Planet Fitness-Judgement free? I think not!

L

~LV~

2
I currently train at New York Sports Club however I recently joined Planet Fitness because it's closer to my house and I can get my morning cardio in there to save time in the AM. So I only use this gym for cardio and NYSC for weight training.

Now the whole idea and message from Planet Fitness states that the gym is a "Judgement Free" zone however after visiting there last night I'd have to highly disagree.

The first thing you see as you enter the gym is this sign...

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Is that not Judging people that wear skull caps, such as myself, or do rags, boots, bandanas, or sandals? I can understand the sandal rule simply to keep people safe which makes sense but the other requirements?

Then as you get into the free weight area you'll see a sign like this....

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Is that not being judgemental against someone who may be lifting weight that is heavy for them and on their last set let out a grunt? This sign almost contradicts itself, no?

Finally, after I finish my 4th set deadlifts 225x10, I get to talking to this guy who is a power lifter about an old bodybuilding gym I used to live near that he was a member at as well. At the end of our conversation he says "man im suprised they didn't say anything to you about those deadlifts". When I asked him why he pointed to a sign that says "No Deadlifting".

WTF!!!
 
No deadlifting?
How can they justify that?
I’d cancel my subscription if I were there; what’s the point in a gym without deadlifting?

Have you tried asking their management why they contradict themselves with this ****e?
 
No, not yet but man it's almost like I get dirty looks from the employees there.

The one and ONLY reason that I joined is because it's $10 a month and saves me about 30 min in the morning. NYSC is closer to my job to I go there at night to weight train.

I just can't believe that they have the audacity to say they are "Judgement Free".
 
They'd hate me then. I make all kinds of noise with DL's and on heavy BP's. LOL

I coudn't imagine a no deadlift rule. They are axing out one of the best exercises.
 
:rofl: :rofl: "Lunk Alarm"! :D

That's awesome. I would set that **** off every minute or so, regular.

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Imo, not allowing those - it's a good rule. ;)
 
I would definitely talk to the owner...and I would very much like to know what he has to say about it if you do indeed talk the him/her.

I know this much: His lunk alarm must be running all day, since their employees and himself/herself are preset there.

:confused:
 
Does that thing actually ever light up and flash? o_O I would sooo mess with that like... all the time...

Also is it just me or are most gyms in NYC just really gimmicky to try to compete with each other?
 
I'd like to know what type of non-judgmental gym doesn't allow deadlifts?

That's just ridiculous. They've got WAY too many rules ...
 
Red_Panda said:
Does that thing actually ever light up and flash? o_O I would sooo mess with that like... all the time...

Also is it just me or are most gyms in NYC just really gimmicky to try to compete with each other?
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I haven't seen it yet but I've only been there for 2 days now. They actually have a switch to turn it on by the reception desk. The only reason I went to do back there last night was because I got off work early and I was home so it's closer to my house.

Yea it seems that they have all become so commercialized that they have forgotten about what a gym is really intended for. Now it seems that all they care about is getting you to sign up for their half assed/uneducated training sessions.

There is a Bodybuilding/Powerlifting gym opening right down the street from me at the end of the month and they are going to stock D-bells up to 150lbs..WoOt WOot!!!!! Planet Fitness goes up to 80lbs......boooooooooo
 
I can't imagine approving funds for making that sign!

must be a joke

even still, an expensive sign.

maybe a member is a sign maker

I would break every dang rule I could one by one in every way I could

starting with flinging a 2.5 lb at the sign

you know, in a real passive aggressive overhand throw style!

FF
 
flyinfree said:
I would break every dang rule I could one by one in every way I could

starting with flinging a 2.5 lb at the sign

you know, in a real passive aggressive overhand throw style!

FF
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Why not go for broke and use a 10lb plate? Those things make sick frisbees ;)

I'd be tempted to break every rule in there as well. I'd even bring my own tub of chalk to deadlift ;)
 
You know what I just noticed?

Check out the bottom of their Dress Code sign, it says "all subject to our Judgement". Pretty please someone tell me how that isn't being Judgemental.....it actually contradicts their Lunk Alarm sign.

LMAO!!!!!!
 
~LV~ said:
You know what I just noticed?

Check out the bottom of their Dress Code sign, it says "all subject to our Judgement". Pretty please someone tell me how that isn't being Judgemental.....it actually contradicts their Lunk Alarm sign.

LMAO!!!!!!
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The owners must be Irish :D

(I'm Irish. I can say that ... well, half-Irish)
 
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~LV~ said:
You know what I just noticed?

Check out the bottom of their Dress Code sign, it says "all subject to our Judgement". Pretty please someone tell me how that isn't being Judgemental.....it actually contradicts their Lunk Alarm sign.

LMAO!!!!!!
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I was actually thinking that as I read the dress code... lol. So every time someone in a do-rag is turned away, the alarm should light up! Awesome.
 
Hypocrites. If someone ever uses the lunk alarm, I'd go up to the front, turn it off, and turn it on again...and leave it on...much in the same fashion as this man at the end of this skit:
 
Yup. That's the way Planet Fatness has always been. They cater to the non-weightlifting individual and to the women with children. Sadly they have more-than-enough business that they can careless if they lose a couple dozen guys that want to lift heavy.

If you're running a fitness facility, there's so much more money to be made by catering to the family atmosphere than powerlifters and Olympic lifters and competitive bodybuilders.

I do agree that their sign is misleading that they are judgemental.

I can't tell you the number of people they have revoked their gym membership because of the lunk alarm.

I would love to sit down and ask them how they claim to be judgemental and then they judge people all the time. Butttt...it'd really be a waste of my time considering they have no email address and you actually ahve to go old skool and write them a letter with one of those stamp things.
 
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Funny, when I read this post, I immediately thought of this email I had received a few years ago -- turns out it was an article from 2006, and is from a Planet Fitness place....
 
Loudonville, NY -The Judgment-Free Zone?? Equality? I THINK NOT! - Planet Fitness - Epinions.com

Lunk Alarm - Hello! Can you say HYPOCRITES! In most Planet Fitness gyms, they have a light and siren mounted in the middle of a plaque on the wall called a Lunk Alarm. If someone (God Forbid) happens to breath a little too loud or allow a weight to hit the floor even a little hard, the siren goes off and the light flashes....in an attempt to humiliate the "Lunk" responsible. Are you kidding me ?? Just the fact they have the nerve to LABEL someone a lunk is sheer hypocrisy considering their "philosophy" of no-judgment. I agree 100% with NOT banging weights, NOT throwing weights and not screaming with every rep. But you know what?? I tend to like to work damn hard and push myself to reach my goals, and if I happen to let a little groan or low growl escape me on the last rep..SO BE IT! I guess I'm a lunk and need to be humiliated and kicked out of the gym. Several friends of mine have all been given warning for all of the above offenses I just mentioned. They were told, next time they're OUT. Wow, for a gym that preaches tolerance, judgment, respect and acceptance - this is the biggest farce ever.
The Real Planet Fitness Philosophy - Don't come in here if you want to sweat and work hard.
Don't come in here if you want to make it easy to stay hydrated.
For God's sake - DON'T display any shoulder, chest or back muscles to the public while working out, so pack that tank top away and bring out the T-shirts.
Make sure you work below your current strength capacity as well as at about 50% of your max intensity because if you groan a little or happen to TAP a weight too hard - you're NOT WELCOME HERE. So be sentenced to "easier" workouts and a decrease in strength and fitness
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Real (Grunting) Men vs. Planet Fitness Gyms

I remember reading about this one. ^^

T-Nation.com | I Set Off the Lunk Alarm

This is directly off of Planet Fitness's webpage:


"Fun Facts!
We give away 35000 free t-shirts every month!

Have you seen PF's famous candy jars filled with purple and traditional Tootsie Rolls?? We go through over 750,000 each month!

On Pizza Nights (the first Monday of every month) we go through 3000 pizzas. That's 24000 slices per year!

The second Tuesday of every month we serve up free bagels to our club members! Come on by and get your own!

Only at PF!"

planetfitness.com/testimonials.asp?s=1009
planetfitness.com/fun.asp?s=1009

Pathetic.

Edit:
Video about the lunk alarm, you'll probably notice right away the type of people complaining about the grunting and the biased journalism. Enjoy.

No grunting allowed at the gym? - MSN Video
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