I don't know if they made a lot of changes since some of those bad reviews were written or what. I started at the Express in Hiawatha and upgraded to the full membership so I could use the Extreme full time. I am a serious lifter and they have EVERY piece of equipment I could ever need or want. Not only that, but they have multiple pieces of the most common things, like flat and incline bench-presses and squat racks, both free standing and Smith's Machine and cable stations, so I have never had to wait to do an exercise. I haven't had much contact with the staff other than Jason, the manager and lead trainer at the Hiawatha Express. He is awesome! so I can only assume the rest of the staff is great, too. The Extereme is being cleaned constantly when I'm in there and thye have on-site repair for their equipment. I have never seen a machine broken at either the Express or the Extreme. As far as the cliques, maybe I don't notice that so much because I was adopted into the heavy-lifting group right away and have several friends on the cardio side, too..

I've been going to The Mac Xtreme and The Mac South for several years. Everyone has always treated me with respect. I'm average physic and I haven't noticed any clicks at all. The staff nor it's members spend a lot of time socializing; we all go to workout. I've never felt the need to ask for help so I guess I'm not too sure about that aspect but they're always smiling to greet me at the door and say good-bye (they literally never miss, lol) so I can't imagine them not helping if I requested. The prices are a bit steep but that's because all their equipment is kept new, everything is clean, and you should see the play room for the kids at the Xtreme, there's even a ball pit! I opted against Active Edge/Aspen after looking at the gym because a lot of the equipment is extremely old and worn out. Also the guy who was supposed to show me around Active edge wound up hitting on me, while the worker behind me looked at my a**, and sending me texts that were not about the gym or working out, maybe that's how they get people to sign up. Regardless I feel like the mac is more for people who want to get a good work out on nice machines and Active Edge is more for people who want to look good and socialize, date or hook up with each other. Hope this was helpful! :-)

The MAC is one of the most clean and professional workout environments I have ever visited. They regularly update equipment and keep everything in perfect working order. I workout for the purpose of physical health, not a social environment. This facility is perfect. You won't find a better place to get yourself in shape.

Wow this gym is terrible. Fat grip everything cant grip your weight right, missing key machines, lota crooked badly built equipment. Snobby people must be this side of town everyones in a bad mood cant tell if its cause the gyms terrible or if its rubbing off from the staff. Got a trainer there the size of a pinky who thinks hes jay cutler at a wopping 140 pounds lol. Never seen such a negative atmosphere. Way overpriced omg and penalty charges for everything if you try to get out and away from the payments. Go to Activ Edge fitness on SW side its cheaper and the staff atually help you and the trainers are nicer and want your buisiness.

just go off the phone with the manager at the Cedar Rapids MAC. I was calling to see about their military discount because im leaving in august for basic training. She said "what you signed papers so now you think your in the military? technically you are not in the military." Just after that phone conversation i would not recommend that place to anyone. they are very rude.