I have been reading fitness mags for 30 yrs ....
Written: Jan 28 '07
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Product Rating:
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Pros: cheap,free pizza 1 day/month, some kind of roll on some other day,free tootsie rolls,no contract
Cons: At least 1 gym has called the police to remove a grunter (prison guard)
The Bottom Line: Save your $10 a month, save up for a gym that has trainers that look like they know what they are doing.
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| psistar's Full Review: Planet Fitness |
That is what the owner of the new Mechanicsburg, PA gym told me as the reason why the gym has very few mirrors. "People are uncomfortable when they see themselves work out." So I commented "if all that was needed was to read a few mags then no coaches or teachers would be needed anywhere for anything. And look out Nascar!" He turned his back to me.
I am a 56 y/o geek & started working out 6 yrs ago to lower blood pressure & get rid of the belly. I did. When I began I only knew how to ride a bike & I don't think I did that right. After hurting myself several times I hired a trainer ... those results weren't exactly in the plan, but I can now do 15 pull ups (w/o assist) as my father wanted me to do when I was 14. Another trainer took my older daughter to the grocery store to show her what is healthy. This was done at a Golds Gym. (I'm keeping that membership!!)
At this PF, it *is* cheap and close. I joined to teach my very busy 18 y/o very slim daughter how to build some strength & mostly to be comfortable in a "gym". I had learned from my trainer that mirrors help you see form & how much you might be straining or breaking form. At PF there are few mirrors with the "free" weights ... dumb bells from 5 to 75. (I see women at Golds using 2.5s.) ALL the PF machines face away from these mirrors. The mirrors are for "body builders" I have heard said on the tours ... moi, a body builder?!?! Ha ha ha, I do press the max dumb bells. My trainer started me on 20 pounders 6 yrs ago.
This past week they rang the Lunk Alarm on a 17 y/o girl that clanked the weights on 1 of their leg machines. Like a teenager isn't self conscious enough? God forbid that management would get off their rears & show her how to work out properly. This is my final motivation for posting here.
And yes, the people at the front desk are very good best bad examples. The only certified trainer (early 30s) has a BMI of 30, coincidently. The manager, a tall & very thin woman, looks to have a BMI of 18 if she were soaking wet. The owner, he is about my age ... lets just say I now know where *my* belly went.
There is more. Continuous tanning is available. Wasn't that considered an alternative to smoking for getting cancer a few years ago?
I did some research about the owner's comment about people not wanting to see themselves work out in front of mirrors. I think what PF has done is take some possibly accurate research out of context for their own dumbing down & cheaping down. According to much of the research that I found, those who do not *know* how to work out, yes. Also, for those who are "rounder" & in exercise classes, yes. But this still seemed subjective. Classes? Oh yes ... they conveniently don't have classes which was what much of the research referenced that I found.
Judgment free? For a middle-aged guy in the shape that I am in, I am judged!! Watched and already categorized. I hold my breath (not good) for that last 75 lb dumb bell press dare I let loose even a muffled grunt. (What would happen if a little gas escaped??) I do not want to be the center of attention with the Lunk Alarm siren & rotating red light. The grunt/clink gestapos are watching watching watching ....
Recommended:
No
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psistar
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Reviews written: 1
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