Fitness First Review : Menara Maxis

FF is located on the 3rd floor of Menara Maxis. Menara Maxis is located just beside KLCC. If you live in KL and don't know where is KLCC, I strongly suggest you find out where is it and jump from the top.

• Parking, you must be either very rich or insane to park in KLCC. For the rest of us, park at Avenue K. Its much cheaper. Weekends its a flat rate of RM 1. I can't remember on weekdays, but its not that expensive.. probably RM 2 for the first hour.
• Avenue K is connected to KLCC via the tunnel. The tunnel connect the KLCC LRT station to Suria KLCC. Either that, you can cross the street at the zebra crossing.
• Security is tight, so handover you IC or FF membership card to the security personel for registration purpose. You will get an access card in return. Scan it at the turnstile.
• There is a dedicated lift for FF here. Its the first one on your right. 3rd floor.
• Recently FF installed a turnstile, so you gotta swipe your membership card again before entering the gym.
• Well as you enter, you first hit the receptionist table. I don't want to comment much here, you go yourself and judge.
• Men changing room is on the left and the ladies on the right as you enter.
• 2 floor split.
• Changing room is OK, clean. Lockers look pretty old. The funny thing is the shower room. They have this tall glass shower room and yet, no hooks. How to hang lah?
• Cardio is fun here, all the machines are facing the window. So you can run, huff and puff while looking at the KL traffic + the construction work of Four Season. Enjoy.
• Some cardio machine, have this funny 5" LCD monitor. Lots of treadmill.
• Machines, I would say they have a complete sets of machines. They have those elusive machines such as glutes, calves and etc. Double of lateral pull down, rows, pulldowns... thumbs up!
• Now for those hardcore guys, your place is upstairs. The freeweights area is not the big, but big enough. 2 bench press machines, 1 smith machine and a 4-5 work bench. However the machines here are like in Manulife. Looks like hardcore Muscle Beach benches.
• Dumbbells can be limited at some time if there is a crowd.
• There is a quiet gym room for those looking for solidarity. Quite a large room.
• Chicks - this one no need to talk so much. Your center of KL, you know there will be hot mamas around.
• Only one thing I dislike is the abs area is under the staircase. You are like crunching and then you get to see people's ass chugging up and down the stairs. Come to think of it, its not that bad at all...

Ratings?

Check out for more reviews below
FF Island Plaza
FF Manulife
FF IOI Mall Puchong
FF Menara Axis
FF The Curve
FF DU
FF Consplant

Fitness First Review : Island Plaza, Penang

For someone who doesn't go to gym so often, I sure write alot about gym. What the heck...

FF Island Plaza is located in Island Plaza shopping complex, Penang. I believe its on the way to Feringgi Beach. I was staying in Sg. Dua at the particular time. Travelling across the island, thru the horrible Penang traffic for 1 hour gym workout. Not worth it. But anyway...

• Parking is paid by hour. I think its about RM 1-3.
• Take the lift and go up to 4th floor (I think). FF its on the left turning (I think).
• The receiptionist was friendly and helpful. Thumbs up!
• 2 level floor. The juice bar on the upper level. (Why do they ever do this!?)
• The whole place looks kindda small. All the machines and cardio equipments are cramped into a small place. More like a warehouse sale.
• The free weight are is small, more or less like DU.
• Big glass windows along the gym. You can see Penang and its wonderful condos.
• I think this place is frequented by expats.
• One studio and 1 small abs area.
• Machines, more or less the same as the rest of the FF gyms.
• Plus point, they have a sitting area just outside of the changing room. Not bad.

Ratings?

Check out for more reviews below
FF Manulife
FF IOI Mall Puchong
FF Menara Axis
FF The Curve
FF DU
FF Consplant

Fitness First Review : Manulife

Located within the ground floor of Menara Manulife (Used to be known as John Hancock). Its located in Damansara Heights area beside Menara HP.

• Easy access from the main road. There is parking at the basement and the surrounding area. But beware, getting a parking might be difficult.
• First impression, there is sure alot of equipment here. All cardio and machine lumped into one area.
• The interesting part of Manulife is you get machines which other FF centers do not equip. This must be a gym for hardcore, so I heard. Btw, this is the only FF center that I have seen which you can do DECLINE bench press. Enough said.
• Two floor, the juice bar and changing room are on the floor above. Looks like they discourage ppl to drink.
• I am seeing double again. There is a small free weight area, but each equipment seems to be doubled. 2 smith machine, 2 sets of complete barbells (amazing), 1 1\2 set of complete dumbbells, 2 leg extension, leg curl machine and etc. However the workbench looks like from the era of Muscle Beach. Really hardcore man.
• There have glutes and calf machine. Finally!
• The changing room is clean, but as you enter, the dark colored wooden lockers and flooring makes you feel that you are in some kindda dodgy spa center. They should really refurbish.
• I met a very nice PT guy. However, can't say the same about their sales ppl.

Ratings?


Check out for more reviews below
FF IOI Mall Puchong
FF Menara Axis
FF The Curve
FF DU
FF Consplant

Fitness First Review : IOI Mall Puchong

Located within IOI Mall Puchong. You can't miss it if you are heading to KL using the LDP.

• Parking is RM 1 for the 1st 4 hours. Then subsequent is either 50 sen or RM 1. I would imagine getting a parking here during weekends will be a nightmare.
• The entry point is ground floor. So you can park at the open car park and walk across. I got fooled because I saw the signboard way up and I thought it was on the upper levels. Took an unnecessary journey to park on the roof and walk all the way down.
• First impression. There is sure alot of cardio equipment here.
• Single level concept.. thank God.
• Receptionist, nothing to shout about.
• The men's locker room seems big, but don't be fool. Strategic placed mirror makes the room look big. But its all new and clean. Locker seems smaller compare to others place.
• Free weight area abit smaller compared to FF Curve. They have about 5-6 work bench. The rest pretty much the same as DU.
• Juice area, quite small.
• Somehow, I feel the PTs here are unfriendly.  Just me...
• Machine, the usual. Didn't really pay attention to them.
• Plus point, all the equipments are spanking new. Even the dumbbells looks virgins.

Ratings? 


Check out for more reviews below
FF Menara Axis
FF The Curve
FF DU
FF Consplant

Fitness First Review - Menara Axis

Located across Asia Jaya LRT station. You can actually see the gym and the people inside if you pass by thru Federal Highway. The review :-

• The best parking facility - Before 8 AM and after 6 PM, the parking is free.
• Yeah, the dreaded 2 floor concept. Men locker room are upstairs and the ladies are same floor with the entrance.
• Only few cute receptionist.
• This place is quite huge. Ample of cardio equipment and most are new equipments.
• 1 studio and 1 yoga room.
• I love the free weight area here, its huge and all the machines are double here. 2 bench press, 2 smith machine, 7 work bench, tons of new equipments. Need to do tricep pulldowns? We have 10 machines... cool.
• Ample space for abs workout.
• People - hmm.... Recently the crowd has grown bigger. Chicks, OK lah, since I only workout at night, I miss out the working crowd.
• Men locker room is big. No worries there.
• Here, the instructors leave you alone, they don't try to pester you into PT.
• This is my favourite gym!

Ratings?

Check out for more reviews below
FF The Curve
FF DU
FF Consplant

Fitness First Review - The Curve

Located within The Curve shopping complex in Mutiara Damansara. The review:-

• Parking is plenty. In the parking area, they have marked which place you should park for easy accessibility to FF. Good idea!
• 2 floor concept again.. sigh, but they have cute receptionists.
• The place looks slightly bigger and newer than Consplant.
• Ample of cardio equipment. Machines OK lah. They have most of all the machines and some new additions.
• Free weight area is quite big. However if there is a crowd, it could pose abit problem in finding a bench.
• The rest is pretty standard. Classes, shower room and etc.
• The juice area is quite strategically located, just behind the cardio area. You get to sip a your drink while looking at ppl's butt. Not a bad thing....
• The crowd... hmm... looks like a good mix of working ppl and students as well. Chicks, not bad either.

Ratings?

Check out for more reviews below
FF DU
FF Consplant

Fitness First Review - Consplant

Located just beside Subang Parade, this branch is the nearest to my home. Now the review :-

• Parking is terrible. You can either park at the basement, per entry is RM 2 after 5 PM, or park around BCB or in front of Wisma Tractor. However don't be surprised if you get a ticket.
• 2 floors. I hate 2 floor concept. However the place is more or less the same size as DU. Lighting wise is good. There is also a glass window around the gym, so you can get a view of Subang while working out.
• Stretching area is so small. But they have 2 TV hooked up to ASTRO. So while you are crunching your abs and knocking into someone's butt, you get to watch silence movie of animals jumping around.
• Free weight area, much better than DU. Machine wise... OK lah.
• Shower room, not bad. Clean and OK.
• Crowd - mix crowd of professionals and students. Beautiful people and huge muscle heads. Look out for a certain crowd of machine hoggers. But this place has abit too much crowd to my liking.

Ratings?

Review on FF DU .

Fitness First Review - DU

Now armed with my FF Passport membership, I am making full use of it by visiting as many FF branches of as possible. Following are the few reviews I have on some of the FF branches I have visited.

FF Damansara Utama

For years I have worshipped this place thinking WOW! Can't blame me who has only HOME membership and the last gym I visited was no bigger than my living room with rusty weights.

After comparing, this gotta be the worst gym within the FF branches. You will immediately doze off after stepping in. Such poor lighthing. The receptionists..... don't bother.

The gym is terribly small. Only 1 bench press machine and only 3 benches to share among the crowd. The cardio machines are getting old. Used to be 2 studio for classes, but they torn one down to make more space for machines and streching area. Machines is limited.

Plus point is the shower room is slight bigger than other branches.

However eventhough the size is small, it serves as a small knit community where you general will know one another.

Ratings?

The hunt for a Fitness Center - The End

Last Stop : Fitness First
In short:-

• I reviewed The Curve and Uptown 5.
• 10 clubs in Malaysia
• Operation hours - 6.30 AM - 10 PM. I heard from the lady starting January extending to 11 PM.
• Parking: Varies according to location. Uptown - MPPJ parking and private car park. The curve its about RM 1 per entry i think.

Reviews:-

• I do agree with some of you that FF has the worst customer service. Celebrity Fitness had much more better tour guide and explanation given. Well, they can afford to be snobbish since they have 10 clubs around Malaysia.
• Facility wise, Uptown 5 is in an aging state. The other branches have better, newer equipments and bigger space area. I like the The Curve free weight area, alot of benches to use. After looking at the rest of the spanking new gyms - Uptown is such a sad place to work out.
• Free flow of drinks and VCD rentals.
• Tissue and plastic bag provided - very useful for me!
• Exercise machines, OK lah.... I am more to free weights anyway.
• The shower room in The Curve is smaller than Uptown 5. But no curtain! Glass doors - hooray!
• Locker room -don't need to bring your own padlock.
• Standard classes - body pump, body combat, yadda yadda.... no Capoeira though. :(

Price:-

Home
Joining Fee - RM 500 (Can bargain)
Admin Fee - RM 95
Monthly - RM 147 per month

Passport
Joining Fee - RM 500 (Can bargain)
Admin Fee - RM 95
Monthly - RM 175

FF fees are pretty standard. I checked out about 3 different location. Just a note, don't expect the sales ppl to negotiate terms/bargain with you or throw is further discounts to intice, if you don't like it, you can "belah"! Ohh well.........

Final Review:-
I decided to signup with FF because

1. Its the nearest to my office. Much practical for a lazy me. No parking hassle.
2. It has about 10 branches I can hop around. Somehow I kindda regret taking passport... sigh.
3. Free flow of drinks.
4. Most of my friends are in FF.

So thats it folks. I have decided to contract myself to FF for the next 12 months. Yes, I can hear you ppl crying aloud - "NOOOOOOOO!!", but I kindda used to FF and I don't really have much of a choice in terms of location. So wish me luck!

For those folks who ain't as lazy as me, you should really give Celebrity Fitness a try. Looks cool.