you can/will be judged anywhere you go. It's not like Planet Fitness is filled with a different species of human being that has had judgment magically removed from their minds. You'll be judged in the grocery store, the post office, at work, walking down the street, sitting in a restaurant - basically anywhere you go. There are judgmental and non-judgmental people in any gym/workout environment. The only way to avoid it is to either work out at home, or find a gym which has individual, isolated cubicles where you can work out without anybody else seeing you - or that only allows one person in at a time.
The vast majority of people in any given gym are far less judgmental than the people you're around in your life the remainder of the time. Even the most fit people there started out unfit at some point, and have traversed a long, hard road to get to where they are. They understand what a newbie goes through, because they were there once too. If they notice you to any extent beyond a fleeting glance while they're busy with their own workout, the thought is most likely that they're happy to see you taking that first step and trying to improve yourself. Basically the only way anybody is judged negatively in a gym is if you're doing something stupid and/or purposely drawing attention to yourself. And about 90% of the people in any given gym are just as insecure and worried about judgment as you are.
Gyms are not places filled with superhuman people. They're the same people you deal with every day as you go about your life.
Yep, I feel the people that join PF because of "gym-intimidation" (as opposed to has stuff they, need, location, price, etc.) are intimidated/have social anxiety issues in a lot of situation in addition to a gym.
Then why is it so awful that there are gyms that make a point of trying to allay those anxieties so that those people might actually have a place where they will exercise? Because if you're right about their general social anxiety issues, the alternative for those people if places like PF didn't exist wouldn't be going to a gym that doesn't market itself that way. And it won't be going outside for a walk or a run. At best, it might be working out to a video at home. Maybe.
My only problem with it is when people need to talk about how great PF is because it lacks all these horrible things that other gyms supposedly have. It's falsely representing how other gyms are, and creating fear among people that in other gyms they will be treated badly. If someone wants to ignore the obnoxious marketing and go to PF because it's convenient, open 24/7, or is cheap, I certainly don't care.
It's all the posts about how PF is better because it's clean, or lacks people who treat you rudely, or doesn't have obnoxious gym rats or has equipment available or whatnot when I find it slightly annoying. So do other gyms, plus in many cases other things PF does not have (and yes, that many people might not want).
My gym is more expensive than PF (PF isn't near my home or office so isn't an option, but there are cheaper gyms that are). I pay for that because it has some things that are worth it to me. I don't go on MFP and go on about how my gym is better than other gyms, or claim the people are nicer or that other gyms would be icky, and it kind of bugs me when PF fans do that -- I think it's as common as people being negative about PF, and I also think people are ONLY negative about PF because it has intentionally "us against them" advertising. Too bad that in this day "us against them" seems to be the way to make money, ick.
I am not and have never been a PF member. The ads I see on TV emphasize the low cost and the always-open aspect. I do remember seeing something on YouTube about the PF rules that seemed to be created by PF, and I thought it was just stupid. It seemed to boil down to "don't lift heavy things" and "only drink water from tiny containers while you're exercising." I just don't get the point of getting all bent out of shape over marketing or forum chattering that makes it clear I'm not the target audience for that product or service. I think the appropriate pushback to "PF is better because people at other gyms are means" is to say that "in fact people at other gyms are not mean. Most of them are, most of the time, indifferent to you because they're there doing their own thing, and as long as you are nice -- i.e., abide by basic kindergarten rules like put your toys away and don't spread your bodily fluids around the classroom -- they will be nice to you when you interact with them."
And I guess I'm not buying the idea that PF's marketing is causing the anxiety and fear of other gyms. It seems a bizarre marketing concept to try to sell your gym with marketing that apparently offends a large segment of the potential gym member market, in the hopes of creating fear in enough people to make a viable business plan. Plus, I know for a fact that there were people who wouldn't go to a gym (even when it was a perk they didn't have to pay extra for, at college or in a workplace) out of fear of being ridiculed, ostracized, or treated as stupid long before PF existed.5 -
lynn_glenmont wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »gallicinvasion wrote: »youcantflexcardio wrote: »Recently found out this is a thing beyond the obvious Planet Fitness.
I think this is a completely BS thing. I will admit it is a genius business model (Keep membership costs so low people will keep it even if they don't use it, discourage the culture of people who will put wear and tear on your equipment, and could possibly teach newcomers something). I will give credit to the idea from a financial standpoint.
From a fitness standpoint, it's completely pointless and is the embodiment of our lazy, overly PC, overfed American culture, at least IMO. It would be better for our country as a whole if there was less of this "you're fine the way you are, but if you want to work out you can but whatever is ok" and more of the attitude "you are obese, here is the means and knowledge to fix it - now put in some work."
That's just my .02. Debate
Do you think that intimidation is important for habit changing? Nothing wrong with encouraging people to put in some work (that's what all gyms generally are for, regardless of if they're considered "intimidation gyms" or not), but why is intimidation necessary? Don't you think that people are more likely to make changes when they don't feel like they'll be judged for their beginner fitness level? Everyone starts at the beginning, and fear of judgment holds an awful lot of people back from what we know they can accomplish.
The problem is, you can/will be judged anywhere you go. It's not like Planet Fitness is filled with a different species of human being that has had judgment magically removed from their minds. You'll be judged in the grocery store, the post office, at work, walking down the street, sitting in a restaurant - basically anywhere you go. There are judgmental and non-judgmental people in any gym/workout environment. The only way to avoid it is to either work out at home, or find a gym which has individual, isolated cubicles where you can work out without anybody else seeing you - or that only allows one person in at a time.
The vast majority of people in any given gym are far less judgmental than the people you're around in your life the remainder of the time. Even the most fit people there started out unfit at some point, and have traversed a long, hard road to get to where they are. They understand what a newbie goes through, because they were there once too. If they notice you to any extent beyond a fleeting glance while they're busy with their own workout, the thought is most likely that they're happy to see you taking that first step and trying to improve yourself. Basically the only way anybody is judged negatively in a gym is if you're doing something stupid and/or purposely drawing attention to yourself. And about 90% of the people in any given gym are just as insecure and worried about judgment as you are.
Gyms are not places filled with superhuman people. They're the same people you deal with every day as you go about your life.
Yep, I feel the people that join PF because of "gym-intimidation" (as opposed to has stuff they, need, location, price, etc.) are intimidated/have social anxiety issues in a lot of situation in addition to a gym.
Then why is it so awful that there are gyms that make a point of trying to allay those anxieties so that those people might actually have a place where they will exercise? Because if you're right about their general social anxiety issues, the alternative for those people if places like PF didn't exist wouldn't be going to a gym that doesn't market itself that way. And it won't be going outside for a walk or a run. At best, it might be working out to a video at home. Maybe.
Because they're not allaying the insecurity/anxiety issues, they're creating and fostering them by their ridiculous advertising campaigns. They're convincing people that there's an issue when there's not actually an issue. PF doesn't magically fill their gyms with non-judgmental people who are full of sweetness and light, any more than any other gym does. They're recruiting from the same pool of people as every other gym.
I was responding to someone who said thatthe people that join PF because of "gym-intimidation" (as opposed to has stuff they, need, location, price, etc.) are intimidated/have social anxiety issues in a lot of situation in addition to a gym.
If that's so, then PF isn't creating the insecurity/anxiety issues.
And, I am old enough to be able to assure you that before PF, there were lots of people -- well, women, because I never tried to talk guys into going to the gym with me -- who would not go to a gym, even if it cost them nothing, because the idea of working out in front of other people, especially men, who they assumed would be looking at them and judging them, was an insuperable barrier, not to mention the fear of being judged for "not doing it right." Of the few women whom I successfully encouraged to go to a gym, I think there was only one who ever came back a second time. And that was with me there as a buffer, mentor, and distraction from noticing other people who might inadvertently glance our way.
The fact that their fears were generally not based in reality doesn't mean that it's a bad thing for there to be a place that says, "Hey, if that's what you're worried about, come here. It's not like what you're imagining." I think it's silly to expect a business to spend marketing money to say, "Hey, if that's what you're worried about, don't. It's not like that anywhere. Go to any gym you like." And, people being what they are, the former strategy is more likely to be successful in getting someone to a gym. It's much easier to convince people that you've got a solution for what they're worried about than to convince them that they're wrong to be worried. Most people have significant barriers against admitting that they're been wrong.7 -
mortuseon_ wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »While I think the concept itself of "no intimidation" gyms is silly and unnecessarily instills fear of gyms, I have no problem with the existence of 'less hardcore' gyms. Not everybody is (or wants to be) a hardcore powerlifter or bodybuilder, and that's perfectly fine. In terms of general health, any exercise is better than no exercise.
I do have a problem with the blatant hypocrisy of Planet Fitness' marketing strategy. They label themselves as a "no judgment zone", yet they're highly judgmental of fit people and their commercials stereotype and mock them in various ways. If any other gym chain wanted to project a more 'hardcore' image and made TV commercials stereotyping, mocking and belittling fat people and scrawny non-lifters in a similar way, they'd be crucified for it.
Well said!
I kinda had to laugh because I’m pretty sure I go to an “intimidation gym” lol
I guess as long as people are getting fit and healthy right? 🤷🏼♀️
I belonged to a Gold’s Gym in the late ‘80s/early ‘90s that was the home gym for several bodybuilders, both pro and amateur, men and women, so I guess some people would consider that an “intimidation gym”. Thing is, they were the most chill people in the whole gym - so into their own workouts that they hardly even noticed anything going on around them. They always racked their weights, put away their dumbbells and wiped down the equipment because it’s what they were taught to do, and because the other bodybuilders would call them out if they didn’t. They’d say hi, but never offered unsolicited advice or harassed anybody. The only times I ever saw them do anything like that was when the high school gym bros would get rowdy and start acting stupid - a few quiet words from one of the bodybuilders and the stupidity would cease very quickly.
I’ve had worse experiences in the “non-intimidation” type gyms - brain dead people hogging stations while they text, take selfies for their instasnapface accounts, or sit there and gossip about their dates. If you’re there to workout, then workout - if you’re there to socialize and impress your social media followers, go do it somewhere where you’re not hindering everybody else from getting their workouts done. That kind of garbage is more likely to happen in those kind of gyms because everybody is afraid to say anything to them because of the “judgment free” thing.
I’d much rather be in a gym with a bunch of hardcore “lunks” going quietly (or even noisily) and efficiently about their workouts than with a bunch of sheeple randomly stumbling around from station to station, competing for social media ‘likes’ and leaving a trail of their “toys” strewn around the gym behind them.
Spot on:
Heaven forbid you have to ASK to work in during someone's set! And god forbid they use an app to track their training, lest they be judged by Ye Olde School Gym Bros. This is ridiculous. If someone is hogging the squat rack, use your words and ask them politely to move. It's not that hard.
Seems like this would be harder for a newbie/someone with social anxiety/someone who didn't know people weren't permitted to just hog equipment when not using it. So I vote for it being pretty rude to wait for others to ask to work in.
I totally agree, although I would say that in most of the gyms I've worked out in over the past 35 to 40 years, the large majority of the time if you stood near a piece of equipment somebody was using, looking like you were waiting, the person using it would notice and either ask if you wanted to work in, or say that they were on their last set.
Well, on second, thought, I can testify that that was the common reaction in the earlier part of that time period. It's been a lot of years since I was too shy/anxious/whatever to just open my mouth and ask how many more sets they have and if I can work in. But I have occasionally noticed people (including myself) doing that in more recent years for folks who seem to be waiting -- and have occasionally been asked if I wanted to work in when I only happened to be resting, thinking, recording, or drinking in the general vicinity. Because most people don't want to hog the equipment.
0 -
comptonelizabeth wrote: »It's almost a meme to crap all over PF in the fitness community, but I think it's pretty stupid. PF fills a specific niche and it's important not to get too presumptuous and uppity about other people's exercise preferences or motivations. Any exercise is better than no exercise, not everyone is about to throw themselves full force into powerlifting. Some people have no need for more sophisticated or equipped gyms and don't want to pay for it. I had a PF membership at one point because it was the cheapest in my area and I really just needed it for the barbells, dumbbells, and an elliptical machine. Never ran into any troubles with people "discouraging me" from working out too hard (and, quite frankly, when I had a Lifetime membership, I didn't like that some people would practically throw their weights to the ground and scream at random, it was just 1 or 2 regulars who would do this but it seemed pretty dramatic and obnoxious). I'm a small woman who had just started out with weight training and I wasn't about to outgrow the weight range PF had available any time soon so their available selection was no issue for me.
Then, and now, I exercise mostly to maintain a decent level of fitness or to burn some calories and that's it -- I am not bodybuilding or training for a particular sport. I think that is probably most people who go to gyms. So far it's worked out more than fine for me.
Maybe the gym's concept doesn't suit your needs, and that's fine, that's why there's other gyms. But I think it's weird that the same people who *kitten* and moan about how people don't exercise regularly are probably the same ones turning around and saying "oh, well okay they're exercising but *sniff* I don't like the gym they're going to". Grow up and mind your business, it doesn't matter. Not everyone needs to be you.
Applause!
I don't get why (some) people are so upset about it. It doesn't need to impact on your life or your goals, at all.
Maybe some people are "so upset" about it but I don't see that in the majority of the comments here. Many just find their marketing approach kinda polarizing and offensive for no reason other than profits. If there is a segment of the population that is served by them, good for those folks. But the choices they present, lunks vs. nice people is just plain a fake dilema.
But hey, while they may not be for me, anyone else who want to go there does not make me, or most others, "so upset". That is their choice and their life. If it improves their fitness great. I can feel that way and still feel that PF's marketing approach is offensive without being upset about it.
Yes, I can see (and have acknowledged elsewhere on this post) that the marketing strategy is offensive, in the same way any marketing strategy is offensive when it promotes unhelpful stereotypes. And people have every right to take issue with that, but it does seem (to me) that some comments on here (including the op) go beyond that and reflect a lack of understanding of *some *people's anxieties about using a gym.5 -
gallicinvasion wrote: »youcantflexcardio wrote: »Recently found out this is a thing beyond the obvious Planet Fitness.
I think this is a completely BS thing. I will admit it is a genius business model (Keep membership costs so low people will keep it even if they don't use it, discourage the culture of people who will put wear and tear on your equipment, and could possibly teach newcomers something). I will give credit to the idea from a financial standpoint.
From a fitness standpoint, it's completely pointless and is the embodiment of our lazy, overly PC, overfed American culture, at least IMO. It would be better for our country as a whole if there was less of this "you're fine the way you are, but if you want to work out you can but whatever is ok" and more of the attitude "you are obese, here is the means and knowledge to fix it - now put in some work."
That's just my .02. Debate
Do you think that intimidation is important for habit changing? Nothing wrong with encouraging people to put in some work (that's what all gyms generally are for, regardless of if they're considered "intimidation gyms" or not), but why is intimidation necessary? Don't you think that people are more likely to make changes when they don't feel like they'll be judged for their beginner fitness level? Everyone starts at the beginning, and fear of judgment holds an awful lot of people back from what we know they can accomplish.
The problem is, you can/will be judged anywhere you go. It's not like Planet Fitness is filled with a different species of human being that has had judgment magically removed from their minds. You'll be judged in the grocery store, the post office, at work, walking down the street, sitting in a restaurant - basically anywhere you go. There are judgmental and non-judgmental people in any gym/workout environment. The only way to avoid it is to either work out at home, or find a gym which has individual, isolated cubicles where you can work out without anybody else seeing you - or that only allows one person in at a time.
The vast majority of people in any given gym are far less judgmental than the people you're around in your life the remainder of the time. Even the most fit people there started out unfit at some point, and have traversed a long, hard road to get to where they are. They understand what a newbie goes through, because they were there once too. If they notice you to any extent beyond a fleeting glance while they're busy with their own workout, the thought is most likely that they're happy to see you taking that first step and trying to improve yourself. Basically the only way anybody is judged negatively in a gym is if you're doing something stupid and/or purposely drawing attention to yourself. And about 90% of the people in any given gym are just as insecure and worried about judgment as you are.
Gyms are not places filled with superhuman people. They're the same people you deal with every day as you go about your life.
I'm on the board of our workplace gym, which is in a government building and is shared by government civilians and armed services personnel stationed here. Earlier this year we had to deal with a lot of serious problems with some of the uniformed men making inappropriate and cruel comments to several of the women in there (particularly to some of the heavier and older ones). We investigated and were horrified to find out that this had been going on for quite some time, but the women being victimized were too embarrassed to complain and just quit.
The problem was fixed and resolution is a long story, but my point is: the "no intimidation" thing at PF gets perpetually ridiculed and may seem silly and unnecessary to a lot of people, but there is a reason why it was conceived and that a global gym empire was built upon this. Thousands of people are working out at PF who would otherwise not set foot in a conventional gym because of past bad experiences or simply because being a new person at a gym is intimidating, and more people exercising is a good thing18 -
GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »mortuseon_ wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »While I think the concept itself of "no intimidation" gyms is silly and unnecessarily instills fear of gyms, I have no problem with the existence of 'less hardcore' gyms. Not everybody is (or wants to be) a hardcore powerlifter or bodybuilder, and that's perfectly fine. In terms of general health, any exercise is better than no exercise.
I do have a problem with the blatant hypocrisy of Planet Fitness' marketing strategy. They label themselves as a "no judgment zone", yet they're highly judgmental of fit people and their commercials stereotype and mock them in various ways. If any other gym chain wanted to project a more 'hardcore' image and made TV commercials stereotyping, mocking and belittling fat people and scrawny non-lifters in a similar way, they'd be crucified for it.
Well said!
I kinda had to laugh because I’m pretty sure I go to an “intimidation gym” lol
I guess as long as people are getting fit and healthy right? 🤷🏼♀️
I belonged to a Gold’s Gym in the late ‘80s/early ‘90s that was the home gym for several bodybuilders, both pro and amateur, men and women, so I guess some people would consider that an “intimidation gym”. Thing is, they were the most chill people in the whole gym - so into their own workouts that they hardly even noticed anything going on around them. They always racked their weights, put away their dumbbells and wiped down the equipment because it’s what they were taught to do, and because the other bodybuilders would call them out if they didn’t. They’d say hi, but never offered unsolicited advice or harassed anybody. The only times I ever saw them do anything like that was when the high school gym bros would get rowdy and start acting stupid - a few quiet words from one of the bodybuilders and the stupidity would cease very quickly.
I’ve had worse experiences in the “non-intimidation” type gyms - brain dead people hogging stations while they text, take selfies for their instasnapface accounts, or sit there and gossip about their dates. If you’re there to workout, then workout - if you’re there to socialize and impress your social media followers, go do it somewhere where you’re not hindering everybody else from getting their workouts done. That kind of garbage is more likely to happen in those kind of gyms because everybody is afraid to say anything to them because of the “judgment free” thing.
I’d much rather be in a gym with a bunch of hardcore “lunks” going quietly (or even noisily) and efficiently about their workouts than with a bunch of sheeple randomly stumbling around from station to station, competing for social media ‘likes’ and leaving a trail of their “toys” strewn around the gym behind them.
Spot on:
Heaven forbid you have to ASK to work in during someone's set! And god forbid they use an app to track their training, lest they be judged by Ye Olde School Gym Bros. This is ridiculous. If someone is hogging the squat rack, use your words and ask them politely to move. It's not that hard.
Believe me, I have no problem asking someone hogging a piece of equipment to move their *kitten*.
Thing is, God forbid, people should have enough common sense to do it without being asked
You want people to anticipate your needs in a gym?
Honestly, the gym I belonged to that was the worst for bros on phones and people hogging squat racks, benches, and power cages was an LA Fitness.
The best gym I ever belonged to was a gym that was part of our local health complex/wellness center, but it was a small gym (to accommodate the swimming pool) and had a limited number of benches. If you hit it at a crowded time, there was a lot of waiting.
Planet Fitness was a mix of people, including dudebros who were helpful. It was my first gym because of location and cost. I'm not fond of their marketing, but that's not the only thing that influences my decisions to join gyms.
Ya, an LA Fitness I belonged to was the worst for people not reracking. My goodness, was it bad. And this was in the AM before work, so the staff hadn't put things away the night before either.0 -
99% of the time, I work out at the gym at Walter Reed Military Medical Center. There might be flashier gyms out there. There might be gyms with more/better equipment. However, it suits me because I don't have to deal with the stink of 'roid rats, and people say things like "please" and "thank you". I have a pool, a weight room, an aerobics room, gymnasium, indoor track, and a trainer I see twice a week. I sign in, pick up my towels, and pack my locker before I work out. Most folks re-rack. It's clean.
When I travel to WV, though, PF is all I have, except for the Y, which is very crowded, and rather unsanitary. There are a couple of "boxes" out there, but that is not my thing, and another fitness center that has really "dated" treadmills and ellipticals, and sketchy small pools. I'll do my aerobic exercise outdoors, then come inside for weights. The one thing I absolutely hate about PF is the smell of that cushioning on the floor.0 -
99% of the time, I work out at the gym at Walter Reed Military Medical Center. There might be flashier gyms out there. There might be gyms with more/better equipment. However, it suits me because I don't have to deal with the stink of 'roid rats, and people say things like "please" and "thank you". I have a pool, a weight room, an aerobics room, gymnasium, indoor track, and a trainer I see twice a week. I sign in, pick up my towels, and pack my locker before I work out. Most folks re-rack. It's clean.
When I travel to WV, though, PF is all I have, except for the Y, which is very crowded, and rather unsanitary. There are a couple of "boxes" out there, but that is not my thing, and another fitness center that has really "dated" treadmills and ellipticals, and sketchy small pools. I'll do my aerobic exercise outdoors, then come inside for weights. The one thing I absolutely hate about PF is the smell of that cushioning on the floor.
I was going to use a PF for a day when out of town visiting relatives (not in a high cost city). They wanted $20 for a day pass. I was like, you're kidding, you charge $10 a month (wouldn't let me sign up for a month).
Skipped lifting that day.0 -
Bry_Fitness70 wrote: »gallicinvasion wrote: »youcantflexcardio wrote: »Recently found out this is a thing beyond the obvious Planet Fitness.
I think this is a completely BS thing. I will admit it is a genius business model (Keep membership costs so low people will keep it even if they don't use it, discourage the culture of people who will put wear and tear on your equipment, and could possibly teach newcomers something). I will give credit to the idea from a financial standpoint.
From a fitness standpoint, it's completely pointless and is the embodiment of our lazy, overly PC, overfed American culture, at least IMO. It would be better for our country as a whole if there was less of this "you're fine the way you are, but if you want to work out you can but whatever is ok" and more of the attitude "you are obese, here is the means and knowledge to fix it - now put in some work."
That's just my .02. Debate
Do you think that intimidation is important for habit changing? Nothing wrong with encouraging people to put in some work (that's what all gyms generally are for, regardless of if they're considered "intimidation gyms" or not), but why is intimidation necessary? Don't you think that people are more likely to make changes when they don't feel like they'll be judged for their beginner fitness level? Everyone starts at the beginning, and fear of judgment holds an awful lot of people back from what we know they can accomplish.
The problem is, you can/will be judged anywhere you go. It's not like Planet Fitness is filled with a different species of human being that has had judgment magically removed from their minds. You'll be judged in the grocery store, the post office, at work, walking down the street, sitting in a restaurant - basically anywhere you go. There are judgmental and non-judgmental people in any gym/workout environment. The only way to avoid it is to either work out at home, or find a gym which has individual, isolated cubicles where you can work out without anybody else seeing you - or that only allows one person in at a time.
The vast majority of people in any given gym are far less judgmental than the people you're around in your life the remainder of the time. Even the most fit people there started out unfit at some point, and have traversed a long, hard road to get to where they are. They understand what a newbie goes through, because they were there once too. If they notice you to any extent beyond a fleeting glance while they're busy with their own workout, the thought is most likely that they're happy to see you taking that first step and trying to improve yourself. Basically the only way anybody is judged negatively in a gym is if you're doing something stupid and/or purposely drawing attention to yourself. And about 90% of the people in any given gym are just as insecure and worried about judgment as you are.
Gyms are not places filled with superhuman people. They're the same people you deal with every day as you go about your life.
I'm on the board of our workplace gym, which is in a government building and is shared by government civilians and armed services personnel stationed here. Earlier this year we had to deal with a lot of serious problems with some of the uniformed men making inappropriate and cruel comments to several of the women in there (particularly to some of the heavier and older ones). We investigated and were horrified to find out that this had been going on for quite some time, but the women being victimized were too embarrassed to complain and just quit.
The problem was fixed and resolution is a long story, but my point is: the "no intimidation" thing at PF gets perpetually ridiculed and may seem silly and unnecessary to a lot of people, but there is a reason why it was conceived and that a global gym empire was built upon this. Thousands of people are working out at PF who would otherwise not set foot in a conventional gym because of past bad experiences or simply because being a new person at a gym is intimidating, and more people exercising is a good thing
Sad that people are so misguided to believe this behavior is acceptable. Good that they reacted and hopefully the individuals and behavior was corrected.
I note a similar behavior in soldiers and police officers - the Hollywood image of acceptable behavior (piggish behavior) and what is actually acceptable (professional behavior). Half of the problem leaders face is retraining the unacceptable. Unfortunately if a leader doesn't get the same behavioral correction an entire department can be lost.4 -
lynn_glenmont wrote: »lynn_glenmont wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »gallicinvasion wrote: »youcantflexcardio wrote: »Recently found out this is a thing beyond the obvious Planet Fitness.
I think this is a completely BS thing. I will admit it is a genius business model (Keep membership costs so low people will keep it even if they don't use it, discourage the culture of people who will put wear and tear on your equipment, and could possibly teach newcomers something). I will give credit to the idea from a financial standpoint.
From a fitness standpoint, it's completely pointless and is the embodiment of our lazy, overly PC, overfed American culture, at least IMO. It would be better for our country as a whole if there was less of this "you're fine the way you are, but if you want to work out you can but whatever is ok" and more of the attitude "you are obese, here is the means and knowledge to fix it - now put in some work."
That's just my .02. Debate
Do you think that intimidation is important for habit changing? Nothing wrong with encouraging people to put in some work (that's what all gyms generally are for, regardless of if they're considered "intimidation gyms" or not), but why is intimidation necessary? Don't you think that people are more likely to make changes when they don't feel like they'll be judged for their beginner fitness level? Everyone starts at the beginning, and fear of judgment holds an awful lot of people back from what we know they can accomplish.
The problem is, you can/will be judged anywhere you go. It's not like Planet Fitness is filled with a different species of human being that has had judgment magically removed from their minds. You'll be judged in the grocery store, the post office, at work, walking down the street, sitting in a restaurant - basically anywhere you go. There are judgmental and non-judgmental people in any gym/workout environment. The only way to avoid it is to either work out at home, or find a gym which has individual, isolated cubicles where you can work out without anybody else seeing you - or that only allows one person in at a time.
The vast majority of people in any given gym are far less judgmental than the people you're around in your life the remainder of the time. Even the most fit people there started out unfit at some point, and have traversed a long, hard road to get to where they are. They understand what a newbie goes through, because they were there once too. If they notice you to any extent beyond a fleeting glance while they're busy with their own workout, the thought is most likely that they're happy to see you taking that first step and trying to improve yourself. Basically the only way anybody is judged negatively in a gym is if you're doing something stupid and/or purposely drawing attention to yourself. And about 90% of the people in any given gym are just as insecure and worried about judgment as you are.
Gyms are not places filled with superhuman people. They're the same people you deal with every day as you go about your life.
Yep, I feel the people that join PF because of "gym-intimidation" (as opposed to has stuff they, need, location, price, etc.) are intimidated/have social anxiety issues in a lot of situation in addition to a gym.
Then why is it so awful that there are gyms that make a point of trying to allay those anxieties so that those people might actually have a place where they will exercise? Because if you're right about their general social anxiety issues, the alternative for those people if places like PF didn't exist wouldn't be going to a gym that doesn't market itself that way. And it won't be going outside for a walk or a run. At best, it might be working out to a video at home. Maybe.
My only problem with it is when people need to talk about how great PF is because it lacks all these horrible things that other gyms supposedly have. It's falsely representing how other gyms are, and creating fear among people that in other gyms they will be treated badly. If someone wants to ignore the obnoxious marketing and go to PF because it's convenient, open 24/7, or is cheap, I certainly don't care.
It's all the posts about how PF is better because it's clean, or lacks people who treat you rudely, or doesn't have obnoxious gym rats or has equipment available or whatnot when I find it slightly annoying. So do other gyms, plus in many cases other things PF does not have (and yes, that many people might not want).
My gym is more expensive than PF (PF isn't near my home or office so isn't an option, but there are cheaper gyms that are). I pay for that because it has some things that are worth it to me. I don't go on MFP and go on about how my gym is better than other gyms, or claim the people are nicer or that other gyms would be icky, and it kind of bugs me when PF fans do that -- I think it's as common as people being negative about PF, and I also think people are ONLY negative about PF because it has intentionally "us against them" advertising. Too bad that in this day "us against them" seems to be the way to make money, ick.
I am not and have never been a PF member. The ads I see on TV emphasize the low cost and the always-open aspect.
But there are other types of ads, which are what people take issue with here.
I also note that much of the defense from people who attend PF is not merely the hours and cost (which are great, I get why someone would join), but "at my gym no one comes and harasses you or grunts a lot, and things are clean." The implication is that that is not the case at other gyms, and that mistaken and largely ill-informed and based on scare-mongering by PF claim is what I am objecting to.I just don't get the point of getting all bent out of shape over marketing or forum chattering that makes it clear I'm not the target audience for that product or service.
Like I said, I think it's divisive and insulting and an "us vs. them" approach which I find destructive, as well as disingenuous. I think it's certainly worth expressing objection to, and it's not okay just because it is profitable. I find it puzzling that people can defend it.
I'm obviously not saying it is bad to go to PF. Low cost and good hours are great.I think the appropriate pushback to "PF is better because people at other gyms are means" is to say that "in fact people at other gyms are not mean. Most of them are, most of the time, indifferent to you because they're there doing their own thing, and as long as you are nice -- i.e., abide by basic kindergarten rules like put your toys away and don't spread your bodily fluids around the classroom -- they will be nice to you when you interact with them."
Thank you for your advice. I believe that if you read upthread I and others did, in fact, say this.1 -
Packerjohn wrote: »
Or any other social situation period. Are we going to start seeing marketing for no intimidation grocery stores, restaurants, etc?
You mean like ordering it online and having it delivered or just picking it up? Cause it exists and it's awesome.13 -
As someone who has severe social anxiety and body dysmorphia, places like PF are great...I could go there and not be afraid of anyone or be eaten up by a trainer looking to make a buck. I just got in at 10 pm when no one was there, kept my head down, and basically ran out after an hour every time I went. The cost was also nice in college because I could actually afford it. I no longer go just because I graduated and got a job and now we have our own equipment at home so I don't have to go out at all.
If you are looking for a certain atmosphere, I would say just go find a more serious gym...I don't get why it is labeled as"BS"5
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