A few stories from the world of Lifting, Swimming, Running, Cycling and General Fitness Business News. A quick peak at a few stories I read this past week and thought you should also…

SET ONE – Strength, sweat and recovery are a focus at new Huntington Beach fitness studio https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/story/2026-05-01/strength-sweat-focus-at-new-huntington-beach-fitness-studio
SET TWO – What Is a Peptide? There’s the biology definition and then there’s the wellness influencer definition. https://www.menshealth.com/health/a71166561/what-is-a-peptide-mini-explainer/ HOT TAKE – As someone who has and does take Peptides I have seen results but like everything it’s not overnight. And I am under medical supervision with blood work and tele doc appointments.
SET THREE – Why People Are Injecting These Unapproved Drugs From the Internet | WSJ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYhfGQxZjxQ
SET FOUR – The AI fitness instructors selling unreal gains https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/c5ye7dnxv86o HOT TAKE – We have all fallen for those Before and After photos and it was bad enough when it was just a Photoshop but now it’s full on creation. I feel bad for those who fall for it cuz’ they want a quick fix. Fitness, Health and Wellness is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. Take your time for best results.
SET FIVE – Xponential Fitness (XPOF) Q4 Loss And Ongoing TTM Losses Test Bullish Profitability Narrative https://simplywall.st/stocks/us/consumer-services/nyse-xpof/xponential-fitness/news/xponential-fitness-xpof-q4-loss-and-ongoing-ttm-losses-test HOT TAKE – Pilates will only go so far and so long. It might be a trend and be gone in a few years leaving Franchisees with debt and high rents. I don’t see a whole studio system for Pilates going on and on for years. Small local studios will always thrive but those who have to pay franchise royalties are going to struggle.

SET SIX – Peloton stock rises as higher subscription prices help company drive a profitable quarter https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/07/peloton-pton-earnings-q3-2026.html
SET SEVEN – Planet Fitness Slashes 2026 Views After Weak Signups. The gym chain is rethinking its strategy for the year after logging lower-than-expected membership growth during the crucial New Year period https://www.wsj.com/business/earnings/planet-fitness-slashes-2026-views-after-weak-signups-24a39e14 HOT TAKE – It’s the economy stupid. Gas prices are high, food prices are high and just about everything is too expensiive so what do people not do? They won’t join a gym at any price 9.99 or 14.99 The race to the bottom is not good for any gym retailer. People with less will cut out more like gym memberships.
SET EIGHT Google unveils screenless Fitbit Air to compete with Whoop https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHnixMscbWg HOT TAKE – I am interested in seeing one in person. It looks not as wide as a Whoop. Now I had a Whoop, two different generations and I just couldn’t get over the look of it. I felt like I was under house arrest and instead of ankle monitor it was a wrist monitor. Now I love my Oura but it’s all scratched up. So maybe if this is less obtrusive it might be a nice middle ground. And at $99 even in these tough financial times it could work for many.
SET NINE – Fitness wearable Whoop to offer on-demand clinician access to U.S. users https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/08/whoop-on-demand-clinician-access.html
SET TEN – Why Removing Screens From Fitness Trackers Made Them 88% More Popular: ‘If It Has a Screen, It’s a Watch’ https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/why-removing-screens-made-fitness-trackers-more-popular