The "Lunk Free" Zone that is Planet Fitness

      Today I got to experience that "lunk free" zone that is Planet Fitness. I have never been to a Planet Fitness before. There wasn't one to be heard of in/near New Orleans until recently. I have a few opinions about it (surprised?)...some good and some perhaps a tad critical. Overall, I think the gym itself is fantastic, mostly because of the price. It really is just $10 a month, with a yearly $40 fee. So it's truly $13.33 a month.

A Few Noticings

The treadmills...oh my goodness the treadmills. There must be 50 of them.

Yes that's a building-long row of treadmills.
Picture courtesy of gymglow.com

 In addition to all of those treadmills, there are four more equally extensive rows of cardio machines, including ellipticals, stairmasters, and bikes. I feel two ways about the potentially hundreds of cardio machines: 

   1. It's great. I hate when I can't get the cardio machine that I want. My apartment's gym in Houston has only one upright stationary bike, and it's a buzz kill when someone else is using it for an hour.

   2. It's really weird! Cardio is not the answer to our health and fitness problems. It has a place, but that place is limited, and doesn't need to consume 99% of a gym. Which brings me to the next noticing...

  The strength areas are actually hidden. When you look around, you see endless rows of cardio machines and nothing else. Take a look at this picture below:

I do support being surrounded by LSU colors.
Photo courtesy planetfitness.com

    Notice that behind the row of treadmills and ellipticals is a room entitled "30 Minute Workout." There are actually red and green lights that tell you when it's time to get off a machine and get out of the room.  It's just a little...unwelcoming.

   I've also heard many complaints about members who are slightly advanced in the areas of health and fitness feeling unwelcome in the gym. This story was about a woman who was wearing a perfectly reasonable sports bra and capris and was asked to put on a shirt because her body was making people feel uncomfortable.

     They also do not let people do deadlifts. Um....excuse me? It's one of the best lifts you can do for your body, whether you lift with 2 pounds or 200 pounds. It doesn't require anything but a bend at the hips. Why would it be banned? That's my main concern with the gym. They claim to be a judgement free zone, as long as you never improve and become an experienced/learned weight room participant. 

Photo Courtesy of BroScience. 

Below is another sign from Planet Fitness. I am in no way, shape, or form an actual lifter. And I do these exercises during a group fitness class at Elmwood Fitness Center:

What on earth is intimidating about an overhead press??? (Video here.) I can't press what that guy can...no surprises there. But I can't even do it with my wimpy weights? Why the hell not?

Ok...so I've exhausted the negative. Positives: It is very affordable, and you can always find something to do even when it's crowded. If you're intimidated by gyms, Planet Fitness is awesome. But I do not buy their judgment-free crap. They're judging. And I judge them for judging :)

So what did we do? Chelsea and I completed 25 minutes of cardio and then headed to a hidden cross training room. This is a quick circuit to throw in when you're short on time.

(Rope circuits video)

   I don't hate it enough to not be enticed by its low price. And there are like 10 of them in Houston. =) Perhaps I'll come around. I wonder what will happen if I do a deadlift and wear a sports bra?

Question: What bothers you about regular gyms? Scroll down to comment!

Good night!