Planet Fitness - You CAN Get Fit Here!

This is NOT a sponsored post.  Planet Fitness has not contacted me or enticed me in any way.  I simply am sick and tired of hearing people hate on this place as though it is the scum of the fitness world.  This post has been a long time coming, and I'm finally getting it off my chest, so get ready for a piece of my mind...

If during your visit to the gym, you find amusement in recording overweight, strangely dressed, uneducated gym goers, get the heck out of here.  Go ahead and unfollow me.  I'm not down with your shenanigans.  Do you have any idea how much COURAGE it took for that person to actually step foot in a gym, let alone attempt to use one of the machines there??  I've had people on several occasions interrupt me during my workout to ask me to help them use a machine, to which I happily oblige with a smile and friendly conversation.  I've even interrupted another's workout at one point upon realizing they needed some assistance.  All it took was a simple "I see you're having trouble slamming your weights when you come back to starting position.  Do you mind if I show you how to adjust the settings?"  They are usually very gracious and thankful.  The point is, I was blessed to have an amazing high school P.E. teacher who taught us the ropes on all of the machines in the weight room.  I still credit her with much of my love for fitness and definitely for my confidence upon entering a gym.  If you also have the same know-how and confidence, it's because you too had someone to teach you the ropes at some point in your life.  Not everyone has this.  I'd assume most people don't.  So before you go judging the next grossly overweight person who walks into the gym in keds, jeans, and a tie dye wolf t-shirt, remember that this is probably the first step they have taken in a long time towards their health.  They came to make positive changes in their life - to feel good and look better.  What they need is kudos and support, not a pitiless videographer looking to blast their fails on social media.  Hey remember that time you were trying to learn something and fell on your face a million times before you figured it out?  How would you have liked THAT blasted on social media?  Yeah.  That's what I thought.  End rant.  Now onto the gym...

It's no secret that Planet Fitness has a gotten a bad rap among fitness enthusiasts.  And I will tend to agree with you that it does not have all the bells and whistles of many gyms out there.  But if you know what you're doing and you have a plan, do not let anyone tell you that this is a bad place to go.  I went here for 10+ years (before I had my twins and started working out at home for the most part) and got in what I consider to be the best shape of my life.  These are all photos of me during my Planet Fitness days.  And while they're certainly not perfect, it was to no fault of the gym.  I wasn't following a healthy diet in any way.  Annnd I drank like a fish.  Oh to be young again... 



I realize that not all branches are created alike, so for the sake of full disclosure, I frequented both the gyms in Frederick, MD and Catonsville, MD and was equally pleased with both. Reasons why I liked it were...

  • A ton of machines.  Never had to wait for anything, cardio or weightlifting.  So it was easy to stay focused on my routine.
  • Inexpensive.  I paid $20 (the expensive option) so I could have access to both gyms equally.... and because I used to tan for free.  Ugh.  I know, bad.  Like I said, I was young.
  • 24 hours. All the time.  Even my husband's more respectable gym wasn't open that much.  His would close.  But mine... mine was open.
Now I have heard that for heavy weightlifters, they do not have the equipment necessary to keep you challenged, and for that I cannot speak.  As a 100 lb. female just trying to tone up, it had everything that I needed.  It was my happy place and a great deal as far as I'm concerned.  

Lately I've stopped frequenting either location simply because I have infant twins at home who prefer to watch me sweat it out in the comfort of our own living room, which I would love to share with you.  Still, I couldn't let my days at this gym fall into the past without giving my true, honest take on the whole thing.  Planet Fitness, you have my stamp approval.  You CAN get fit here!  



Bella And The City




post signature

6 comments

  1. Thank you! I may not agree with the fact that they have pizza night and candy at their desk but the gym itself is fine. Sometimes I wish they had classes but as far as the equipment, it's not different from any other gym. I've been a member of quite a few gyms and a dumbbell is a dumbbell and an adductor machine is an adductor machine. People are such snobs. And I totally agree, I would never make fun of an overweight person at the gym, because they are clearly trying and making an effort to change their lives - you have to be a special kind of asshole to make fun of something like that.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This post came at the right time. My husband and I just visited PF yesterday and got a tour because we're trying to decide if we should join or not. I really appreciate your opinion on the gym!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think a lot of the reason I don't go to the gym is because of the idea that someone could be looking at me and judging me. I'd rather dance around like a crazy person in my living room than be picked apart by others. I love his post. Thanks for calling those folks out!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I used to belong to 24 hr fitness which people around here totally make fun of, but who cares?? It got the job done! :-) Also, love what you said about not judging really overweight people at the gym. It can be intimidating enough walking in as an average person, I can't imagine how terrifying it would be if I thought everyone was staring at me and judging.

    ReplyDelete
  5. So inspired by your fitness! I am a mom of two and it is definitely hard to fit it in but it is so worth it! Just found your blog from H54F! Love Katie! And yes, who needs a gym with all the bells and whistles? I workout from my home with no equipment and we get it done! Always love finding other fit mamas!

    Annie- All Things Big And Small

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lorry hire form truckingcube.com at very reasonable price.

    ReplyDelete