Planet Fitness – Reading – N 5th St

This is a good planet fitness location. I’m aware of PF’s business model, and although I don’t agree with it, I can’t punish this location with a bad review because of a system that’s beyond their control.
It’s big. Lots of treadmills, cardio equipment, and weight machines. Limited free weights. No free barbells, EZ bars, etc. Three smith machines. A few lat towers/​cable systems. I go during off hours, but I hear it gets pretty busy between 5 and 8. Although it’s not my first choice as far as gyms go, I can get the job done with the tools they provide. You can’t beat $ 20 a month, which includes access to all planet fitness locations as well as unlimited guests.

I write this review as a former planet fitness member, and someone who quickly sees past corporate bullshit and isn’t afraid to pull back the curtain so those less fortunate can see the truth.
Planet Fitness is a fat farm.
It’s a very terse statement, also very powerful. Why would I say such a thing about a company who’s main business model is that they help the overweight get the body they want? Because that’s not their goal.
Planet Fitness is designed from the machine-​up to appeal to the hungry masses. This isn’t a terrible pun directed to those who could stand to lose a few pounds, but to those who see something extra within themselves and hunger to achieve that. The problem here is that they play on this internal hunger.
The business is modeled to extract the most dollar from the locals as possible while cycling their turnover every New Years Day. The yearly rush of resolvers replenishes their ranks, and often times they recruit people who had dropped previously and forgotten why. They accomplish this by installing excessive amounts of treadmills and stride machines, which are the easiest workout to do for overweight people. If you go to any other gym you will see the incredible difference here, and it’s subtle until you think about it. They limit their actual free weights to prevent anyone from successfully building on a strengthened core, and they have the gull to stock sugary drinks, sweets, and host pizza parties to stymie participant progress.
Then they launch a smear campaign. I’m sure you’ve seen the commercials. These mildly overweight, average Joe type people who are being intimidated by mortal versions of Olympic gods. These hulking monstrosities who’s bellows shake your soul, and women who together have the average IQ of my cup of coffee on a Sunday morning twirling their hair and bouncing their D cups in sports bras. You laugh, but you see that they’re targeting the weakest part of the market interested in healthier living. They isolate them away from the pack, and feed on them for $ 10/​$ 20 a month.
To me, I envision this place as a giant farm. They put the cows on machines lined up watching Kathy Lee on TV’s, and they milk them for their sweet, sweet greenbacks. It’s funny, and very sad.
Are you going to this gym because you fear judgement? I can tell you that for the most part your fears are baseless. I switched away from this particular Planet Fitness after working on machines that I clearly wasn’t meant to do and suffered a hernia. After I recovered, I joined another local gym and had some of the same fears. Turns out, people who go to the gym are often just concerned with themselves. If they are judging anyone, it’s usually how they look and it’s always on the inside. After three years at my current gym I’ve not had one run in with someone judging my routine. I’ve had a few positive experiences with asking for spotters and never being turned down. I’ve even had one occasion where a gym employee came by to correct my posture for squatting.
If you’re looking to get involved with a gym, I commend you. I really do. It’s something more Americans should do to help with our health issues and overall longevity. I ask that you please give more consideration to where you join then just the price tag or goofy commercials, because there’s always a hidden agenda and I’ve clearly spelled out this places. If you are OK with these monthly pizza parties and smear campaigns, have at it. If you want something meaningful and to have a real impact on your health, image, self esteem; I suggest you do some research and consider alternatives.

Cheap price. Great hours. Friendly/​helpful staff. Tanning booths and massage chairs are available and are included in the $ 20/​month membership. I haven’t had to wait for a machine yet.

This gym is marketed towards people that don’t want to by in the same gym with hot shot /​machos walking around the gym grunting and staring at themselves in the mirrors. (in fact they have about 3 mirrors).
They have a sad excuse for massage chairs and tanning stalls that don’t tan at all. I was a member here for nearly a year and finally had my wits end at this place.
I’ve seem numerous people use a machine and sweat all over it. and walk away without sanitizing it for the next user. High school kids come here and sit on the machines and gossip while other people are patiently waiting to hop on next. Sadly the employees who work there won’t say anything to people that sit there and don’t do anything.
This gym has some nice hours for people that work late /​and are night owls.
The price is cheap, and you get what you pay for.