u/Stock_Reflection3210

Hi everyone! Any Fitness First members here?

During my consultation, I was told that once you sign up, you’re not allowed to cancel during the lock-in period unless you pay for all the remaining months anyway. I just wanted to ask how true this is based on your actual experience?

Did anyone here successfully cancel early, freeze their membership, or negotiate the fees? How strict are they with cancellations in the Philippines?

I’m interested in joining because the branches and facilities look good, but honestly the lock-in policy kinda worries me. I’ve been seeing mixed reviews online so I wanted to hear real experiences first before committing.

Would appreciate any honest feedback, good or bad especially regarding:

• cancellation process
• hidden charges
• customer service
• freezing membership
• sales tactics
• overall worth it ba?

Thanks!

As someone who’s been running for years, I honestly understand the concern around people attempting a full marathon with only a month of training, especially first-timers. A marathon is no joke, and proper preparation will always matter for performance, recovery, and safety.

But at the same time, I hope the conversation doesn’t turn into unnecessary toxicity or gatekeeping. Seeing comments like “ang daming DNF nito” or people already mocking participants before race day just feels a bit off. Not everyone signing up is aiming for a sub-3 or sub-4 finish. Some are simply there to challenge themselves, complete the distance within the cutoff, walk parts of it, or experience the event for the first time.

Yes, some may underestimate how difficult 42km really is, and they’ll learn their lessons along the way. But that’s part of every runner’s journey too. Most of us started somewhere, and not everyone enters the sport with the same knowledge, background, or goals.

I just hope we can be more supportive as a community. One thing I admire in other countries’ running cultures is how people cheer for everyone regardless of pace, experience, or where they came from. Whether someone finishes in 3 hours or barely makes the 8-hour cutoff, they still showed up and tried.

At the end of the day, I’d rather wish for everyone’s safety, a good experience, and a positive environment than see the community become overly dragging or elitist. Running should encourage people, not scare them away.

Hi guys may leads ba kayo about sa pinaka murang gym dito sa Pasig? Kahit bakal gym papatusin ko hahahaha I had a bad experience at AF Mercedes sobrang crowded and grabe mag hard sell yung coaches ng mga programs nila like I respect the hustle pero sobrang uncomfortable sa feeling.

I’m genuinely curious if there’s anyone else in this sub who mostly just lurks and quietly hopes to find a real connection here someday.

Not even necessarily in a dating sense, could be friendship, people to hang out with, travel buddies, gym mates, business connections, or just someone who understands the weird experience of living in the Philippines as an expat.

Sometimes it feels like a lot of us are living in our own little bubble here. You move countries, leave your old routine behind, and even if you’re surrounded by people every day, it can still get oddly isolating. Especially when most conversations stay surface-level.

I’ve noticed a lot of expats here seem independent on the outside, but probably miss having “their people” around the kind of connections that happen naturally back home but take way more effort abroad.

Curious if anyone else feels the same way?

How did you end up building your social circle in the Philippines? Or are you still figuring it out too?

I recently moved back to the Philippines after spending several years living, studying, and working in Australia, and I didn’t expect the transition to hit this differently. Those years weren’t short, I built a routine there, got used to the independence, and shaped a big part of my life around that environment. It slowly became normal for me.

Now being back in Manila, everything feels familiar but at the same time strangely out of place. The pace is different, the environment is louder, and even simple things feel like they take more effort to adjust to again. I didn’t think reverse culture shock would be this real, but here we are.

I catch myself missing random things, structured days from uni and work, quiet spaces, going for runs without overthinking it, even small interactions with strangers that felt easy and natural. At the same time, I know this is home… it just doesn’t feel as straightforward anymore.

It’s only been a while since I got back, but I’m still trying to find my rhythm again.

Would be nice to hear from other Aussies (or anyone who’s lived there long-term) now based in Manila. How long did it take for you to fully adjust? Did it eventually feel like home again, or does that in-between feeling kind of stay?