Do you belong to a gym?

[disneysteve]

I think this attitude is where Planet Fitness' model really shines.

There are a lot of people who have no desire to yell and scream and lift hard and heavy. There are people who aren't physically capable of doing that. And if gym culture says that if you're not crawling to your car then you're not doing it "right," then these people will never take the first step toward fitness. And the first step isn't lifting until you cry, it's jogging on a treadmill or spinning on an elliptical for 20 minutes, doing some crunches on a ball, and trying out the military press machine for a few minutes.

I agree that most people don't want that, but I also feel that the first step to fitness is not joining a gym. It's eating better and getting off the sofa and those things are free and don't require gym membership. I can't tell you how many times every day, when I'm counseling an obese patient (about 80% of my patients are obese), the first thing out of their mouths is "I'm going to join a gym next week" as if that is going to fix their problem.

I think the wild expansion of gyms has given people the mindset that they can't possibly get in shape without belonging to one. They see it as the panacea to their sedentary fast-food-fueled lifestyle.

I'm not knocking gym membership if that's what you're into, but I encounter so many people who think, "If I just join the gym, my problems will be solved." Sorry, but it just doesn't work that way.

[twest]

I don't belong to a gym. I feel for me it is not necessary. Since last July I have lost 50lbs and I started by doing kickboxing with youtube videos. In October I started running and I now run about 12 miles a week. So the things I enjoy really don't require a gym. I definitely need to add weights into my workouts, but I probably still won't go to the gym. I will just try videos and my own thing here at home.

I think it comes down to what someone else said previously. You need to find what you really enjoy doing. Since I really enjoy running and kickboxing I don't dread getting up in the morning to workout. When I started trying to be healthier I told myself from the beginning I had to find something I really enjoy doing so I will stick with it. I think that has been key.

All that being said there is nothing wrong with going to a gym. If that is what can keep you successful then go for it. You could also try doing some things at home for a while just to make sure you stick with it and then join the gym later if you want. I think the main thing is wanting to improve your health and that is the first step.

[bjl584]

I think this attitude is where Planet Fitness' model really shines.

There are a lot of people who have no desire to yell and scream and lift hard and heavy. There are people who aren't physically capable of doing that. And if gym culture says that if you're not crawling to your car then you're not doing it "right," then these people will never take the first step toward fitness. And the first step isn't lifting until you cry, it's jogging on a treadmill or spinning on an elliptical for 20 minutes, doing some crunches on a ball, and trying out the military press machine for a few minutes.

If the only ski hills were black diamonds, don't you think there would be fewer skiers? Planet Fitness is the bunny hill of gyms, and there is nothing wrong with that. Not everyone wants or needs to be a body builder. Most people would be well served with 45 minutes of activity 4 times a week and losing 15 pounds, and at $10 a month, it's hard to beat that at Planet Fitness.

(I agree that the ban on grunting is pretty silly, but I never saw it enforced like the recent case in the news at the one I went to. I think that is the exception rather than the rule.)

I have no issue with Planet Fitness. It's just not my style. My friends and I like to go all out when we workout. We just can't do it at Planet Fitness. That's why I am a member of a gym that caters to our style of lifting.

[corn18]

I have no issue with Planet Fitness. It's just not my style. My friends and I like to go all out when we workout. We just can't do it at Planet Fitness. That's why I am a member of a gym that caters to our style of lifting.

Brian, what type of lifting do you do? I started powerlifting last March and really enjoy it. Looking to start competing this year. I'd like to add Oly weightlifting for the challenge, but I doubt I'll migrate to full CrossFit. Nothing against CrossFit, just too hard on this old man's joints.

I have been in many different gyms over the past year because I travel a lot. I walk in and get a day pass for 10 or 15 dollars. Some are chains, some are local. All have been big gyms with lots of equipment which I am grateful for. I usually walk in and get concerned because there are 100+ people there, but when I find my way back to the barbells, there are only benchers back there. Everyone is on the machines. I have the barbells to myself. Brings me great pleasure to work up to 405+ lbs reps on DL. I get a lot of strange and judgmental looks. I even had one very fit looking gal ask me if I thought that was safe. Seems mainstream fitness has effectively convinced everyone that barbell training is completely unsafe and should be avoided.

Tom

[bjl584]

Brian, what type of lifting do you do? I started powerlifting last March and really enjoy it. Looking to start competing this year. I'd like to add Oly weightlifting for the challenge, but I doubt I'll migrate to full CrossFit. Nothing against CrossFit, just too hard on this old man's joints.

I have been in many different gyms over the past year because I travel a lot. I walk in and get a day pass for 10 or 15 dollars. Some are chains, some are local. All have been big gyms with lots of equipment which I am grateful for. I usually walk in and get concerned because there are 100+ people there, but when I find my way back to the barbells, there are only benchers back there. Everyone is on the machines. I have the barbells to myself. Brings me great pleasure to work up to 405+ lbs reps on DL. I get a lot of strange and judgmental looks. I even had one very fit looking gal ask me if I thought that was safe. Seems mainstream fitness has effectively convinced everyone that barbell training is completely unsafe and should be avoided.

Tom

I don't do all out powerlifting, but we do perform some of the powerlifting type lifts. Flat bench, squats, and deadlifts. We usually go heavy, so there is some yelling, some grunting, and definitely some weights clanging. After the basic moves are out of the way, we do more bodybuilding types of workouts with dumb bells, bars, or the machines. I basically have a 5 day split. I train each body part once a week except for abs, which I do 2 to 3 times a week.

[corn18]

I don't do all out powerlifting, but we do perform some of the powerlifting type lifts. Flat bench, squats, and deadlifts. We usually go heavy, so there is some yelling, some grunting, and definitely some weights clanging. After the basic moves are out of the way, we do more bodybuilding types of workouts with dumb bells, bars, or the machines. I basically have a 5 day split. I train each body part once a week except for abs, which I do 2 to 3 times a week.

I guess that makes us meatheads and we are not welcome at Planet Fitness. I'm ok with that. Next time I go there as a visitor, I might just play the meathead part better just to let them know that fitness and exercise come in all shapes and noises.

Tom

[bjl584]

I guess that makes us meatheads and we are not welcome at Planet Fitness. I'm ok with that. Next time I go there as a visitor, I might just play the meathead part better just to let them know that fitness and exercise come in all shapes and noises.

Tom

Yes. It kind of does.

Be careful making noise in Planet Fitness. An alarm will go off and you will receive a warning. Do it again, and they'll ask you to leave.

[ua_guy]

I think it's important to realize that gym fees and memberships are generally negotiable, and that a gym membership isn't a promise of fitness or a fitness plan for life. It's the next chapter of your fitness "journey" and don't feel bad if a day and time comes when you're just *done* going there. Never continue paying for an inactive membership. Go find something new and exciting to do that keeps you active.

I haven't kept a gym membership for about 4 years now. I did spend a little money and buy myself a squat rack, a flat bench, and some olympic weights and I do a basic powerlifting routine. I also picked up a used treadmill.

I have the gift of industrial-type space at my house, so it all sits in a heated shop. I never have an excuse not to use it, and all of the equipment is still good and enticing to use. It's paid for itself compared to gym memberships, parking, and driving to the gym, and it's something I can sell when powerlifting is no longer a good fit for me.

[dawnwes]

No. We have only one close enough to bother with and it is quite limited in equipment and classes.

[elessar78]

We stopped after our contract ended.

Here's my take after being through the gym/contract cycle multiple times. If you want to get fit nothing will stop you. Gym or no gym.

I'm in the process of building a home gym. $50 treadmill off craigslist. Some weights we have accumulated over the years. If you do research, there is a lot of material on the internet on how to build a home gym on the cheap.

The concept is simple:
-pick up heavy stuff, put it down. It doesn't need to be a barbell—50 lbs is 50 lbs.
-a bench: to sit on lie on, but even that is optional—when in life do you lay or sit down to lift anything. It's part of the goal right, to be fitter to live life and (hopefully) just not look better. (<$100)
- doorway pull up bars ($30)

basically, for the cost of two months at a gym you can outfit your home. Nothing can stop you if you don't let it. Just do it. Nike.

[ResistanceXP]

I used to have a gym membership and I hold it for about a year. Later on I realized I have wasted about $330 that year excluding gas, on something I can do for free.

- Running on treadmills makes you feel like a hamster
- Swimming pools are always filled with people; dirty; and less maintained
- The smell is horrible
- Machines aren't sanitized as much as you think

I would always suggest finding a sport to play with your friends every week. It really helps you stay in shape, and try to find motivation (especially for running). (ex: do a 5k so you can practice everyday, this will motivated you to keep running)

Find alternatives as well. I wish more people would actually bike rather than use a car.
This quote always sticks with me when it comes to Americans going to the gym.
"He goes to the gym to ride the bicycle machine, but he's always stuck in traffic".

[Brad03]

i feel that its definitely worth it, it makes you want to train more

[jackmiller]

No they are a total waste of money. If you need it to be motivated to stay in shape then you are really not that motivated in the first place