PLANET FITNESS: What Planet Am I On?
Posted on 16. Sep, 2007 by Kaiser in Workout
My brother Shahed’s told me about his new gym, and it’s a story too strange to believe. He’s talking about the Planet Fitness in Binghamton New York, which has over 100 locations across the country.
The motto of the gym is the “Judgement Free Zone”, and I think what they mean is they’ve used no good judgment in creating their rules. For one thing, they don’t allow any noise or grunting of any kind. I’m like most people and find most moaning and grunting during exercise very annoying, but every now and then, we all do make some noise on the last rep of our hardest set.
But if you do that here, the most unbelievable thing happens; they have a huge alarm on the front wall of the gym, called the lunk alarm. Under it is the definition of lunk, which they’ve defined as “anyone who grunts, drops weights or judges (whatever that means)” – if you do any of that, the alarm immediately goes off for the whole gym to hear and a staff member comes over and gives you a warning.
Here’s a news story about a Planet Fitness in our area:
That lunk alarm is ridiculous, but not the end of the strange practices at this place. Unbelievably, the gym hosts a “pizza day” the first Monday of the month, where they offer free, unlimited pizza to their members. Shahed actually told me that he was trying real hard to stay on his diet, but when he saw all the free pizza in front of him, he had to have some. When he asked the front desk employee why they were serving pizza in a gym, he was chastised and ridiculed. There’s also a bagel morning the first Tuesday of every month and an ever present bowl of tootsie roles at the front desk.
I’m not the first to blog about this place – a search on the web will find you many other reviews talking about the strange practices here. In Shahed’s opinion, the staff is also rude and grossly out of shape and it’s really hard to find a positive review. If judgement free means that you’re not encouraged to set goals, push yourself, or make any progress at all, then why bother to go?
It’s really something out of a sci-fi movie – it can’t be real that this level of behavior control and mediocrity is enforced in America. Shahed’s never seen personal trainer at the gym, and I think it would probably be against the rules of the place for someone to push you harder and give you a good exercise routine – that would be considered “judgment”.
I can understand having a no loud grunting rule, or rules against unruly behavior or dropping weights; those are the rules of the gym where I train, the Evolution Fitness Club in Astoria. In cases where I have dropped weights or forgot to return them to the racks, the owner or manager has politely reminded me, and I didn’t do it again. But if an alarm went off every time I did it, or if they were serving pizza in the gym, that’s just criminal.
On the opposite end of the spectrum of Planet Fitness is the Powerhouse Gym in Bayside. I think the rules of Planet Fitness were created with the members at Powerhouse in mind, many of whom yell for really no reason at all and love to get into staring contests. Funny enough, Powerhouse was shut down last week in a steroid raid and deemed a public nuisance. I’m not surprised at all because that gym had a toxic vibe and enforced a different kind of mediocrity, one of self-absorption and mindless ritual.
But most other gyms where I’ve been in my life fall in the middle zone of sanity where the rest of us in society live. Where we can accept our differences and respect our boundaries. There are always some people that cross the line and they need to be reminded, but I think the rest of us don’t need that kind of constant, heavy policing when we train.
22 Responses to “PLANET FITNESS: What Planet Am I On?”
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Kaiser
03. Apr, 2008
An added note to this post – I visited the Binghamton in question in this post, the Planet Fitness in Binghamton where my brother trains. I was there at about 1 AM so I can’t say I got a complete feel for the atmosphere, and didn’t train with any of the weights, but I’ve got to say overall I was impressed. I only did cardio, of which there was a tremendous selection of machines, and dozens of flat screens everywhere. Looking out on the gym floor, and seeing the locker rooms, I’ve got to say that it’s a good franchise. It looks like they’re trying to be the anti-GOLDS Gym or Powerhouse; the quality control in those places is very bad at certain locations. So, in some ways I stand corrected, but they still shouldn’t be blairing an alarm at anyone or serving pizza in a gym!!!
Powerhouse Home Gyms
07. May, 2008
Powerhouse Home Gyms…
I don’t mean to be too in your face, but I’m not sure I agree with this. Anyhow, thanks for sharing and I think I’ll come to this blog more often….
Spectrum Fitness Home Gym
08. May, 2008
Spectrum Fitness Home Gym…
You always fall when you?re training, that?s sort of part of the process. If you?re not falling, you?re not training hard enough. ~ Michelle Trachtenberg…
Harris
24. Mar, 2009
I’m a fit, 23 year old male, and I can respond to everything mentioned in this post. I lived in Binghamton for a year, and there were no good places to work out. It is a poor city, and an affordable fitness club is just what it needs. I’ve lived in Bayside and avoided Powerhouse Gym because of the atmosphere. I instead went to Bell Plaza, near Bell and Northern. I visited Evolution in Astoria, and I thought it was great, but Planet Fitness has a better cardio area, plus it is less than half the price. I have never heard the Lunk alarm go off. Eating 2 tiny tootsie rolls at the gym or getting some pizza once a month is definitely just an encouragement to come to the gym, and not something that will make you fat.
nadia
04. May, 2009
the best thing about planet fitness: fees only $10/month
Sergio
22. Aug, 2009
Guess what: Im not a advertise guy, but would like to help you out because when good things happen in our lives, we must share.
I was NYSC member in Astoria since they got open. I was suffocated in there, dont ask me why, but probably the F***ing CLOSE Atmosphere of people and sooooo expensive: Members dont talk, barely say Hi and egos a lot (nothing against them, but again: im trying to help you out!)
Last week just sing up to PF on Stainway. My goodness, what a nice place to be: Humble members, fantastic staff, very clean place, nice equipments, shinny lockerrooms , people see each other and talk easily (just say Hi). It’s prohibited EGOs and Judgement (the RED light comes out so bright…be careful)…I FEEL LIKE IN HOME. Im so happy. The price ??!! Hun, are you kidding me?@!!!
The most important: GREAT ATMOSPHERE and no stupid persons showing out their bodies like GOLD.
Gotta tell you, Im better URGE you…..Sing up and be happy. Trust me!
BTW: and anything you need to know Im available to be your friend in there. Just say Hi, Sergio
And let’s workout!
All the best.
Jen
02. Jan, 2010
I agree with Sergio. PF is great! And sorry to say but if your brother is fighting his food demons ( like many of us- me included) then it is not PF’s fault that they offer pizza & bagels. Remember every diet needs a little wiggle room!
Plainville CT PF
21. Jan, 2010
I’m sorry, I just needed to comment on this.
“And sorry to say but if your brother is fighting his food demons ( like many of us- me included) then it is not PF’s fault that they offer pizza & bagels. Remember every diet needs a little wiggle room!”
Pizza and bagels at the gym reinforces horrible eating habits. Why would you want to link unhealthy food with pseudo-fitness? This is not a reward for working out, you’re essentially negating the workout. Planet Fitness tries it’s hardest to enforce mediocrity, and if you want to have an actual productive workout outside of cardio then you are in the minority, good luck to you.
SteveA
16. Mar, 2010
Wow, so it’s a “judgement free zone” where they judge others?
Yeah thats what you call a bunch of sanctimonious a-holes.
Teufelhunden_JD
29. Mar, 2010
Anyone else notice that the only people who like this place are the ones going for the hamster wheels?
Jim
09. Jun, 2010
“Eating 2 tiny tootsie rolls at the gym or getting some pizza once a month is definitely just an encouragement to come to the gym, and not something that will make you fat.”
Two tiny tootsie rolls is about 50 calories each for a total of 100 calories. That’s an extra 10-20 mins of cardio (depending on intensity) you have to do to burn it off. The little things add up to make you fat.
DESPINA
25. Nov, 2010
I’M DYING TO TRY THIS GYM, BUT WHERE IS IT? IS THERE ONE IN ASTORIA? IN ANY CASE ABOUT THE PIZZA, ITS NO BIG DEAL, YES IT MAY SOUND STRANGE, BUT FOR A GYM TO BE AS CHEAP AS THIS, I’D BE VERY HAPPY. DIETING SHOULD NOT MEAN NOT GOING OFF YOUR PROGRAM ONCE IN A WHILE, HEY EVERYTIME I DO A VERY STRICT DIET, I LAND UP GAINING IT BACK BECAUSE I’VE DEPRIVED MY SELF FROM FOOD I LOVE. SO LIKE THE GREEKS SAY ” PAN METRON ARISTON” GO BY EXACT MEASURE NO UNDERDO OR OVERDO ANYTHING. ENJOY WHATS YOU CAN GET FOR FREE TODAY!!!!! ESPECIALLY DURING THESE HARD TIMES
NAT
03. Jan, 2011
Listen Planet Fitness is a place for people who feel uncomfortable in other gyms PERIOD. Its NOT a place for seasoned athletes or competitive bodybuilders. Its for BEGINNERS, OVERWEIGHT PEOPLE, OLDER PEOPLE ,HADICAPPED INDIVIDUALS ETC. I think its a GREAT place, that is trying to get people off the couch and in the gym!
If you like to GRUNT MOAN and DROP YOUR WEIGHTS then go to POWER HOUSE OR GOLDS! If you are a total 24/7 DIETER and workout junkie then got to whatever fitness center caters to those types!
There’s somplace for EVERYONE, now that there’s a P.F!!!
Callahan
05. Jan, 2011
Places like PF appeal to those who aren’t that into working out. They get you on the hook with a $10 fee, knowing you’re likely to lose interest and quit. And with a $10 fee, you probably won’t even cancel it because “I’m going to go back when things are less hectic” or whatever excuse you’ve built up for your return to the couch.
And I agree with SteveA, you can’t really call it a Judgement Free Zone when you are judging those that actually work hard.
PFSUCKS
07. Feb, 2011
Planet Fitness sucks because they discriminate against those who are in shape, period.
Anonymous
08. Feb, 2011
By the way if you do like to work out with any kind of consistency and like to bring friends to workout via a black card or even their own membership, beware of getting your membership revoked. Planet fitnesses customer service is hands down the most cordial and respectful I have every seen. If you couldn’t sense the sarcasm, I don’t know how else to put it without being to rude (mush like the staff).
After joining well over a year ago and actively going anywhere from 4-7 days a week, most of the time with friends or family, and almost never gorge on their pizza and bagels (the idea still cracks me up). Again, I reiterate, some with their own membership. In the middle of my workout one day, I was “politely” asked to have a word at the front desk. Where in which for about an hour the “head trainer” half-heartedly interrogated me, basically insinuating that I was a private trainer and if continued my membership would be revoked. When asked what specifically I did to demonstrate this, the answer was that there was nothing specific but you are being put notice that you have been labeled as a potential trainer. And when asked for a solution to the problem… needles to say there were more dead-ends.
Without going into my own personal issues. The Planet Fitness in Kingston, New York was a new facility and fairly well designed. For the first year plus, a nice escape and place to exercise. Now my skin crawls every time I even think about going. ” Loving it” every time, when they greet and as you leave with the painfully fake smiles. Judgement Free zone, ha. Maybe they should follow their own rules
MK
11. Feb, 2011
Giving out pizza in the gym (even if it’s once in a while) is like giving out crack at a rehab clinic (once in a while).
Did I see a “No Deadlifting” sign in the video???
Everyone that goes there must have a vagina and if one dick comes along they pull the lunk alarm and kick him out.
Patrick
15. Feb, 2011
Just so you know, the “lunk alarm” doesn’t go off the second someone grunts slightly under their breathe. Or if they do it once out of every set of 10. It’s only when it is done on every repetition. And besides, the alarm goes off only AFTER someone has already spoken to them, unless the management has gotten complaints from other patrons.
As for the pizza, I have the self control enough to not eat it. Just like throughout everyday I don’t eat junk food (Which is in my house 24/7 thanks to my girlfriend).
I’ve been to about 3 different Planet Fitness locations and they’re all great. I’ve seen the alarm go off once, and it was great. The guy was a total dick wad, overweight, pretending he was a huge bodybuilder throwing up 50lb weights, making noise for attention.
Jdjd
16. Feb, 2011
This gym is a joke and so is anyone who frequents it. End of.
ana
16. Feb, 2011
Listen Planet Fitness is a place for people who feel uncomfortable in other gyms PERIOD.
LOL you’re retarded! Planet Fitness is a place for people who want to pay Planet Fitness money to go.
Its pretty obvious that they’re trying to wrangle in the people who are trying to lose weight, but are bad at it. Most of the people in their could reach their goals in a couple months, with proper training – so Planet Fitness gives them A LOT of incentive to not train properly, so that they keep coming back.
Duh. Welcome to corporate America, brah.
Marc
03. Jul, 2011
Seriously, if you work out enough, why do you care what you eat so much? I have pizza every now and then, and it’s not like I”m that much fatter the next day.
Never eat pizza again, never have a beer again, never go a day in your life that you can relax about what you’re consuming… grow up, people! They don’t shovel the stuff in your face every day, it’s ONCE A MONTH! You’re telling me you need to stick to that strict of a diet to stay in shape, that you can’t have pizza one time in a month? Sounds to me like you need to work out more!
This is the first gym I’ve had a membership at, and I’ve gained some muscle mass and lost some fat % because of it. Maybe when I feel like the atmosphere is infringing upon my fitness goals, I’ll join another gym. Until then, I can’t really beat the cheap gym with the silly rules.
Oh, and I’ve never heard the alarm go off, even though I grunt during every set. I think most places leave you be unless you’re aggressive to others or hostile.
Vyker
16. Jul, 2011
Jim, the mini Tootsie Rolls have 11 calories each. You’ll burn that off half of that walking to your car.