In 2015, Insider called Planet Fitness the fastest-growing gym in America. As of 2021, Planet Fitness has over 2,000 locations and 14 million members.
Well, with those numbers, Planet Fitness has to be a good gym, right? Some would argue otherwise.
If you want to find out how Planet Fitness is a bad gym, and why it’s not actually that bad, then read on.
[Read more…] about Why Planet Fitness is a Bad Gym (And Why It’s Not)
Of all the exercises out there, the bench press seems to have permeated into the mainstream culture more so than any other.
“How much do you bench?”
That’s a question anyone who’s even remotely serious about working out will have heard or, more likely, even been asked themselves.
What if we changed the question, though?
What if it became “How much SHOULD you bench” instead?
Many lifters seem to have set a benchmark—excuse the pun—of 225 lbs as the number representing success on the bench press.
Today I’m going to look at why that is and what a realistic goal to target with your bench press actually is.
[Read more…] about Is a 225 lbs Bench Press Good? (Statistics + Target Reps)
Back squats have been contenders in a decades-long battle against deadlifts, fighting for the coveted title of “King of Exercises.”
Now, the jury might still be out on the verdict, but either way, this quad-destroying exercise should be either #1 or #2 on your to-do list.
But here’s a (maybe not so) shocker: If your relationship with the gym’s power rack is so strained that you only squat once a week, it’s no wonder your legs look better in pants.
So … how often should you squat? Well, it’s not what you think!
[Read more…] about How Often Should You Squat? (Not What You Think)
Love ‘em or hate ‘em, you know every routine needs ‘em. We’re talking about deadlifts….one of the “Big Three” exercises that always seem to leave you struggling to walk the next morning.
But, just how you add deadlifts to your routine will determine the results you see.
[Read more…] about How Many Deadlifts Reps/Sets? (Mass vs Strength)
When you’re just starting out, it can seem daunting to go to the gym five days a week using a popular split routine. In actuality, there’s no need for a split routine at all.
Full-body workouts can be just as effective, if not more effective, than some of the most popular split routines out there! Let’s take a look at how full-body workouts actually work and the benefits associated with them.
[Read more…] about Full-Body Workout Every Other Day: Does it Work?
Planet Fitness doesn’t get the best reputation among the weightlifting community.
They have free pizza on the first Monday of the month, and free bagels on the second Tuesday of the month (probably not the best way to go about carb-loading).
There’s a “lunk alarm” if any gym rats grunt too loudly, drop their weights, carry a gallon jug of water, or even wear a tank top (Translation: You have to lay low if you plan to go hard).
And there’s no bench press.
That last point—the lack of a bench press—makes the $10/month Planet Fitness membership virtually useless for anyone serious about bulking up or weightlifting, in general.
Let’s talk about why Planet Fitness doesn’t have a bench press.
[Read more…] about Planet Fitness Doesn’t Have a Bench Press (Here’s Why)
Every good exercise program involves doing squats at least once a week, but how are you supposed to know how much weight you should be able to squat? The answer is a bit complicated.
Determining how much weight you should squat for your weight depends on your age, gender, and obviously your body weight. But you also need to take into account what your fitness goals are when it comes to resistance training.
Below, we will overview some basic squat guidelines on how to perform the squat and the average squat weight for males and females.
[Read more…] about How Much Should I Squat for My Weight? (Strength Standards)
We all lace up our Nikes, knockback pre-workout blends, and bee-line to our gym’s free weight section for our own reasons.
Some of us pump iron for the strength-building perks.
Others lift with the hopes of turning an M into an XL.
A few stragglers — gym bros — want nothing more than to gloat about their 200-pound bench when they post the clip on Instagram (you know exactly who I’m talking about).
The truth is, weight training builds more than just strength. These 17 statistics will reveal the true benefits of resistance training!
[Read more…] about Weight Training Builds More Than Strength (Statistics)
It’ll stunt your growth. It’s dangerous. You know it causes arthritis and high blood pressure, right?
If you’re a member of the bodybuilding or weightlifting worlds, you’ve heard these unsolicited, elevator-style TED Talks — ironically from those with zero experience — at least once or twice.
You bite your tongue and take the high road, avoiding this confrontation for two reasons:
Those 300-pound deadlifts, rapid-fire pull-up reps, and 30 weekly squat sets could all trigger cascading physical effects that can leave you sidelined for weeks or even months.
Or worse … in an operating room.
Check out these 17 weight lifting injury statistics to put the risks into a better perspective!
[Read more…] about Weight-Lifting Injury Rates (Is It Really That Dangerous)
We all know just how important leg day actually is, but with so many exercises and pieces of equipment to choose from, it’s hard to know what’s really best for building lower body strength. When it comes to squats specifically, you can practically do them with any gym equipment.
[Read more…] about Dumbbell Squat vs. Barbell Squat: Which is Better?