Hardbody Fitness 24hr access gym — Attraction in Fort Walton Beach

I’m from out of town and although i’m on vacation i do like to get a lift in whenever i can. Prior to coming to the gym i looked up multiple gyms in the area and thought this would be the best option. And for the most part it was. It had a great atmosphere, good equipment, and had that very cool old school lifting garage feel to it which i very much like. However, I did try to call before hand to see the price for a day pass and got not answer (i also called at different times and still no response.)

I pulled up to the gym at 12 and one of the gym regulars opened the door for me and i asked her if there’s anyone here that i can pay for my gym membership. to which she says “the owner kinda just gets here whenever he gets here.” Odd but okay.

I’m about almost done w my workout when i see an African American, 6ft 2, 200-250 lb guy walking around chatting to everyone and seemed overall very nice. I thought that he was a personal trainer only to later find out he was the worker (or owner idk).

I went to go finish w barbell RDLs but needed a platform to step up on. I went to the back room to find one. Only to see the same girl who opened the door for me wearing a bathing suit posing in the mirror. Nothing wrong w that since I also pose sometimes shirtless, but out of respect i waited around the corner until she finished her routine so i can get the platform. Then i saw this guy in the room w her who i can only assume was her bf. I tried asking him if he can pass me platform so i don’t interrupt her posing routine but before i can do that the worker in a very rude tone said “what do you want?” to which i tried to respond w “it’s okay he’s giving me the platform” but then cut me off again and said “Well i work here and that belongs back here and you’re not allowed to take that. If you want a platform go on the other side of the gym and get one there”. In a very rude and hostile tone.

Idk if it’s because i wasn’t a regular, wasn’t “huge” enough, or bc of me being the only other person of color, but i felt very unwelcome w the way he spoke to me. Nonetheless i still paid for my day pass outta respect for the gym but as i was paying I saw how nice and friendly he was w others but wouldn’t even bother to make eye contact w me during most of our interaction. i will not be coming back for the rest of...

Hey guys!

Let's cut the sh__!

You are looking for a serious place to train, right?

You are tired of the posers, and the idiots in all the other gyms right?

You know what I am talking about right? The ones with the matching color coordinated outfits, the ones wearing full make up. The guys with those little spandex pants under their color coordinated shorts and matching sneakers. Total posers who have been programmed by IG, with all the nonsense on that platform, but I digress.

If that is what you are looking for, this AIN'T THE PLACE!

If you are looking for hardcore guys and gals, who are there to train their a$$e$ off, then you have come to the right place!

I have known Dave for well over a decade, and whenever I would come to town, I would call Dave up and he would take care of me for a week pass, or month pass, or however long I was in town.

The place is serious, has a ton of different equipment so you can always change up your workout, so you can have a great workout, and the people are chill.

You need to train at Hardbody if you are serious, and it's just that simple!

Dave, love ya man, how have you been doing?

Still going fishing all the time buddy?

I will see...

Really silly that you can't just walk in and sign up for a membership, unless you luck out and the owner or a worker happens to be there. Otherwise, you have to call and be met at the door. I have never had to do that at any gym I have been to in my life.

On top of that, I was an on/off member for a few years. Primarily, when I would be home during breaks from college. During one of these breaks, I stopped by and signed up, as usual, with whoever the worker was that day. At some point after that, I'm working out with my friend who was a long-time client of the gym. He gets to talking with the owner and mentions I am in town on break from school and working out with him. The owner then asks my friend (not me) if I paid my gym fee, as I am literally standing there in the middle of their conversation.

It's unfortunate the owner appears to have a pretty apathetic approach to bringing in and retaining clientele. And it's insulting he would ask the question he did, to my friend, in front of me, like I wasn't there.

Needless to say, that was my last time giving that business any more of my money. I went to Golds Gym just down the road after that and never...