How the 'K-shaped' economy is showing up at two big U.S. gyms

768 points by Frustrated_Bettor a day ago on reddit | 151 comments

[OP] Frustrated_Bettor | a day ago

  • Life Time and Planet Fitness both reported strong growth, but their results highlighted a widening divide in consumer spending habits.
  • Life Time’s revenue jumped 12% as higher-income members paid higher dues and spent more on premium services like training, spa treatments and food.
  • Planet Fitness saw strong growth, but its weaker 2026 outlook raised concerns about slowing demand among lower- and middle-income members.

Just_Candle_315 | a day ago

I dropped lifetime and joined Planet Fitness but only because I moved from Raleigh NC where I paid $150/month to NYC where I would have paid $330. Otherwise I would have kept Lifetime I fucking love that place.

OK_x86 | a day ago

I'm sorry. 300$ for a gym membership? What the actual fuck?

I'm never dropping my 50$ a month gym.

Major_Burnside | a day ago

Lifetime is basically a country club without the golf in terms of amenities.

ccroz113 | a day ago

I’ve always thought it’d be a great idea for them to partner with a golf country club. Or have golf simulators

Major_Burnside | a day ago

I’ve heard that some have simulators.

Limp-Plantain3824 | a day ago

If the one near me gets some I’ll have to reevaluate.

evantom34 | 16 hours ago

There’s a company called Bay Club here in CA that does this. Dual memberships to both and all.

dominnate | a day ago

There are a couple locations in MN that have golf sims

dcmtbr | a day ago

Need to bring that to the DC area. No golf simulators at mine.

haarp1 | 10 hours ago

What are those amenities that are on par with a country club? Sauna, pool etc.?

Major_Burnside | 8 hours ago

Sauna, pools, tennis, pickleball, spas, restaurant, childcare for while you’re there.

Available_Finger_513 | a day ago

My crunch is $15 a month and the equipment is exquisite

They have 9 fully equipped olympic platforms + power racks

getwhirleddotcom | a day ago

I’m basically locked into 24hr fitness because I have a lifetime pass that I pay $50/yr for.

OK_x86 | a day ago

My favorite all time gym was 20$. The equipment was old as hell but well maintained. It had a boxing ring, dozens of racks and platforms for you to do Olympic lifts on and then every kind if machine. It was open 24 hours.

The only drawback was that the place smelled a bit like a gym bag.

Dazzling-Rub-8550 | a day ago

The smell only lasts for the first few minutes. Then your nose and brain gets used to it and then you also start smelling the same. Good times.

Available_Finger_513 | a day ago

I played hockey growing up and there is a certain nostalgia I feel when I smell that locker room stank

OK_x86 | 23 hours ago

Same. I miss that smell. Walking into any arena is an instant nostalgia kick. They all smell the same. It's wild

AmIBeingInstained | a day ago

Crunch in NYC is around 100 too

SeaEmployee787 | a day ago

Yep 19.00. Can be busy, but 19.00

Medium_Loquat_4943 | 16 hours ago

What’s your snatch PR?

AttemptRough3891 | a day ago

In the 90's I paid over a thousand dollars to have the benefit of paying $10 a month for a membership to Bally's. Nationwide chain, nothing particularly remarkable about it.

Now I pay $30 a month with no initiation fee, no contract for Planet Fitness, which offers about the same level of equipment. Over 30 years later.

I'm glad the cost of gyms has fallen, but I really don't get the people who pay hundreds for some of these upscale places.

Redpanther14 | a day ago

You pay hundreds to avoid the crowds AFAIK.

True-Reflection-9538 | 23 hours ago

I mean look at the gyms you pay hundreds for. There is a reason it's upscale.

For one, you can actually take a shower there without feeling like you're going to get infected with ringworm.

Marathon2021 | a day ago

Well, but a Lifetime is typically also going to have pickleball courts, basketball courts, daycare for your kiddos, yoga and HIIT classes (sometimes multiples going on at once), trainers, a cafe, 2-3 swimming pools, dry sauna, steam sauna, lockers, towel service, a dozen showers, etc. etc.

I dropped my LT membership once we got our Tonal (my membership was also around $150 but I'm not in NYC like the person you were responding to mentioned), but there can be a world of difference between a "gym" membership, and a "fitness club" membership. My members

OK_x86 | a day ago

When I lived out west I had a similar membership that cost 80$. It also had tennis courts soccer courts, a whole track thing, etc.

I used virtually none of those services outside the weight room, sauna and showers.

My 50$ gym has all those things and nothing I don't want.

But yes I guess if you actually make use of those services it may be worth it. But 300 is still quite high.

sowedkooned | a day ago

r/RedditSniper

es-ganso | a day ago

I had a $35/mo powerlifting/bodybuilding gym I had to give up because I moved. I'm still sad about it

Mikeytruant850 | a day ago

$150/month is blowing my mind. So many gyms around here are $10-$30/month. $150 has to include a trainer or something?

Ok-Bug-5271 | a day ago

Yeah you get free lessons and they even offer free childcare for up to two hours so you can work out even as a single parent, if the other parent is working, or if you just want the kids to do something. There's also plenty of other amenities, like the spa area, golf simulators, massage beds, etc. I like to play racquetball and it can be surprisingly hard to find courts outside of lifetime.

I have a special deal so my membership cost is locked at only $80 a month. At that price I absolutely think it's worth it, and I wouldn't feel bad about paying $150 either, though I am planning on taking out a loan and building my own gym and spa at my house soon anyway so I probably wouldn't pay that much anymore.

TL;DR yes it's expensive, but it's not hard to justify the price. It is luxurious and targets the rich. It's like complaining that a high dining restaurant is $50 a meal. Definitely worth it, but the rich are the audience.

Mikeytruant850 | a day ago

There needs to be another name for that. Gym is such an understatement.

WantCookiesNow | 17 hours ago

In addition to what the other person said, all their classes (except Pilates) are included in membership. So Zumba, body pump, spin, yoga, swim aerobics, conditioning, etc etc all of that is free with the membership. And they have multiple every day. I used to take advantage of a lot of the classes when I went to LT and loved it. They had 4 pools as well - 2 indoor, 2 outdoor. And the locker rooms & showers (and saunas!) were really nice. It was an amazing gym/club! (But it was $110/mo when I was going there 5-10 years ago.)

doubletwist | a day ago

My wife and I pay $44 a YEAR combined for our 24hr Fitness memberships. We hardly ever go these days, but I can't bring myself to cancel it because it's just too good a deal.

rynaco | a day ago

I think a lot of people in the city that I talk to think of it as a way to force them to go to the gym like if you’re spending that much you will get out of bed no matter what and go. Also heard they consider it like spending $10 to go to a nice gym every day. A lot of people here will spend the same amount on coffee or lunch everyday so why not the gym

bealzu | a day ago

I’m $270 a month for equinox. It’s never super busy which is great.

Intelligent_Sound656 | a day ago

The amenities and community of people that workout is actually next to none. IMO you’re investing in yourself. Not sure about you but I’m worth more than 50 bucks a month. My workouts at LT have maintained my health to optimal levels, I use the suana, cold plunge, message equipment. Zero back pain, confidence strong, no anti-depressants etc. I travel and it’s very convenient to work at their business centers, if I land in NY I store my bag at the lockers and get a quick workout before meetings.

OK_x86 | 23 hours ago

I've accomplished much of the same with my 50$ membership FWIW

I'm worth more than 50$ but I can think of many things better to do with an extra 250 a month

Patton370 | a day ago

$300 a month is extremely wild

You can easily build a home gym that has the same stuff as a commercial gym with 3 years of membership dues there (or less, if you get lucky on the price of used commercial machines)

averageduder | a day ago

I don’t even know why but it’s just $10 a month in perpetuity for me. Hard to pass that up, especially given I can waltz in there at 4am

YouWereBrained | a day ago

Thank you. That is fucking absurd. Probably a beneficiary of the upward half of the K-shaped economy.

casillero | a day ago

LMAO bro my nyc gym like 8 years ago was a 100 something

KenDanTony | a day ago

I’m at $276 in Texas.

omgwtfbbq0_0 | a day ago

The one closest to me is somewhere around $500 for a family membership. The one they’re building right outside my neighborhood is rumored to be $600 🫩 I love the idea of it but I just cannot imagine spending a car payment on a damn gym membership

playdough87 | a day ago

Not uncommon in big cities, real estate is expensive and gyms need a lot of sq ft.

leaky- | a day ago

Equinox life baby

ATGSunCoach | a day ago

I’m in the Raleigh area currently, and I’m shocked to hear someone was paying $150 a month for a gym membership down here without being a country club.

DistinctSmelling | 21 hours ago

I'm at $9.95/mo but there's easily other clubs in my metro that are $514 for a family plan.

averytolar | 21 hours ago

Buy a bench and workout at home.

OK_x86 | 21 hours ago

Very dangerous thing to do as you reach higher weights though. Once I hit 4 plates on my bench I thought better of it. Even with stops I feel safer in a place with someone around to help just in case.

averytolar | 21 hours ago

Fair point. For the average dude, 45lbs free weights at home is a lot cheaper than a gym subscription that they rarely follow up with.

I_Am_Dwight_Snoot | 21 hours ago

Lifetime is insane though.

The one in my region has a spa, multiple pools, water slides for the outdoor pool, a bar, a restaurant (i think?), tennis/pickleball/basketball courts, sauna, daycare, and some other nonsense. You do not go there if you just are lifting lol

True-Reflection-9538 | 23 hours ago

You don't understand how good those gyms are. It's more akin to a country club. I have a VIDA fitness near me, which is comparable to LIFETIME.

Sauna's, an incredibly nice pool, a daycare, top-notch equipment, group classes, co-working spaces with fast wifi, restaurants with full bar access, massages, spa, haircuts/salon.

A Planet Fitness is frankly disgusting. You're basically paying for a highschool gym + smelly-ass locker-room.

That being said, if I'm just lifting weights/need a treadmill, obviously Planet Fitness is going to be the way to go but I understand why people do those Lifetime/VIDA memberships. You can literally do an entire workday there if you're WFH(like me) and get a workout in/sauna, etc.

twittalessrudy | a day ago

I think it was less than 200/month when I had it over a decade ago, but it was worth it when all my friends had memberships as that was both my fitness and socializing expense.

If I go alone or meeting friends, I can get a good workout in and/or play bball. I’d always go to the sauna and shower.

It was socializing while also doing something good for your body, all the while not spending money or alcohol or going out

Taurabora | a day ago

When I was paying $200/month for Lifetime, I always thought “This is so expensive… I have to get my money’s worth out of this place”, so I ended up going more than I used to at other gyms.

capfedhill | a day ago

I swam in college, but have barely swam in the 15 years since. I told myself if I join Lifetime and pay that much money, I am getting my ass in the pool and getting back in swim shape and making the most of it.

And I did. I swim on my lunch breaks, and lift after work (gym is right across the street from my work). It has been hugely beneficial to my health, looks, and general fitness levels.

No regrets. It's expensive, but worth it.

SuiGenerisPothos | a day ago

That's crazy. In California, $150 a month is what you pay for the boutique gyms, like the rock climbing gyms or the martial arts gyms. Not your basic "put a bunch of machines in a room" gym. Those cost $15-50 a month.

Just_Candle_315 | a day ago

Lifetime in Walnut Creek is $330/month so let's not act like CA is some golden mecca of affordability

SuiGenerisPothos | a day ago

So I looked up Life Time after your comment and it's definitely not what I was thinking of. It doesn't even market itself as a gym, or even a boutique gym. It markets itself as "luxury" and literally calls itself an "athletic country club," not a gym. Based on it's page, it's a place where people go to be seen, not to actually work out.

OmfgHaxx | a day ago

I've been to life time a few times on guest pass, and people definitely work out and it is a really nice gym. I can't justify it but if I had stupid amounts of money I would definitely pay for it. They also offer classes included in the membership

voiceOfHoomanity | a day ago

In LA or SF? No

True-Reflection-9538 | 23 hours ago

Ok but these aren't "put a bunch of machines in a room" gyms. They're basically "fitness clubs" with a ridiculous amount of high-end amenities. It's basically a gym-spa-pool-daycare-cafe-classes-coworking space and they actually clean it up.

evantom34 | 16 hours ago

150/mo isn’t horrible.

Dorrbrook | a day ago

How much of Planet Fitness' growth is people living in cars who want access to a shower?

Limp-Plantain3824 | a day ago

I don’t live in my car but I do work out of it! I spend a lot of time driving to customer’s sites and have a job that does occasionally involve getting filthy.

The black card is my secret weapon. It’s awesome to almost always be within 20-30 minutes of a shower and clean bathroom.

gh0st32 | a day ago

I know it anecdotal but there are at least 3 folks at the PG I’m a member at that are in that situation.

Dorrbrook | a day ago

Its a solid move. I live on a small boat but have a municipal gym membership for the sauna/shower.

maddie8383 | a day ago

Lifetime also has childcare services and you can leave your kids there for 2-3 hours each day while you workout or do other things. So it’s actually cheaper than hiring a sitter to come to your house. The perks is what makes lifetime worth it if you can afford it. I knew someone that would drop their kids off everyday to go workout for half a hour and then spend two hours at the cafe working uninterrupted and said it was way cheaper than hiring someone to watch her kids.

pzschrek1 | a day ago

When our kids were little we gad a membership to a place like that just so my wife could take a shower and read a book for a couple hours

Getriixy | a day ago

Lifetime is such an egregious price for a monthly membership unless you’re doing things like this. When you start using it to supplement childcare cost, or how some people use their workspaces, not as bad anymore

evantom34 | 15 hours ago

If you use the fitness classes, I can see the value. Monthly yoga memberships are like 150/mo. I can see the appeal of a premium 200+ dollar membership, although I wouldn’t pay it.

xyrrus | 21 hours ago

and what will happen when people get wise to this and everyone starts bringing their kids?

jpoolio | 20 hours ago

I brought my twins there everyday when they were babies, 16 years ago-- this isn't new.

I would workout, sit by the pool, enjoy the hot tub or sauna, check my emails, and then feed them at the café. My daughter and I were actually talking about this last night when we were walking the dogs because she has fond memories and wanted to go eat lunch.

I told her to ask grandma (my mother) because I ended my membership as soon as I no longer needed daycare.

xyrrus | 20 hours ago

I know it's not being utilized but I'm asking a hypothetical question. I'm hinting at the idea that this only works if people are none the wiser.

graceyperkins | a day ago

Yes, this is the only reason I’m keeping my membership.

Once my youngest ages out of the child center, I’m cancelling Lifetime and going back to Planet.

zee_dot | a day ago

My Lifetime cafe and lobby look like co-working spaces. Everyone on laptops and taking video calls.

I was amazed when they built the place - we had plenty of gyms - an LA fitness around the corner r and a nice new YMCA 10 minutes away. I was a skeptic.

But its model is different for sure. Maybe there is some “k economy” evidence here. But I know plenty of wealthier folks at planet fitness, and many who stretch to be at lifetime because it’s full service - heck we live in the northeast and in the summer it’s a swim club. It’s supplying different product.

evantom34 | 15 hours ago

Exactly. Gyms are not strictly for the free weights and machines offer. Yoga studio memberships are 150+/mo. It’s easy to see how someone who enjoys fitness classes as well as some of the premium gym amenities can find value in a top tier membership.

NYDCResident | a day ago

I'm sorry; color me skeptical. My read of this article is the exact opposite of the story they are trying to tell. Lifetime substantially increased dues and saw revenues up only 11% YoY. That tells me that membership fell, not rose. Planet Fitness (which I belong to) did not raise dues and yet same store revenues rose 4-5%. That sounds a lot like PF membership increased.

Limp-Plantain3824 | a day ago

You read the article!?!?!?

Woodit | a day ago

PF raised dues for new members, regular membership is $15 instead of $10 now but we’re grandfathered in

NYDCResident | a day ago

Thanks.

3RADICATE_THEM | a day ago

I have a LT membership - fortunately, it's only gone up about $10 over the course of having it for 6+ years.

NYDCResident | a day ago

Mine is month-by-month and has not gone up in 3 years. Don't know why if the experience of others has been different.

3RADICATE_THEM | a day ago

Wait, there are plans that are not month-by-month?

NYDCResident | a day ago

I have a feeling that I'm adding more noise than signal. Sorry for that. I don't know how other people pay. All I know is my experience. Apologies if I framed it any other way..

Medium_Loquat_4943 | 16 hours ago

Bro, didn’t you start with a bi-weekly membership?

campfirepandemonium | a day ago

Not sure if this is part of it, but in the Chicago area and suburbs a large chain Xsport sold to LA Fitness and the place was literally falling apart, the only clean gym option that wasn't a complete waste of money for me was lifetime... Even though it's a significant price increase, it is actually really nice.

Mylifereboot | a day ago

Former lifetime member. Overall, it was a good club. It was nice to have other amenities at my disposal. It was always clean and the locker room attendant was a great guy. The other benefit was that I didn't deal with a lot of bullshit. People came in, did their work, and moved on. No one filming, no roaming packs of high school kids, and no one just sitting on equipment while on their phones.

I ended up leaving as they just didn't have enough equipment. The weight room was nice but just too limited.

LoonSecIO | a day ago

Mine has been slowly removing all free weights for various cable machines, eventually it can’t be any different then just ordering a SF3 or similar

hottertime | a day ago

I train at a facility. The difference between the "Haves" and "Have-nots" is very evident. The difference in the work out clothes, the extra services that are bought, the after work out $15 protein shakes, the use of personal trainers, and of course the time of day. The "Haves" come in during the day when the place is not busy, the "Have-nots" come in after 5pm, at a time the place is busy and you have to wait to get on a machine.

nylockian | a day ago

You are talking about what you perceive to be the haves and have nots.

I have a business where lots of people that use my service have multimillion dollar homes and live in one of the top 10 wealthiest zip codes. It is extremely difficult to tell the difference between any level of middle class and those higher wealth people.

External_Koala971 | a day ago

Some of the wealthiest people I know wear Kirkland jeans and shirts and drive a Toyota (hobo style), and some of the most in debt people I know wear lululemon and drive an Audi (performative style).

It’s hard to tell (especially in the bay area).

Y__U__MAD | a day ago

You are now a mod of /r/personalfinance

External_Koala971 | a day ago

I just think the psychology of money is fascinating and we each interpret it in our own way.

I care very much that my assets are going to appreciate $1M this year, and care very little how I look, how I am perceived, or any other performance while that happens (it will happen while I’m wearing crocs).

Y__U__MAD | a day ago

I am in the same boat, however I have too much self esteem for crocs. I just can’t go there.

External_Koala971 | a day ago

Always watch out for the guy wearing crocs in a crowd of people wearing nice shoes

Either an idiot or a genius

mathmagician9 | a day ago

Choosing crocs with ~$10M liquid assets is also a statement. I still care what my spouse thinks about me so I can get laid. Lmao

There are shoes that are practical and accentuating that are less than $350. APL is a good brand. In general, I splurge on things that ground me — shoes, tires, and mattresses. Principles.

External_Koala971 | 20 hours ago

At $10M liquid I’m going to go even more native: foam flip flops and goodwill tshirts

mathmagician9 | 19 hours ago

Sounds like cosplay. To be appreciating $1M a year, you need $10M minimum in liquid assets. Unless it’s a one time hyper growth on company equity or something.

It’s still a performance to wear crocs when it’s relatively nothing to afford something more comfortable lol

Execs who drive Toyotas are performative to signal to their employees. At home they have something very different.

Like, even talking about brands, even if inexpensive, is performative.

External_Koala971 | 19 hours ago

Really? Thats the only way?

I just DGAF to cosplay retail fashion

mathmagician9 | 19 hours ago

Yeah unless you know some secret cheat code you’d like to share. I rent think you’re cosplaying fashion. You’re cosplaying wealth.

DetroitLionsSBChamps | a day ago

Right I feel like that guy is just talking about people who waste money and people who don’t. You can be broke or rich, it’s still dumb to buy a 15 dollar protein shake

SensibleReply | a day ago

The real haves are at home in their own gym.

Agent_Burrito | a day ago

I make a very good living and I’m very frugal with my gym expenses. I know enough about training, nutrition, and don’t care for fancy gym clothes. I assure you many of the same folks you perceive to be “have nots” are very much the same.

Medium-Owl-9324 | a day ago

can i interest you in a $15 protein smoothie? for $4 extra we'll throw in a banana

-XanderCrews- | a day ago

I bet we can spot you way better than you think we can.

Agent_Burrito | a day ago

I mean to be honest if you’re in any sort of great shape, you are more likely to be financially better off.

marcusaureliusjr | a day ago

Some people are wealthier but frugal. Some people have less money but overspend.

I think I would still agree with his sentiment. I think that it makes sense as the general rule.

sixtyfivewat | a day ago

I'm in the same boat as you. I'm not rich, but not suffering either, and damn it if I'm going to pay some kid with minimal experience to "teach" me something that I already know. I also ain't spending $60 on a Gymshark T-shirt because all of my gym clothes are as cheap as possible since the only time I use them is when I'm covered in a mix of sweat and chalk.

Charuru | a day ago

Are you sure you're in the halves, the people that come in during the day don't have jobs.

xzased | a day ago

Sir, I'm financially well off (mid 6-figure salary, house paid) and I train with a 10 yo Bob Ross shirt and my daily shoes at planet fitness.

I could care less about all the extras, 45lbs is 45lbs no matter what gym you choose. I'm there literally just to lift weights.

TropicNightLightning | a day ago

Odd, I was left behind in the housing inflation binge and was paid the least making the most sacrifices at every job. But inside small apartment is a gym with barbells with bumper plates, dumbells, kettlebells, pull up bar, olympic rings, ghd machine, rowing machine, weight bench, with various physical therapy bands and stability ball. It's still not enough. I sleep in between the equipment, with no hope of ever having a relationship or starting a family.

Volunteer2223 | a day ago

Not to be pedantic, but I mean both “haves” and “have nots” have access to a gym? Which is a great thing. In many parts of the world, any gym access is considered a luxury.

Woodit | a day ago

I could afford a lifetime or LA fitness membership but my planet fitness costs $10/month and is only a mile from my house. Also it’s next door to Casa Bonita, the greatest restaurant on earth

atlasburger | a day ago

For the longest time I thought Casa Bonita was just a restaurant from South Park

Woodit | a day ago

It’s real. Just like manbearpig.

CriticalEuphemism | 22 hours ago

Al gore? You doing okay?

_ii_ | a day ago

My local LifeTime is full, they sent out an email saying you can add new household members if you already a member but they can’t take new members. We have to go in the afternoon between 2 and 3 PM to avoid the crowds. It’s insane.

averageduder | a day ago

I have expendable income, am I think on the upside of the K, and I see no reason to pay $100 or whatever for a monthly gym membership. I go to the gym every day - I just got back from a shoulder/ baxk workout and an hour of cardio. Would a sauna or swimming be nice? Sure. But not at the cost imo

NotAnotherEmpire | a day ago

Weight is weight, cardio is cardio.

If you have to have a swimming pool, a tennis court, or are a giant powerlifter that can max out the weights at PF in good form, okay. Otherwise, save the $1100-1500 a year.

dyslexda | a day ago

> If you have to have a swimming pool

My local YMCA has a pool. It's $35/mo.

FeloniousDrunk101 | a day ago

My local YMCA has a pool that’s often being used and it’s over $100.00 per month for a family membership.

dyslexda | a day ago

> My local YMCA has a pool that’s often being used

...good? Should the pool not be used?

>and it’s over $100.00 per month for a family membership.

You say that like it's unreasonable?

FeloniousDrunk101 | 21 hours ago

You just said your’s was $35/month so I was just comparing. Also the discussion frames $100/month as a high threshold I thought so I was just chiming in about my experience with a YMCA.

And the pool thing is mostly that if you are going to get the membership to utilize the pool for exercise, you have a lot of competition and many times it’s simply off-limits so that might change the calculus.

dyslexda | 18 hours ago

> You just said your’s was $35/month so I was just comparing. Also the discussion frames $100/month as a high threshold I thought so I was just chiming in about my experience with a YMCA.

Per person $100/mo would be a lot, but for a family membership, assuming 4 people, that's $25/mo.

MajesticLilFruitcake | a day ago

I used to work for a Planet Fitness franchisee. During economic bumps, signups would increase, but collecting monthly dues would become a hassle. A decrease of 1% of collections against the overall dues billed could be hundreds of thousands of dollars against the portfolio. Actually collecting that revenue would be a mixed bag. If we became too aggressive with collections, there goes the chance of that member wanting to join again.

olyfrijole | a day ago

Every time I hear the term K-shaped economy, all I can think of is the wide open mouth of an evil Pac-Man, devouring the middle class. Isn't that what this euphemism actually means? The wealthiest continue to accrue more wealth, while those without access to capital and power are left out of the growth and continue to slide deeper into poverty. And just like that, while we're using cute terms like "K-shaped economy" the middle class disappears into the gaping maw of crony capitalism.

AgileDrag1469 | a day ago

Went to a high end gym living in Scottsdale, AZ for several years. Individual dues were about $210 a month with a locker. Not even going to tell you what the pre pandemic sign on fee was, that from what I can see post pandemic is being “waived.” Came with a lot of perks though, got to know a lot of people there, but some months, where I really spent heavily on services, it was pretty expensive looking back on it all. Eventually switched to a dedicated yoga studio to compliment running and cycling, eventually dropped the $200 a month yoga studio to a home practice to be as practical as possible, knowing the yoga studio was going to keep increasing in price while the best instructors and practitioners were slowing attriting and replaced by new YTT 200 hour graduates.

Some_Conference2091 | a day ago

I have a bicycle, running shoes, and weights in my basement now, (all of them old too).  I can't afford to spend shit anymore. Not at restaurant, gym, or anything else.

Limp-Plantain3824 | a day ago

Lifetime and Planet Fitness have always operated in different market segments.

Calling it “K Shape” is stupid and just an attempt to sound trendy. There’s no news there.

lolexecs | a day ago

Follow your own logic.

  1. Lifetime and Planet Fitness operate in different market segments.

  2. Lifetime targets mass affluent customers, while Planet Fitness targets the middle income set.

  3. If per unit revenues are growing strongly at Lifetime, whilst they stagnate at Planet Fitness -  is it possible that the market segments that these org target are experiencing different economic rates of growth?

  4. It could be an explanation because gym memberships are discretionary spend.  Slowing or stagnating revenue growth at Planet Fitness could indicate weakness in their customer segment, the middle income set? While growing revenues at Lifetime Fitness could indicate strength in their customer segment.

_firehead | a day ago

The point is the high and low parts of the market are both the only parts of the market seeing growth. The middle market is shrinking.

weatherwar | a day ago

That's not at all what's being said.

This narrative of the "K-shaped economy" is about the lower incomes being the hardest hit and not recovering.

president__not_sure | a day ago

they need to rebrand to planet poor people. i still remember their commercials shunning steroid users. this move would be funny and very on-brand.

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xyrrus | 21 hours ago

Don't LT members have their gym memberships subsidized by their employers? I would think the middle-upper income echelon would have access to these benefits. At the very least, there were ways to pay for it with pre-tax dollars. When I used to go to the gym, my benefits portal offered reduced gym rates with 0 initiation fees to NYSC and Equinox compared to signing up direct. I don't know much about PF but they seem more catered to the non salaried pay by yourself consultant/gig worker types which would explain the K shaped divergence.

AcctAlreadyTaken | 14 hours ago

Lifetime is the gym where young people go to look for a hook up, grab a smoothie, and post on social media so it makes sense that its customer base just keeps paying.

Need to stop using this nonsense wordplay designed to distract from reality. The standard term is wealth inequality.

Wealth inequality is widening and more people get pushed into poverty each day. Nothing to do with economy, and everything to do with deliberate impoverishment of the nation and its people.

boomares | 6 hours ago

“Wealth equality” looks much worse than “wealth inequality”. If we control the outcome and control wealth equality everyone suffers. Look at the USSR in the 1980’s and before, Cuba now. They were very close to “wealth equality” but I don’t think anyone wants that way of life.

3shelfcab | a day ago

if Plant fitness got rid of that fucking purple and went with white or even yellow it would be so much better. i'm typing this extra sentence because this sub has a comment min for the ai bots

alilhillbilly | 15 hours ago

In Chicago you have one Lifetime Fitness but it's the only gym open 24/7 with a pool.

It's $330/month and $6.XX/day to park. If you go 5x a week that's $120+. So $450 a month for a gym.

There used to be a chain called Xpsort that was great and affordable and 24/7 but they were acquired by LA Fitness who shut down most of the locations or transitioned them to the LA Fitness model where they gyms close at like 7pm a lot of days and charge so little that they become a bus station vibe. They do maintain like one 24 hour location.

And that's it. That's your two options basically.

LA Fitness ($16/month) or Lifetime ($450/month).

There are other gyms but not like when I grew up in the Late 90s and 00s every gym was 24 hour with a pool. Those were the days.

CyberSmith31337 | a day ago

Lifetime Fitness (where I work out) is the high-end gym. It comes with pools, saunas, steam rooms, day cares, massage therapy, loads of personal trainers, workshops, classes, racquetball/pickleball courts, etc. It's around $150/mo. If you're using all the functions, it is absolutely worth it (for example; I barely use any water at my home because I shower at the gym every day, steam, shave, etc at the gym) and I go 6-7x a week for 2-3 hours. The majority of the people I see are a) kids who come from privileged families who take advantage of the family plans, b) director/executive level/business owners who sometimes work at the gym in-between workouts, c) retirees who enjoy access to the pools, the hot tubs, the steam room/sauna and other pain management programs, and d) the hardcore athletes/lifters; people who are competing, training for a sport, body-building, etc

Planet Fitness is the low-cost alternative. It has some machines, but not as many. The price is dirt cheap; I wanna say $25/mo? It's suitable for basic workouts and cardio machines. There aren't nearly as many bells and whistles. Tends to be more crowded, less serious. The majority of people I see there are a) people who want to work out for an hour after a workday, b) women who want access to the cardio machines (treadmill, stairmaster) and/or the tanning beds, c) kids who are working out, but without a serious goal in mind. Alternatively, if you only want to use dumb bells, PF is a good choice because they always have plenty of those.

I would always recommend someone who is just getting started with fitness to go to Planet Fitness first; if you decide you want to get more serious, focus on different muscle groups more intently, surround yourself with a more serious crowd, then I would tell you to go to Lifetime. For the extra $1500/year, there's no reason to spend that unless you know what you want out of a gym, and/or want to use all the extra amenities.

mathmagician9 | 23 hours ago

I’m at the top of the K fitness economy. I spend $400 for a membership at a hiit studio; $120 at rock climbing gym with a weight room; various $30 charges for hot yoga and hyrox simulations; and I have a home gym. Additionally, I spend about $100 on cancellation fees each month because I think it’s with it to sleep an extra hour. This all comes out to about $700 per month in exercise. I spend another $300-$400 in recovery services.

On top of that I travel for 3-4 hyroxes, 3-5 Spartan races, and 3 ski trips each year. (1-2 events a month)

I’m can easily justify all of this and my life somewhat revolves around fitness and sports outside of work.