Gym/Exercise Thread

[Idoit40fans]

Isn't that "meathead" thing going to vary location to location and also depend on what time you go?

[shafnutz05]

Isn't that "meathead" thing going to vary location to location and also depend on what time you go?

It's true, but regardless, it is pretty discouraged at Planet Fitness. The serious jacked bodybuilder types are probably going to go to Gold's or some other gym, also because the equipment elsewhere will be more to their needs.

[Idoit40fans]

I see. I am fortunate to have an adequate gym at my apartment. I will never join a gym.

[shafnutz05]

I see. I am fortunate to have an adequate gym at my apartment. I will never join a gym.

Yes, you are quite fortunate. If my gym was in the same building, would be so much easier to work out.

[Idoit40fans]

The key thing for me is if I have a spare 20 minutes, I can go get a light workout in. I'm on the ground floor of my building, so its like 40 seconds from my door to doing an exercise.

[shoeshine boy]

Anybody belong to a Planet Fitness? Is it worth it?

I'll copy and paste a PM I sent to KTK last month when he asked about it. I would say yes, definitely

1) The gym is absolutely helping me meet my goals. I'm not looking to become a bodybuilder, just trying to lose body fat/gain muscle and get myself looking good for the beach. They have plenty of different cardio machines, plenty of free weights, strength machines, and they also have (at least at my gym) five Smith machines that you can use for squats, benches, etc. I like the gym because you don't get the excessive meathead grunting you get at other gyms.

2) They offer classes, but that's not really my thang.

3) Honestly, I have no complaints about the gym at all. Sure, it doesn't have a swimming pool, racquetball courts, and a bunch of other nonsense like rock climbing walls, but it has everything I need to meet my fitness goals. Like I said above, it's awesome that you don't have meatheads dropping weights, grunting, and being annoying in general. And the facilities are always clean. highly recommend.

+1
I've been working out at my local Planet Fitness since last June and I really enjoy it. they really discourage what they call "Lunks" and according to several news stories have even asked guys to leave that were doing "excessive grunting". I really enjoy the 30 minute express workout. most people wrongly assume that if it's only 30 minutes it can't be that much of a workout. wrong! my PF has a trainer that runs a class in the 30 minute area M-Th 4:00-9:00 and he really gets us sweating! on days when he's not there I'll still do the 30 minute workout after running on the treadmill and I still get a really good sweat going.
I have the Black Card membership which is $20 a month (rather than $10) but I can use any PF in the country, bring my gf (or anyone else) as much as I want (even if visiting another PF) and I love the hydromassage tables after a hard leg workout.

[shmenguin]

i got these bowflex dumbbells a few months ago:

and have been really pleased with them. i had to give up the gym once we had the baby last year (i couldn't find time to go), and i've been able to get the same quality of upper body workout out of these dumbbells + a bench that i was getting at the gym. the only thing i really miss is the leg machines. i'd recommend them to anyone who doesn't need a ton of weight to work out.

[PensFanInDC]

I've heard nothing but good things about Planet Fitness. Friendliness seems to be a common theme and one often overlooked by gyms.

Those bowflex dumbells are great. I don't own any but I've used them and for home gym purposes you really can't go wrong.

[Idoit40fans]

I remember seeing a commercial for them. I'd love a set. I could adapt my routines to get by using only those and bodyweight exercises.

[shafnutz05]

Yeah, it's incredible how many dumbbell exercises there are, for every part of your body.

[shmenguin]

Yeah, it's incredible how many dumbbell exercises there are, for every part of your body.

i'm having trouble finding back exercises i like.

this one's a no brainer


a keep trying this one, but i'm having some trouble with the mechanics


anyone have any other good ones?

[KennyTheKangaroo]

PF is about a 3 minute drive from kenny the kangaroo's abode so first and foremost it is convenient.

It's also $10 a month for the membership.

So those two facts right away tend to trump most gripes about the gym.

it certainly meets the needs of 90% of the gym going population.

[PensFanInDC]

Basic pull ups or chin ups

Reverse plank:


Supermans which are essentially this position:

with your hands out in front. You raise your legs without bending your knees and raise your torso. Also great for hamstrings and frontal core. Raise, hold for 3 seconds (don't forget to breath) and release. Or you can pulse it.

Crab walk (...i hate crab walks...)

Reverse crunch if you have access to an appropriate bench

[King Sid the Great 87]

When I first bought my house, I turned an unfinished 12x12 into a gym. Hung a pull up par, put down matting, bought dumbbells through 75 lbs, got a couple of stability balls and medicine balls, and then wasted money on a treadmill.

Other than the treadmill, it's the best investment you can make for personal health.

[yubb]

I've never heard anything good about Planet Fitness. I get that they don't have meat heads, which sounds nice. I've heard that they don't allow deadlifts or squats. Is that true?

I'm nowhere near a meathead, but I do make some noise when I'm doing my leg workouts. Would they sound the lunk alarm on me? I'm not grunting like a rabid dog, mind you.

[PensFanInDC]

Yeah, the alarm thing is stupid and yes it would go off. I didnt know about the deadlifsts and squats though. That's lame (and about 2/3 of my workout routine...)

[shafnutz05]

I've never heard anything good about Planet Fitness. I get that they don't have meat heads, which sounds nice. I've heard that they don't allow deadlifts or squats. Is that true?

I'm nowhere near a meathead, but I do make some noise when I'm doing my leg workouts. Would they sound the lunk alarm on me? I'm not grunting like a rabid dog, mind you.

I do deadlifts and squats with heavy weights all the time. Granted, I'm using the Smith Machine, but that's most certainly not a problem. A little noise is fine, they are primarily talking about the people that grunt extremely loudly or drop weights on the floor obnoxiously.

[PensFanInDC]

Can you do free weight dead lifts and squats though?

[shafnutz05]

Yeah, the alarm thing is stupid and yes it would go off. I didnt know about the deadlifsts and squats though. That's lame (and about 2/3 of my workout routine...)

The only time I have ever heard the alarm go off is if someone loudly drops a weight or something. Not saying I even agree with the alarm, but it wouldn't go off if you make a little noise lifting a heavy weight. I bench, squat, and deadlift all the time.

[shafnutz05]

Can you do free weight dead lifts and squats though?

Not with barbells, because they don't have that equipment. But if you are looking for a gym where you are doing squats/deadlifts with free barbells, then this isn't your kind of gym anyway. I am perfectly happy with the gains I've achieved so far using the Smith Machine.

[PensFanInDC]

Nothing wrong with machines. Machines are optimal for some people. My personal preference is free weights because they represent true weight and balance and offer full ROM.

[yubb]

There's a good video out there where someone (the guy form the Colburn report?) goes out and the lunk alarm goes off. He goes "Yeah, that's way less annoying than someone grunting."

A friend of mine, also not a meathead, but very well put together, describes Planet Fitness as a gym for people who don't want to go to the gym. You can take that many ways, but to cut out something as major as squats and deadlifts w/ free weights is a major offense.

It reminds me of the Body Pump class at my gym. Make fun of me all you want, but it kicks my butt. However, I don't see anyone else even break a sweat. People go to these classes, do very little work, and either feel good because they went to the gym or get frustrated because they're not seeing any results. Planet Fitness reminds me of those people. People that just want to say they "go to the gym".

That's all a generalization, so please don't get offended if you go there and put in a good workout.

[Idoit40fans]

What kind of workout doesn't involve squats?

[shafnutz05]

Nothing wrong with machines. Machines are optimal for some people. My personal preference is free weights because they represent true weight and balance and offer full ROM.

There's no question that's the case, but the only two exercises I use the machine for is the squat and bench. Even aside from that, I do plenty of complementary reps using a pair of dumbbells.

[PensFanInDC]

What kind of workout doesn't involve squats?

Almost all athletic (not fitness) movement starts in a squat