What is Planet Meathead? If you've been reading EliteFTS for any length of time, you've probably got a pretty good idea, but we're going to outline things in this article.

About Us:

We at Planet Meathead strive to provide an environment where people of all backgrounds, colors, creeds, and beliefs can get yoked. It's a diverse planet, consisting of powerlifters, strongmen, bodybuilders, and yes, even "normal" people who just want to be bigger, stronger, or better than the average Joe. We are ever-learning and ever-teaching, and we will stop at nothing until we've built temples across the world dedicated to the pursuit of strength. No matter who you are or how much you squat, if you give your all, you will be welcomed into the fold and taught the ways of the jacked.

An Ignorance Free Zone

At Planet Meathead, we're known for our old school approach to getting big, strong, and fit. Picking things up, putting things down, as well as throwing, pushing, and dragging things are our specialties. In all reality, we don't care what you do, as long as you aren't doing something stupid that could injure you in the short or long term. The main rule of Planet Meathead is to TRY, and that includes trying mentally. If you're deadlifting like you've got the bone structure of a jellyfish, you need to try harder in the intelligence department. Learn something about what you're doing and why!

To some, Planet Meathead is a place for "hardcore" folks to hang out and scream at each other while they drop weights and oil themselves up. That's a stereotype perpetuated by another planet that we, sadly, must share our universe with. If we happen to share a training facility, we don't care if you look at us when we train and we don't care to look at you. In fact, you might learn a thing or two if you would stop staring at us and start acting like a normal human being with social skills, by coming over to start a conversation (not during a set, please!)

How Different is Planet Meathead?

To be honest, Planet Meathead is so different that it sometimes scares people. That's not the intent at all, because we like people! We don't have juice bars, childcare, swimming pools, or the newest, fanciest equipment. What we do have is the stuff that works. We've trimmed the fat from the typical "health club" and what's left is the equipment, philosophies, and atmosphere that never fail to provide results regardless of the goal. If you're looking for a place you can train hard and get bigger, stronger, faster, or leaner, all while increasing your knowledge of training and hanging around some extremely cool people, you need to check out Planet Meathead.

I'm an Entrepreneur, How Can I Open a Planet Meathead?

Planet Meathead itself is not a gym. It's more of a collective, and individual gyms that meet our criteria are considered part of the Planet. But if you were able to open a franchise location you would have to:

  • Allow chalk in your gym.
  • Allow big, strong people in your gym.
  • Have equipment suitable for a gym, not a nursing home.
  • Be prepared to not make any money whatsoever, especially in the beginning. Seriously, none at all.
  • Give away most of your knowledge for free to anyone who asks.

A Prime Example

A great example of a Planet Meathead gym is IronSport Gym in Glenolden, PA. At 7200 square feet, it's an imposing place filled to the brim with iron. There's a monolift, competition benches, Olympic platforms, strongman implements, and even a full selection of machines and cardio equipment. The clientele is as diverse as Philly itself. Yes, there are bodybuilders, powerlifters, strongmen, and Olympic lifters, but there are also plenty of people who just want to get in better shape. To those who tend to be intimidated of gyms like this, I guarantee that if you ask any of IronSport's clientele if they've ever been intimidated, harassed, or bothered by anyone else at the gym, they'll look at you like you're insane. So why do people stay away from this strength Mecca?

Maybe it's owner Steve Pulcinella's crazy eyes. They're the eyes of a man who has seen too much.

Steve's gym is arguably the best in the Philadelphia area. He's less than 30 minutes from downtown Philly and has equipment that none of the chain gyms can offer. Hands down, if you live within reasonable driving distance of his place, you should go. Steve's business has been cut by two large gym-in-a-box places that opened up nearby. Their $10 a month memberships are impossible to compete with, and what the people of the Philadelphia area don't realize is that while they may be saving money up front, they're being shortchanged in the knowledge department.

The benefit of gyms like Steve's is that guys like Steve are there! If you've got a question, whether it's about cardio or deadlifting, Steve is more than willing to answer it. Who would you rather get advice from? A former World's Strongest Man competitor and Highland Games Pro or a pimply kid working the desk at a chain gym? Sadly, too many people choose the latter. Gyms like Steve's are closing down on a daily basis because they get pushed out of their markets by Gold's, Planet Fitness, and Anytime Fitness. The culture of the gym is dying. This write-up started out as a parody, but it's not a joke anymore. Do you want to go to a "health club" where no one cares about you or your results, or do you want to go to a place like IronSport where the owner of the gym knows your first name?

Don't let these places die. Drive the extra fifteen minutes to go to a local gym. Spend the extra $10 a month to train at a place like IronSport. Hell, Steve will even let you train for free for two weeks. If you go to IronSport because you read this article, take him this picture and tell him EFS sent you.