Planet Fitness - my review

I don't know why this place gets such a bad rap online.  My experience has been nothing but positive.  I have really enjoyed myself.  I'm happy to have one close by that I can use.

The red light therapy is working wonders on my loose skin.  It also feels nice to get warm and toasty after a good workout.  I come out feeling energized.

I went from 5 minutes killing me to 30 min being ok Plus I can now do that AND 25 on the bike.  That's a huge improvement for me!  I've lost 5lbs and I've gained quite a bit of strength and muscle.

Our PF is clean and well maintained with a super friendly staff that I enjoy being around.  I don't know if others are the same, but I'm nothing but satisfied with my experience.  

Planet Fitness Day 3

Yesterday I ended up going by myself.  I just listened to music and did the Arc Trainer for 15 min before moving on to weight machines and an arm day.

Did some stretching and then inquired about the massage beds/chairs.  Found out how to use them and I am so glad I have a black card membership.  I would pay the $20 a month just to have access to the massage beds without gym equipment.  It was heavenly.

Today my arms are really feeling the arms workout yesterday.  Almost too sore to lift my coffee.  ALMOST.  I somehow managed.  :-)

The kid & I were back today.  We did the stair climber for a minute, but I had a hard time getting into the rhythm so we moved to the Arc trainer.  Did that for 10 min and then moved to bike for another 10.  I moved to weight machines for another 20 min, but she stayed on the bike and then did the elliptical.  Can't say I blame her.  She has a silks class tonight and that's going to give her quite a workout.  She isn't planning on going with me tomorrow.

I focused on legs and then tried the massage chair since I did the bed yesterday.  I think from now on I will do arms/chair legs/bed - based on how they felt.  

I seem to do the machines a bit differently than other people.  I do 3 sets on each machine instead of doing one set and moving on to the next one.  If there  is someone waiting for the machine I will get up and let them do their set in between mine.  I don't want to be that person who hogs the machine.  So far that has not been a problem.  The crowd isn't very thick at 4:30am and there are plenty of machines.  I've also noticed that the 30 min workout seem has a Biggest Loser theme.  I hate that show and that's enough to keep me from trying that section.  I've only seem women go in there and I've noticed very few women on the free weights or weight machines.  Not sure why since that section has machines equivalent to the ones in the main room.  I have not done free weights yet, but I will by the end of the week.  

I did go into a different section for the hip abductor machines.  My hips are a weak area and I found that I had to go down 20lbs from the last time I used a machine like that.  Most of the other machines I had to go up 10-20lbs,b ut like I said, my hips are a weak area.

So far the gym has been friendly, clean and well maintained.  I'm seeing the same people so I'm guessing there is a regular crowd of early morning gym goers.  I like that.  Gives a sense of community that can be harder to find in the busy times of the day.  I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone.

Going to the Gym

I decided to join a gym and I had two real choices.  The community center in my town which is a good deal and has a pool.  I like to swim.   I have worked out there before and they have free weights as well as machines and an indoor track.  They also don't have hours that work well with my schedule.  Not that finding time isn't possible, it's just not always easy.

The other choice was Planet Fitness.  They have great hours and lots of machines, less waiting for one to be open.  They don't have a pool but they do have massage chairs and some other kind of massage.  Another thing they have is a lot of bad reviews.  I don't know how much of that is location specific. I found mostly good reviews about the one close to me, but lots and lots of bad reviews over all.

I talked to some people who use Planet Fitness and got opinions from people I know who actually use it.  I also asked a few people who use the community center if they still have good standards and are maintaining the equipment.  Budget cuts can really hurt a publicly funded place.  Good reports on that front, so either place is going to work for us.

In the end I went with Planet Fitness because of the hours.  During the week I need to be in the place before 5 - 4:30 is ideal.  I have to be headed back home by 5:30 so everyone can get ready for their day.  My job keeps me from working out much on the weekends so their shorter hours don't affect me.

Sign up wasn't a problem.  I didn't have any of the difficulties I had seen online.  I took two precautions.  I used a prepaid card to pay an I set the reoccurring payment from a checking account that is not our main one.  I've heard that when cancelling it can be hard to get them to quit charging you and I wanted to head that off before it was a problem.  The whole "in writing" thing is a pain in this day and age, but not so much that I do it.  I actually READ the agreement.  More people should do that.

We did the online sign up and I got a black card membership so that the kid can come with me on days she's interested.  My husband got a regular membership.

I have zero interest in using the tanning bed.  I don't tan for a number of reasons, from its stupid to risk skin cancer to I like the way my tattoos are still bright.  However, to each his or her own.  I don't plan to do it and that leaves more bed time for other people.

After signing up online we went in to finish and get our cards + free t-shirts.

The lady helping us was super nice and it was a good experience.

This morning we got up and went in to work out for the first time.  Dan used the treadmill despite the fact that he needs something besides cardio and he hates the treadmill.  I have no idea why he won't lift or at least use the elliptical once in awhile.  He likes to run on the treadmill and then complain about it.  It's a hobby I guess.

The kid an I used arc trainers for some quick cardio.  Only 10 min.  Just enough to get us going and then we moved to weight machines.  Even with just 10 min my legs were feeling it.  I'm going to give that machine another whirl on Monday.  I liked the workout.  Later today I'll dance for awhile to get the rest of my cardio in.

Today was an arm day and that's what we did.  I love that the cleaning supplies are everywhere and people seem to be using them.  Also the number of machines meant no waiting.    It was nice to be able to switch out with the kid.  I did a set, she did a set.  It was also nice to find that we are stronger than we thought.  I moved the weight up 10lbs over where I was the last time I used these kinds of machines.

Day 1 was a success.  I will report back again after month 1 is over to see if I still like Planet Fitness.

For the moment I am feeling good.  I had almost forgotten how much I enjoy going to the gym.

Gym Fees

Anyone looking at this blog can see that I use Google Adsense.  Between the various blogs it gives me a little extra cash every couple of months.  I have decided to put that money to use by getting a gym membership.  I used to go to our community center every morning and I miss it. Plus the cheap elliptical I have at home broke, so that's a little more motivation.   

I stopped going to the gym when we were financially strapped, but now things are getting better and I would like to start up again.   The community center is a great bargain for a family, so we'll all be able to use it.  And now every time someone clicks on an ad off of my blog they will be helping keep our family fit and healthy.  :-)