I think Planet Fitness is awesome. I go to the one in Westminster, CO. It’s close to work, and at only $10/month and a yearly membership fee of about $29, it may be one of the single best values for my dollar I’ve ever encountered. I generally stick to the nautilus machines and the treadmills, with some use of free weights. The staff are nice (I don’t know if they’re knowledgeable, as I’ve never consulted them about a particular machine), the people who go there truly just seem to be interested in exercising rather than showing off or hooking up, and I just love the overall vibe of the place. At this particular PF, the only real busy hours seem to be 5-7PM. At no other time have I ever had to wait to use a machine.
Where did you get the idea that real gyms are about “showing of” and “hooking up?” From a Planet Fitness commercial?
I’ve never seen a Planet Fitness commercial. Didn’t know they even run them.
I got the idea from the previous gyms I used to go to–namely Gold’s and 24 Hour Fitness. Never felt comfortable at either place.
Yeah I’ve never seen anything like this in all the many years I’ve been a gym rat. But I go to work out, so maybe I missed it. 
That’s exactly what they want to happen.
Some of their policies (no grunting or heavy breathing, no deadlifting, no pull-up bars, no squat racks, no bench press stations, no carrying gallon jugs of water, etc) are designed to discourage serious gymgoers who are likely to use the facilities more frequently.
Other amenities and policies (no scales in the bathrooms, free unlimited pizza, free candy, free bagels and/or donuts) are designed to attract people who aren’t all that enthusiastic about working out. Heck, they don’t even urge people to consume these fattening foods in moderation. If anything, they pride themselves on the fact that they hand out over 3 million slices of pizza per year, even though this must seriously derail their clients from their fitness goals.
Their commercials are also designed to alienate serious exercise buffs. They depict bodybuilders as brain-dead simpletons, slender women as vapid airheads, and Zumba afficonados as vicious, snarling show-offs with no regard for the skill level of beginners.
If Planet Fitness would simply market themselves as a fitness chain for the average Joe, there would be no problem. Instead, they spread falsehoods, encourage poor eating and fitness habits, and depict fit people in horrible, insulting ways. It’s a recipe for pure mediocrity, and it shows that they have no regard for their clients.
I have never once been given free food at PF, much less “unlimited.” I have never seen anyone eating there. I know they have pizza and bagels once a month, but it’s not all day and it’s not unlimited. It’s hardly a formula for “derailing,”
I’ve never seen one of their commercials, but I can’t disagree with any of this - I’m aware of their policies, emphasis on selling memberships and not real commitment to fitness and their hypocritical judgement (so much for judgement-free zone) against thin, fit people and gym rats. That’s why I said I was embarrassed to admit I go there. But so far, for the price and convenience, it’s working fine for me. The other, much better gym I belonged to for a while was just an inconvenient detour on my way to work, and ten miles from my house v two miles from my house. The other decent gym was so busy in the morning there were frequent waits for equipment and space, plus also out of my way and not that close to home. And I really do see plenty of obviously fit, muscular people there along with all of the regular Joes and Janes. (And for the record, I am a thin, muscular person and so far nobody has called me names or thrown pizza slices or bagels at me.)
I wouldn’t call pizza one evening a week (I’ve never been during that time, whenever it is - I’ve seen no mention of this anywhere except I guess they advertise it on TV) “free unlimited pizza” and I don’t know anything about free donuts and bagels. They do have a bucket of tootsie rolls on the counter which I think is stupid, but whatever. And I don’t see what scales have with fitness. Anyone interested in their weight will have scales at home, no? I’m not interested in what I weigh, so I’ve never owned scales and wouldn’t bother with them at a gym or anywhere else. And who carries a gallon jug of water around? I didn’t know this was a policy of theirs…I see lots of people carrying bottled water, heck they sell it right there. They also have water fountains, which is what I use because I’d rather not carry anything around with me.
I know this is a half-hearted defense of PF…but unless one is a very serious gym rat or bodybuilder (and most gym-goers are not), based on my limited so far experience, I don’t see why one can’t simply take advantage of the place and ignore the bad.
One more thing - my friend who joined up is super-morbidly obese and has never set foot in a gym before. She had bariatric surgery a month ago (and is already down 70 lbs and counting so, yay) and was so stressed and self-conscious she had a crying melt down in the parking lot before her first visit. But now she’s comfortable and has been going daily.
Anyway…shit is what you make of it. I work up exactly the same sweat and do the same work out I was doing at Genesys Athletic Club and Hurley Health and Fitness for significantly less per month, at a much more convenient location.
But lots of people want to pretend that they are.
After going consistently for a good week or two now I see more skinny/fit/bodybuilder types in the gym than normal everyday joes.
I know that they call themselves a “judgement free zone” to encourage the normals to come in and be welcome, but they certainly don’t UNallow the huge/skinny people.
I think their constant beratement of the so-called lunks and the skinny-minnie’s is just to keep the overall tone of the gym down so that it doesn’t scare off new members, and to help the psyche of every gym-goer, but don’t think that they will turn someone away at the door because they’re fit…mine certainly doesn’t
It varies. I’ve known some very fit people who were turned away – or at the very least, were very strongly discouraged from joining.
That’s the thing. I’m sure that they can’t explicitly say “Your kind is not allowed here,” but they can get that message across in other ways. And of course, it all depends on the management of the individual franchise.
It may well depend on individual management. Their rules state no jeans, yet I’ve seen quite a few people wearing jeans. Also no “spaghetti strap” tops (I’m assuming the policy is to discourage people from wearing revealing, show-offy gear) but I see lots of obviously seriously-fit people wearing tank tops, tight capris, muscle shirts, weight belts and gloves and so on. Along with lots of schlubby, overweight and un-fit people. They also say “no outside personal trainers” but yesterday I watched a middle-aged woman in polyester slacks very obviously being coached through a routine with free weights and on machines by a very fit-looking young guy.
I watched some of their TV commercials on youtube last night and agree they are beyond stupid, and insulting to thin and fit people. I guess that is part of their marketing strategy and it seems to be working.
Y’know, I totally respect that. I’ve always said that I can’t begrudge someone for joining Planet Fitness if money is tight or if this is the only reasonable option for them.
In your case, I especially respect the fact that you see the problems with this franchise, even though you work out there. I’ve learned that many people will defend Planet Fitness by saying, “But they’re so cheap!” or “There are no other gyms in my area” or “It’s meant for average joes”… as though this excused all of their policies. You’re willing to see both the good and the bad, and I commend you for that.
I say that it might be the best choice for some, especially when money is tight. In such cases, one might have to just deal with the bad. As a matter of principle though, I would treat it as a last resort.
I also have a problem with the damaging effects of their policies. There is no justification for caricaturing and broadly insulting bodybuilders, hot women, or Zumba instructors, so that’s an obvious example.
The free unlimited pizza and bagels send the entirely wrong message to their clients, even though these are only offered once a month. As I said, if they would at least urge moderation, things would be different… but they don’t. It’s a safe bet that many of their clients struggle with these temptations. Many doubtlessly have no idea how much time and effort are required to work off a couple of pizza slices… especially since Planet Fitness tends to promote exercise as a relaxing, low-effort activity.
Which leads to the next point. Many of their policies – no deadlifting, no grunting or heavy breathing, no bench pressing or heavy barbell squats – will actually hinder their people from achieving their goals. To maintain their gymtimidation-free atmosphere, Planet Fitness needlessly prohibits some of the activities that will help their members make the most progress, and that’s a shame. (Hey, folks. If you want to shield your clients’ delicate sensibilities from the sight of people lifting heavy or working hard, how about replacing that huge “relaxation zone” with a beginner’s room instead?)
Speaking of which, the relaxation zone is misguided as well. It’s a huge section that’s filled with tanning beds and “red light therapy” machines, neither of which do diddly squat for physical fitness. The massage tables and chairs might be someone helpful, but as a massage therapist once told me, their benefits are marginal at best. Relaxation has its place, but when it comes to physical fitness – and combating obesity in particular – emphasizing relaxation sends entirely the wrong message.
Ultimately, that’s the core problem with Planet Fitness. They promote exercise as something that’s meant to be easy and relaxing – hence their demonization of bodybuilders. Their website states that they provide “an environment where you can relax, go at your own pace and just do your own thing.” There’s nothing wrong with going at your own pace, but this should not be taken as just “relaxing”… especially since many of their clients are doubtlessly out of shape due to too much relaxation.
Gonna say it again, chiroptera… I really, really respect you for having your eyes open, even though you do go to a Planet Fitness.
Again, can’t disagree with you on any of this! Part of their strategy is certainly to dumb down health and fitness. Where I live, anyway, there is no shortage of more serious gyms for people who are really into bodybuilding, powerlifting and so on. I guess someone can start out at a “beginner gym” like PF, then move on to a better one if it stops serving their needs.
BTW, the relaxation zone and those other amenities are not included in the $10 basic membership - you have to commit to a contract for 12 months at $20 per month for that. At the PF I go to, it’s quite small - a couple of tanning beds, one massage bed, and one weird machine that vibrates and bathes you in healing light, or something silly. I don’t know what percentage of their clientele opts for that. We were walked through it but didn’t get any heavy selling to upgrade.
I need to ask about this free pizza night LOL. 
Mmmm. Pizza.
I was never pressured for the upgrade either, but took it because I could jump from one PF to the other (I’m planning a move in the future) and I could take a guest. I have yet to use the other stuff, but I really should since I’m paying for it.
If anyone wants me to I could do it and give a report
Hmmm, not a gym member myself…so what the hell do I know, right? Quite possibly, not much, I admit.
But based on the advertising I see, I always thought their deal was they wanted the shlubs, over the hard bodied gym rats. Not to save anyone’s feelings or make it more comfortable for the average Joe, so much as to not have to deal with people who are going to use the equipment hard and often.
Much easier to cater to the schlubs who put little use on the machines and maybe come only twice a week or so. If you sign up and then stop going, (like lots of people do!) a big monthly fee is likely to make you cancel after a short while, I should think, in most cases. But $10 a month? I think they will make a fortune off of people joining, who stop going, but never cancel because they are intending to get back into it, ‘some time’.
Plus people who only pay $10, are less likely to bitch about the sort of inconveniences that all gyms present, I should think. That means less employees to keep everything just so, etc. People have lower expectations, when they are paying for something discounted, I think.
It’s the whole mentality of the place that’s so repugnant.
If they offered the same limited equipment without the negativity, manipulation, judgemental attitude, dishonesty, and anti-fitness policies, people wouldn’t be railing against the place. It would just be a cheap fitness center that’s not quite a real gym, and there’s really nothing wrong with that.
They make it very clear that people like me are not welcome. And by “by people like me” I mean fat middle-aged suburban moms. You’d think I’d be their target audience, but by their standards, I’m a lunk. I deadlift, I squat, I bench-press, and once in a while, if I really need to, I let out a little grunt.
There are several problems with the notion of using PF as a “beginner gym:” (again, not ragging on you for saying it)
- If you start at Planet Fitness, you may never recognize the severe limitations of the place and move on to that better gym.
- The constant exposure to the anti-fitness messages are likely to reduce your motivation to go further. I shudder to think of all the people who have drunk the grape kool-aid and let themselves be convinced that “gyms” are scary and awful
- It eliminates many of the things that are really important in getting people into a solid fitness routine (more on that in another post)
- You see nothing to aspire to. No equipment that you have no idea how to use but looks kind of cool. No classes that you’re not quite ready for but would like to try someday. No personal trainers teaching people all sorts of weird and interesting techniques. No demonstration that “going to the gym” doesn’t have to be a boring slog of cardio machines and uncomfortable weight machines.
- Starting at a new gym is an obstacle in and of itself. You have to learn your way around, get to know people, learn the routines of the place, and maybe pay an initiation fee. It’s hard to get out of a comfort zone.
It’s like buying a bike with the training wheels welded on. Why wouldn’t you buy a bike that will serve you just as well after you learn to ride? And who wants to buy a new bike anyway? You’ll probably end up using those training wheels for far too long.
Because the bad is really very bad, and the lack of good things is very bad, and the mentality that it promotes is very bad. You can look past it because you recognize the game and have experience with other gyms. That is not true of most of the customers.
Regarding the free pizza, bagels, tootsie rolls, and cupcakes - they SAY that it’s about showing that these things can be enjoyed in moderation, and I think we can all agree that pizza once a month won’t wreck your diet. The problem is that everybody is already having enough trouble moderating their pizza consumption. Giving them MORE pizza is not teaching them a thing. Gyms should be providing healthy things that people aren’t getting enough of already in other areas of their lives, not unhealthy things that they’re being offered all the time. If offering a healthy food freebie instead isn’t feasible for whatever reason, they could give people some other kind of freebie. Go to the gym 10 times, get a water bottle! Oh, except that would actually encourage people to go to the gym and wouldn’t make them any fatter.
Good for her! I’m glad she managed to get herself to at least some sort of fitness center, and especially glad she has a friend like you to support her and to tell her the truth about the serious drawbacks of going to Planet Fitness so she doesn’t get “stuck” there, both physically and mentally.
Does she lift weights? I mean real weights, not those contraptions that purport to be weight machines or endless bicep curls with pink 5 lb dumbbells. If she was/is that heavy, she’s probably quite strong, and being able to throw some real weight around will probably do wonders for her self-esteem. Perhaps more importantly, it will give her something quantifiable to work on other than the number on the scale. Unfortunately, PF’s lack of standard weight equipment and ridiculous rules will limit what she can do there, but she can at least get started. If you like, I’m happy to give you my basic “minimalist” routine and some suggestions to modify it for what she will have available at PF.
Relaxation definitely has its place when it comes to physical fitness. Before spin class this morning, I did some ab exercises, then flopped on the mat and relaxed for a minute or two. Then at the end of spin class, we did a nice relaxing cool-down song with some nice stretching. I relaxed and did some light stretching between sets of deadlifts. Using the gym as a place to relax is a wonderful thing.
Seriously, though, 2 hours in the gym, doing the ab work, then sweating through a 45-minute spin class, then lifting heavy left me feeling more relaxed than lying around in some “relaxation area” ever could. Can’t do what I did today at Planet Fitness, though.
You know more than you think you do. You’ve pretty much summarized their whole business plan.
Man, PF really gets people in a tizzy. I’ve never actually seen any of their commercials other than the two heard occasionally on the radio, nor seen any of their so-called terrible, awful, horrible, disgusting policies at work in the gym itself. I go in to the gym and see a bunch of people of all ages and body types working out happily, no interruptions, no animosity, no problems. There’s no secret mentality to the place other than “come and work out”. Whereas the people who deride their policies constantly insinuate that the person who doesn’t want to lift more than PF can offer is just a schlub (insulting much?).
I’ll come out and say it, I think a large amount people who go to the gym don’t actually need more weights than what planet fitness has to offer. And let’s be honest. You can be fit without deadlifting 300 lbs. All the people that go on and on about how PF doesn’t have what they need, no, what all americans need to get fit!–are just blowing smoke. You can get fit just fine at PF if you want to.
For reference, the US army fitness test says you need to be able to run two miles in at least 19:36 for women and 16:36 for men in the 22-26 age group. That’s not crazy. For situps in the same age group, it’s 50 situps. For pushups, 17 for women and 40 for men. That’s considered fit enough for the army. You can easily get that far and more at planet fitness. And really - there’s no hard and fast line for fitness, no matter what that test says.
I think you’re missing the point, Macca26. As I always say, it is possible to get fit at Planet Fitness. The problem is that they needlessly hinder people from doing so, thanks to their misinformation and absurd policies. And of course, the way they demonize fit people is inexcusable.
The latter is something that many people fail to understand. Some people say that they don’t like having bodybuilders or other fit people within sight, and so they applaud PF’s methods. What if the situation were reversed, though? What someone said that having fat people around was demotivating? IF a gym were to then declare that overweight were “lunks” and tried to drive them away, American would be outraged.
Instead though, they stigmatize the well-muscled and physically fit, and this is considered acceptable. That does not seem right to me.