Sticking with Ballys over LA Fitness, I didn't expect this.

scorp508 · 01-10-2009, 05:22 PM

My friend/trainer and I headed over to the brand new LA Fitness today to check it out. We're sick of the ghetto Ballys who never spends any money on free weight equipment and thought a change may be necesary. The guy on the phone had our hopes high, but apparently he was just a good salesmen.

So we get there and have to sit down like we're buying a new car or something first for 5 minutes...

Who are you?
Where do you live?
Do you work out now? Where?
Why do you want to change?
How long have you been working out?
What are you goals?
What are your optimum # of days to be at a gym per week?
Why do you want to change gyms? (Again)
Do you have any unhealthy life styles you're trying to change?

Ugh just show us the damn gym already!

After the tour we walked out without even taking the guy up on his offer for a few days of free passes.

Don't get me wrong the place was beautiful, clean, quiet thanks to carpet everywhere, and brand spanking new. The sad part was the free weight area. It was smaller than I expected for a 45,000 sq. ft. building. Even though the machine based equipment was all new, it looked pretty chinsey. Maybe engineers are just getting better with stronger aluminums and other alloys or something, but it kind of had that Fisher Price look.

None of the incline/decline benches had adjustable angles. You either use em' at the one angle or don't use them at all. That sucks.
All of the small benches were bolted to the floor. Couldn't use one in a power rack if you want to. That really sucked.
None of the small benches had adjustable bottom pads, only the top. Also suckage.
No 35 pound plates (not a big deal, but weird none the less)
No 1.25lb plates (I guess I could buy my own)
No roman chair and we use it all the time.
No tables or anything you could do reverse hyper-extensions on. Again, do them too frequently to not be able to.
Only one power rack for such a large gym. It was a nice one though.
The leg presses have no upper pin so you're limited to ~800 pounds. Maybe less since the rubberized plates were so thick.
The leg presses also had no adjustable angle on the bottom.
No kettle balls, chains, bands even though they said they had them.

I definitely walked out disappointed s I was looking forward to it. It is definitely a "beautiful people's gym".

The only real benefits to us changing would have been dumbbells up to 120lbs, a nicer pool & jacuzzi, a cleaner/brighter gym, and lighter wallets pulling our pants down.

I dunno... maybe if they come out with some crazy deal will I consider joining it as a second gym for cardio/swimming.

2pacalypto · 01-10-2009, 05:24 PM

Dude.......bitching about 1.25 lb plates?

scorp508 · 01-10-2009, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2pacalypto

Dude.......bitching about 1.25 lb plates?

Bitching, no.
Mentioning it, yes.

We use them all the time and as I said, I could buy my own.

deioces · 01-10-2009, 05:29 PM

im a member of LA fitness and completely agree. add to that , that they close at 11pm which sucks ass and it just tops it off. but its a 1-2 minute drive from my home and a 10 minute walk. and the gym is super ****ing clean. thats why i shell out 30 bones a month. eh if there was something better and closer i would def take it

java568 · 01-10-2009, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2pacalypto

Dude.......bitching about 1.25 lb plates?

I didn't even know 1.25lb plates existed lol

Trapstar4.4 · 01-10-2009, 05:30 PM

yeah i dont understand why la fitness doesnt have 35's

DeeZyy · 01-10-2009, 05:30 PM

The L.A fitness on the saugaus/malden line? Thats where I go.

scorp508 · 01-10-2009, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by java568

I didn't even know 1.25lb plates existed lol

Yup, and lower. They're extremely useful.

TehMiskForLyfe · 01-10-2009, 05:31 PM

the gym is nice as hell man

the free weights area is fine considering very few people seem to use it much to be honest with you

and it's 40 bucks a month, it's not even a bad price

scorp508 · 01-10-2009, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeeZyy

The L.A fitness on the saugaus/malden line? Thats where I go.

That's the one!

Dreamup793 · 01-10-2009, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scorp508

My friend/trainer and I headed over to the brand new LA Fitness today to check it out. We're sick of the ghetto Ballys who never spends any money on free weight equipment and thought a change may be necesary. The guy on the phone had our hopes high, but apparently he was just a good salesmen. After the tour we walked out without even taking the guy up on his offer for a few days of free passes.

Don't get me wrong the place was beautiful, clean, quiet thanks to carpet everywhere, and brand spanking new. The sad part was the free weight area. It was smaller than I expected for a 45,000 sq. ft. building. Even though the machine based equipment was all new, it looked pretty chinsey. Maybe engineers are just getting better with stronger aluminums and other alloys or something, but it kind of had that Fisher Price look.

Soooo why'd we not even bother...

None of the incline/decline benches had adjustable angles. You either use em' at the one angle or don't use them at all. That sucks.
All of the small benches were bolted to the floor. Couldn't use one in a power rack if you want to. That really sucked.
None of the small benches had adjustable bottom pads, only the top. Also suckage.
No 35 pound plates (not a big deal, but weird none the less)
No 1.25lb plates (I guess I could buy my own)
No roman chair and we use it all the time.
No tables or anything you could do reverse hyper-extensions on. Again, do them too frequently to not be able to.
Only one power rack for such a large gym. It was a nice one though.
The leg presses have no upper pin so you're limited to ~800 pounds. Maybe less since the rubberized plates were so thick.
The leg presses also had no adjustable angle on the bottom.
No kettle balls, chains, bands even though they said they had them.

I definitely walked out disappointed s I was looking forward to it. It is definitely a "beautiful people's gym".

The only real benefits to us changing would have been dumbbells up to 120lbs, a nicer pool & jacuzzi, a cleaner/brighter gym, and lighter wallets pulling our pants down.

I dunno... maybe if they come out with some crazy deal will I consider joining it as a second gym for cardio/swimming.

I wouldn't doubt it is exactly the same as my LA Fitness... Mine is also brand new and is in every way just how you described it. At first it felt kinda 'small' for what it should be, but I have gotten used to it. Going late at night helps as well (And to my astonishment, I have gotten the power rack when I wanted all but one or two times in 4 months ). You didn't mention the ****ty hours (at least mine has them). Closes at midnight M-Th, 10pm F-S, and 8pm Sun... Which is just ridiculous.

My gym does have a roman chair, however it was broken for like a good month. Also, I kinda enjoy the bolted benches because people are always moving them around and it becomes extremely frustrating at my other gym. As far as the adjustable incline/decline benches, I really don't mind. But maybe that would become a factor as I gain more experience. And I kind of enjoy not having 35lb plates, because they kinda look too much like the 45lb plates. Only XSport did the whole interview deal, but I thought that was just cuz I was somewhat of a newb... LA Fitness was like "ok swipe you're card, sign, workout".
So, I can deal with my LA Fitness but I agree, it really could have more potential. Why I wrote all of this I don't know, but just my opinions.

scorp508 · 01-10-2009, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TehMiskForLyfe

the free weights area is fine considering very few people seem to use it much to be honest with you

One person's opinion.

DeeZyy · 01-10-2009, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scorp508

One person's opinion.

To be honest with you I go to the exact L.A you visited and also belonged to the same ballys you go to and honestly that ballys is much much worse imo you can barely move half the time.

nitroduck · 01-10-2009, 05:35 PM

Wow you guys are all local. I just use my home gym though. It is about time i get a membership.

jasong2gs · 01-10-2009, 05:35 PM

MY gym doesnt have 35s' either. Anyone know why?

scorp508 · 01-10-2009, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dreamup793

You didn't mention the ****ty hours (at least mine has them). Closes at midnight M-Th, 10pm F-S, and 8pm Sun... Which is just ridiculous.

I didn't even ask, but the website for that location says...

M-Th 5:00am - 12AM
Fri 5:00am - 10:00pm
Sat 8:00am - 8:00pm
Sun 8:00am - 8:00pm

...and honestly that is better than my ghetto Bally. These are the Bally hours on their website, but I can tell you the club isn't even open this much. They've reduced the hours on Fridays and weekends from losing a lot of members to LA Fitness.

M-Th 5:30am-10:00pm
Fri 5:30am-10:00pm
Sat 8:00am-6:00pm
Sun 8:00am-6:00pm

We're usually there M/W/F from 6:30-9:30 so eithe works.

Quote:

Also, I kinda enjoy the bolted benches because people are always moving them around and it becomes extremely frustrating at my other gym.

That's fine, but at least a couple mobile ones would be nice.

Quote:

As far as the adjustable incline/decline benches, I really don't mind. But maybe that would become a factor as I gain more experience.

It just doesn't work. It is like buying a cheap "one size fits all" suit.

Quote:

And I kind of enjoy not having 35lb plates, because they kinda look too much like the 45lb plates.

C'mon man.. really?

Quote:

Why I wrote all of this I don't know, but just my opinions.

I appreciate the feedback, at least it sounds like I wasn't a total schmuck and did seem to see what I saw and it wasn't all in my head.

Patrice_Lumumba · 01-10-2009, 05:40 PM

Gotta hate those sterile, new aged gyms that cater for fat middle aged wankers who probably won't even continue to workout for more than a year.

scorp508 · 01-10-2009, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeeZyy

To be honest with you I go to the exact L.A you visited and also belonged to the same ballys you go to and honestly that ballys is much much worse imo you can barely move half the time.

It's crowded as hell right now with all the new years resolution folks.

It wasn't too bad until that Ballys in Peabody (or Danvers?) closed and they moved all the cardio equipment to the Revere one. Then they went and built that storage room where the stretching area USED to be, that was foolish. The landlord is their biggest problem, he won't allow them to remove the drop ceiling and build a 2nd floor.

Yeah, it can be pretty crowded but most (not all, some asshats there) will make space or move if you need the equipment and they're just sitting on it.

Ya' never know though. Like I said if they come up with some nutty deal and wave the sign-up fee you could see me at both. I think Bally goes down to $19/month soon.

**skippy** · 01-10-2009, 05:49 PM

The Fit19 I go to is small but cheap (~10/month).

-- I have never seen a 1.25 lb plate
-- It has plenty of 35's
-- the leg press machine has two pins AND the back is adjustable
-- No power rack.
-- the benches aren't bolted to the floor and they adjust to vertical.
-- Lots of old people in the early morning
-- No shower facility or locker room

EuphoriaPL · 01-10-2009, 05:52 PM

la fitness in massachusets?? lol wtf? unless la doesnt stand for los angles like im thinking it does

scorp508 · 01-10-2009, 05:54 PM

Even weirder I got a thing in the mail for "Latitude" fitness. At first I thought LA Fitness changed its name, but it is another Taj Mahal looking gym they're building up the road.

anthrofighter · 01-10-2009, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scorp508

Ya' never know though. Like I said if they come up with some nutty deal and wave the sign-up fee you could see me at both. I think Bally goes down to $19/month soon.

you can always try to haggle, i got mine waived but i had to give up multiclub membership.

Quote:

Originally Posted by EuphoriaPL

la fitness in massachusets?? lol wtf? unless la doesnt stand for los angles like im thinking it does

it does, yes i know. its retarded.

DanCottle · 01-10-2009, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasong2gs

MY gym doesnt have 35s' either. Anyone know why?

My gym has 35's but only 1 100 pound plate.

scorp508 · 01-10-2009, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanCottle

My gym has 35's but only 1 100 pound plate.

LOL... I guess you could do some bentover barbell rows with it or something.

The Bally dumbbells are kind of like that once you go over 60lbs it starts getting tricky to find their mates.

DanCottle · 01-10-2009, 06:14 PM

aha a powerlifter owns the gym so i think he might just just hide the other one or something. DB's up to 200's ftw

shoobeydoo · 01-10-2009, 06:16 PM

WTF type of gym even has 1.25 lb plates lol, that's ridicilous. I've never in my life seen a smaller plate than 2.5 lbs, and honestly I don't even see why you would need smaller than 2.5, you are barely even gonna notice a 2.5 lb increase if you throw that on the bench or something

DaBurg3r · 01-10-2009, 06:17 PM

dude, they lied to you about having kettlebells and chains, that right there is probably a good indicator of the quality of service.

scorp508 · 01-10-2009, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shoobeydoo

....you are barely even gonna notice a 2.5 lb increase if you throw that on the bench or something

Honestly if you are pushing yourself to your limits with proper form and concentration then this couldn't be any further from the truth. Why would they bother making plates this small if there was no usefullness to them?

shoobeydoo · 01-10-2009, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scorp508

Honestly if you are pushing yourself to your limits with proper form and concentration then this couldn't be any further from the truth. Why would they bother making plates this small if there was no usefullness to them?

I've been to all types of gyms. university gyms, boxing gyms, Gold's, Bally's, New York Sports Club, Work out World, etc. NEVER in my life have I seen a 1.25 lb plate, or even was aware of its existence. I don't think a gym not having 1.25 lb is that big a deal at all?

scorp508 · 01-10-2009, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shoobeydoo

I've been to all types of gyms. university gyms, boxing gyms, Gold's, Bally's, New York Sports Club, Work out World, etc. NEVER in my life have I seen a 1.25 lb plate, or even was aware of its existence. I don't think a gym not having 1.25 lb is that big a deal at all?

They either didn't have them, or you didn't bother looking. It isn't like there are going to be 50 sets of them. :lol:

I'll repeat again for the 3rd time. No it is not a big deal breaker (I'd buy my own if I had to), but I felt it was worth mentioning.