Current
Previously known as Spectrum Athletic Club, they were purchased by the The Bay Club in 2015. I switched to them in August of 2019 due to the Equinox boycott. They have locations in the South Bay area of Los Angeles and Santa Monica.
The founder of 24 Hour Fitness sold the company in 2005 and started New Evolution Fitness, a partner in UFC Gym. This has made them, essentially, the same experience as 24 Hour Fitness but with an Octogon in the middle of the facility and additional sparring classes. Many of them, open 24 hours, as well. These gyms are like Walmarts in that they are usually located in suburbia across the country.
Although not a set it and forget it subscription that rotates based on categories you choose like CateredFit, you can subscribe to a set menu that you can adjust on your own to deliver or pickup weekly, twice a week or whatever your freshness of meals preference is. Also, they’re a local business rather than being a national chain. Based in Hermosa Beach, they also have locations in West Hollywood and Corona. You can filter menu items with 7 category filters, standard (no filter), Whole 30, Paleo, Keto/Low Carb, High Protein, Low Fat, Vegetarian and Vegan. Paleo fits my aesthetic-geared lifestyle and within my “style” of meals, I’ve scheduled myself three meals a day, five days a week schedule. When I pick it up from the Hermosa Beach location, besides macros being shown during ordering, it also shows on the labels for each meal that lists the macros. That seems to be a minimum for me, as detail oriented as I am, besides not tasting completely horrible and making my work week easy (not having to think about cooking for one) and then eating out on the weekends.
Past
Although based in Florida, they have kitchens in major cities across the country including Los Angeles. You get go choose between menu items in three categories, standard, Paleo and Vegan. Paleo fits my aesthetic-geared lifestyle and even within my “style” of meals, there are at least three options for my preferred meal schedule of three meals a day, five days a week schedule that I can pick from online with descriptions and macros listed. That’s high-tech to offer so much info in advance and to customize on your own that I haven’t found in any other prepared meal service. Note: I’ve tried prepared meal services that ship their meals nationally but because they ship with dry ice, the veggies freeze in overnight shipping and become soggy when on-frozen and reheated. Others just have set meals that you subscribe to. Unfortunately, they’ve stopped delivering in Los Angeles as of 2023 due to changes in delivery driver laws that are uncompetitive in CA being lobbied by companies like Uber and passing.
Click on the company name link above for information about why I chose not to belong to this gym anymore ie boycott. Hint: As much as the staff is great, it’s corporate owner is not.
When The Bay Club closes for the night, this gym is open later (many of their gyms in LA aren’t open 24 hours as their name would seem to imply). I’ll just say I’m not a fan of their showers but as a gym, you get what you pay for. I just couldn’t keep three gym memberships anymore though. I’m only one person and UFC Gym is essentially a 24 hour Fitness with an Octogon in the middle since it’s by the same founder, after selling 24 Hour Fitness. Being a younger chain, their equipment is newer.
A good LA-based prepared meal service but at the end of the day, they were pushing unproven (unscientific) feel-good things that I didn’t really need (green food supplements and cryo treatments) along with being more expensive than my current prepared meal service. The food was great though, as a bodybuilder himself, his style of cooking fit my aesthetic goals. He’s no longer in business.
I was a member at the Pasadena location for many years. I had to pare down my memberships since I don’t live in the area anymore. Otherwise, I’d still be a member.
I was a member at the West LA location for many years. I had to pare down my memberships since I don’t live in the area anymore. Otherwise, I’d still be a member.