A gym that hands out pizza?! Am I reading that correctly?! Although it seems backwards, there does seem to be a rumor that Planet Fitness gives out free pizza.
Is that true? We looked into it and this is what we found…
Does Planet Fitness Give Out Free Pizza?
Yes, you heard it right; each first Monday of just about every month, Planet Fitness gyms give away pizza, and on the Tuesday after the first Monday of the month, they give away bagels.
Business Insider suggests that this seemingly absurd explanation for the Planet Fitness chain’s meteoric expansion is, in fact, plausible; and, hey, they even have a solid reason for it:
Planet Fitness’s director of health and fitness, Brian Zehetner, maintains that it’s reasonable and okay for individuals to have a piece of pizza every now and then in moderation.
As a community dedicated to not passing judgment on others, Planet Fitness stands firmly behind the idea that it’s fine to reward yourself occasionally while you work toward your health and fitness objectives.
But giving away pizza for free is nothing new: It all began in 1998, when the club’s fourth site in Concord, New Hampshire, experienced problems with its hot water heaters.
The Planet Fitness crew ordered pizza for each member to eat as a gesture of appreciation for the members’ understanding while the heating systems were being repaired.
It went over well, so they made it a monthly tradition at their establishments. Every year, each club now dishes out an equivalent of 5,500 slices.
Why Does Planet Fitness Give Free Pizza?
Free pizza at Planet Fitness is a marketing tactic (and a successful one at that!) It gets people in the door and promotes their ‘no-judgment’ policy even more. It’s also a good way of showing beginners you can still enjoy yourself when pursuing a healthy lifestyle.
The free pizza and bagels make it quite tough to be a fitness fanatic trying to get their workout on, much like the Planet Fitness’ lunk alarm. Imagine a gym that probably smells like cheesy, saucy heaven when you walk in.
While it may go against the grain of your weight-loss goals, many people find it easier to work up a sweat in a welcoming atmosphere where they are provided with food and drink.
The idea that the free pizza is meant to encourage a “#treatyoself” attitude while working out is also a plausible explanation. Does eating pizza after a cycle class, strength session, or long run undo all that hard work?
The jury is still out on that one!
While it’s true that burning more calories than you take in can lead to weight loss, that doesn’t mean your health is as easy as subtracting and adding. Eating pizza after a brutal weightlifting session won’t undo all your hard work. Especially if it’s once a month.
The same holds true for other forms of exercise, such as increasing your stamina throughout a run or aerobics class or gaining flexibility during a yoga session.
If you’re looking for something to eat after an exercise, this isn’t as good for you as a sports drink or other clean, nutritious meals.
However, just because you ate more calories than you burned on the treadmill while watching Friends doesn’t mean you’ve undone any of your hard work. Again, a workout cannot be undone.
Sarah Berndt, R.D., a nutrition counselor at Complete Nutrition, says, “When you work hard, it is only reasonable to treat yourselves at times, even if that involves post-workout pizza.” “Eating pizza isn’t going to undo all your work and effort if you do it occasionally, even though it’s not the healthiest recovery fuel and a tasty slice adds extra calories.
In fact, it could help you feel happier and let go of the resentment and anger that could develop from continuing to feel deprived.”
She explains that health depends on seeing the “whole picture” and striking a balance. Motive can be boosted, and health and happiness can be supported by maintaining an active lifestyle and eating one’s favorite foods in moderation. (However, this does not detract from the fact that nutrition is the primary determinant of weight loss.)
Planet Fitness is free to provide pizza if that’s what it takes to foster community and foster workout motivation among its members. As a matter of fact, there is nothing more effective than free meals in bringing people together.
Read: Does Planet Fitness Have Childcare?
What Time Is Free Pizza at Planet Fitness?
If you’re not good at planking, it won’t matter. This is especially true at Planet Fitness, which bills itself as a “judgment-free zone.” However, for those who have never set foot in a gym, the idea of a judgment-free zone is a fantasy, making events like exercise parties at Planet Fitness all the more important at first.
Planet Fitness gives out free pizza from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. (local time) at all locations around the country on the first Monday of every month. Anyone over 18 is welcome to stroll in, plank poorly, have some bagels from 7 am to 10 am or pizza from 4 pm to 7 pm, and either never return or become a member.
Not for the first time, Planet Fitness is providing free snacks to the fitness center’s patrons. The company’s history of kindness dates back to 1999, when a New Hampshire club bought pizza amid a daylong water emergency.
If getting in shape isn’t on your agenda, Planet Fitness can help you achieve ephemeral moments of thankfulness and joy by providing you with free pizza and bagels.
Read: Does Planet Fitness Have Personal Trainers?
Conclusion…
The famous no-judgment policy at Planet Fitness, with the addition of free pizza available on the first Monday of each month, makes this gym even more attractive for beginners.
In addition, all the free pizza day seems to be a bit controversial, but according to nutritionists, it is surprisingly better for some impressive weight loss results.
If you are a person who is new on a weight loss journey and aims for an anti-bully environment with fun things like free pizza, then Planet Fitness is the right place for you.