Anyone belong to Curves?

[lanie]

I am just wondering if anyone belongs to 'Curves' and what you think of it. I am just finishing up with my acquatics membership and am thinking of changing.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks:)

[Chefzhat]

My neighbor does and she LOVES it. I haven't tried it yet but I might. She needed to lose 40 pounds and joined, so far she's lost 10 (she's not trying very hard to eat less) but has firmed up a lot so her clothes are fitting better.

There's a second hand review for you!

[Jewel]

I'm a Curves for Women member! :) I really do enjoy it for several reasons! I started going in November, and I really can't give you any results yet because my attendance was very sporatic. I went for nearly a month 3x per week, then over Christmas I faltered. Medical issues had me stay away on and off until last week when I finally got the go-ahead to start back up, and I am going 3x per week and loving it!

It's a circuit training program. There are definitely people who are too 'fit' for Curves, so you won't usually find the hard-abs sized 4 there working out, but on Tuesday the lady to my left was about 70 and the girl to my right was about 14! ;) You have between 8 and 11 machines, depending on what that particular center has purchased (franchised), there are 'recovery stations' next to each machine and all are in a huge circle. You start off on a recovery station which is basically an elevated riser that you walk in place on, the when the CD tells you to 'move to the next station' you jump on the next piece of exercise equipment. You have 30 seconds on each recovery station and machine. You go around the big circle 3 times, and then stretch for about 5 minutes, then you're done! Your heart rate definitely goes up, in fact three times while you're working out the CD will say 'Please move away from the station and take a heart rate' and you'll do a 10 second count. I'm usually in the 75-80% range of my target heart rate, which is recommended. It's fun, the music is playing, and people talk during the workout also.

The reason I love it is partly because you can burn 300-500 calories in the half hour because you're consistent with your cardio exercise, but you're also toning on the machines as well. I have arthritis and tendonitis, as well as a healed-over herniated disk in my lower back, so staying on a regular piece of exercise equipment at the gym was hard for me. At Curves, just when my muscles or joints start to say "Hey, I'm getting very sore here..." you move off that machine onto another one! :) You're never waiting in line for a machine, since you walk in and just join the circle! When you've done your three rotations you just move out of the circle and do some stretches, then you're out the door!

Circuit training has long been known to be the most beneficial to weight loss and health. I love it because I can walk in the door at 4pm, walk out around 4:35 or 4:40 and be home by 5 in time to start dinner. I'm sweating while I'm there, I'm working my cardio, but I'm also using machines that are toning every part of my body! You wouldn't think that a total of 1:30 minutes on a single machine would make a difference, but when combined with the rest of the workout it does! I won't have my first measurement until the first week of April because I've been so inconsistent, but I see the 'Losers Board' on the wall that shows inch loss, weight loss, and reduction in body fat, which they also measure for you!

It's $39 per month if you go month-to-month, but $29 per month if you sign a one year agreement, which I did. Once I get back into the groove, I'm going to be seeing more results, and since I'm on a weight loss program at the same time, I see them helping each other! Call and make an appt for a walk-through and you'll join that night, I guarantee it! Any other questions, PM me! Maizeyoats on this board is also a member, and she introduced me to it last fall! Good luck!

[mb]

another second hand review for you: my mom and aunt used to go. they really liked it. however, the woman that owned the particular franchise was not very nice, and the place was a little out of the way. that is part of why they stopped going. another reason is that my mom started getting really bad back pains and started having a lot of trouble, so her dr told her she coulnd't go anymore. it was really bad - they even prescribed oxycontin and told her that surgery was imminent. meanwhile, she had already signed the contract with curves and they wouldn't let her out of it unless she paid a fee. so that was kinda messed up... but when it comes to the place itself and the whole concept, they really liked it.

marisa :)

[lanie]

Well thank you very much Jewel, Marisa and Chefzhat! I am not one for a hardcore exercise program - obviously when I do acquafit now - and the 30 minutes really appeals to me. I just came in the door right now from joining WW - so perhaps with the 2 combined - it just might work. It is $41.73 per month here - that is what she told me over the phone - so that's pretty cheap - it sounds like fun too! I have not been over there yet - what do you wear?????

[Jewel]

Originally posted by lanie
It is $41.73 per month here - that is what she told me over the phone - so that's pretty cheap - it sounds like fun too! I have not been over there yet - what do you wear?????

She probably quoted you the month-to-month rate because it's taxed. My $29.99 rate comes out of my checking account each month as $31.55. The contract signing not only gave me the $10 per month discount, but also gave me the incentive to keep going! My center is a bit out of the way too, but I made sure before I signed the contract that IF one opened closer to my home I could transfer my membership, and they said I could. With a franchise I wasn't sure if that would be possible, and they told me it was. It's the fastest growing franchise out there, so they are cropping up all the time! It's about 7 miles away from my workplace, so I go right after work, but then from Curves home is about 14 miles. If I had to go from home there and back, it would be too far. If they open one closer to home I'm changing over with no consequences! I still figured that it took me nearly an hour and a half with driving time included, but the workout itself is high cardio that doesn't feel like high cardio, and I'm getting the toning and strength-training at the same time. I love the fact that I'm constantly moving from one machine to the other, and there is no one waiting for me to get off the darn machine! ;) Well, they are waiting, but because we're moving in one big 'Musical Chairs' circle, we are all waiting! :D Frankly, I like it because it doesn't feel like I'm going to the gym, but I'm getting all the benefits of the gym. I'm hooked!

And I wear loose sweat pants and a 3/4 sleeve Tshirt. Everyone wears whatever they want, but they require sneakers instead of 'street shoes' on the equipment! It's not a fashion statement there like other gyms!

[maizeyoats]

I have been going to CURVES for 1 year this month. It is absolutely the best. I really love it and Jewel said it all so I don't have anything to add. I think, in fact, that I am the one that got Jewel interested to begin with.......right, Jewel?

[Jewel]

Originally posted by Jewel
Maizeyoats on this board is also a member, and she introduced me to it last fall!

Yes Ma'am, I gave you credit in my post above... ;) Thanks again for the introduction!

[Gina O]

I used to belong to Curves but got out of my obligation in January. I did not find it challenging enough and felt like one of the machines was doing harm to my somewhat delicate knee.

That said, I would still recommend it to someone seeking an aerobic workout and general toning. It is a comfortable environment, and gets the workout over with in 30 minutes. Since I quit and started going to the University gym, I am spending about 2.5 hours from start to finish, so I do miss that aspect of it a great deal. But, my fitness needs have changed, so my routine must change as well.

I also like the different types of motivational tools they used, and enjoyed the idea that I could use other facilities when I traveled. Gina

[Gilgamesh37]

Okay, I was going to stay out of this one, but I really have to ask: Those of you who belong to Curves, it's specifically Curves for Women , right? Are there ANY men members? When you register, and in all their advertising, does it specify that it's a WOMEN'S ONLY gym?

I ask because I know that the franchise in our town, and several others that I know of across teh midwest, have gotten into pretty big battles with the state and local non-discrimination organizations. Restricting membership to women is--under the law--no different than restricting membership to a particular racial group. I believe the franchise here in our town intially took all the "for women" references out of its advertising--but it was discovered that they were still strongly discouraging men from actually joining (i.e. when a man would go in to ask about membership, they'd say "Oh, it's really not the type of thing you'll enjoy, you should try a membership at PDQ Gym") and ultimately they just closed down.

I'm just wondering how other franchises have handled it, since the non-discrimination law is federal.....

[CTSera]

Originally posted by Gina O
I used to belong to Curves but got out of my obligation in January. I did not find it challenging enough and felt like one of the machines was doing harm to my somewhat delicate knee.

Gina -- Did you get the impression that there was a way to step up the level of intensity of your workout? Or is it fairly stuck at one 'everyone can do it' level?

The reason I ask is I'm currently considering franchised gym options for when I graduate from college; our University gym is fantastic, and while I started as a weakling, I'm really toning up nicely. I want to make sure that whereever it is that I end up going, I won't be sacrificing my level of fitness.

At the same time, the idea of a 30-35 minute workout with that level of calorie burn sounds really appealing... :p

~Sarah

[Jewel]

Originally posted by CTSera
Did you get the impression that there was a way to step up the level of intensity of your workout? Or is it fairly stuck at one 'everyone can do it' level?

I'm not Gina but...I can tell you that the machines are all hydraulic. You get out of the machines exactly what you put into them. For someone who is still a beginner, you can go slowly on these machines and feel a moderate amount of resistance. With speed comes weight! :eek: If I do 10 reps on a bicep/tricep machine the intensity level is fairly low...easy to push and pull. If I do 20 reps in that same 30 second time period, it gets harder to push and pull. If I got 25 or 30 in there, I'd be gritting my teeth and sweating bullets. I jump off the machine and go to the next one, but the 64 year old lady that gets on that same bicep/tricep machine can do her 10 reps and make it easier. Because there are no free weights or air weights on the machines, you don't have to waste part of your 30 seconds getting the machine 'ready' for your personal level of fitness. It's all about how fast you do the reps. Currently, I do 30 reps on a butt machine that looks like a recumbent bike with a two-footed platform right in front of me that I push straight out to work my glutes and thighs. When I first started I could only do 12 or 15 reps. My level of fitness is getting higher, so my reps are getting faster!

Does this make sense? :confused: In answer to your question, you're only on this machine for 30 seconds at a time, so you are the one in control of how much intensity you put into that 30 seconds. On the recovery stations between the machines, some walk in place, some jog, and some treat the little riser like a step for step aerobics class and move on and off of it waving their arms like Richard Simmons in a 'Sweatin' to the Oldies' video! It's completely up to you the intensity level you put into this workout. I do believe you CAN become too fit for Curves if you're constantly looking for more challenging workouts, but if you're strapped for time and want to keep a level of intensity without hurting yourself, this is the place! :)

[Gina O]

Sarah-

I agree with Jewel's comments. The faster you go, the harder the workout for sure, but for me, it was still primarily an aerobic workout. I need a more anaerobic workout right now so I decided it just wasn't meeting my needs. The workout will provide a lot of toning but not nearly as much strength building as I would like.

I would suggest going in and doing the full 30 minutes on a trial basis once or twice and seeing what you think. Good luck, Gina

[CTSera]

Thanks guys!
I really appreciate the feedback, especially since it saves me some time when I go gym shopping. Once I get moved to Stamford (CT) I'll be on the look-out for a Curves and give a day or two a try. It sounds a lot less intimidating than, say, Bally's. :)

~Sarah

[Luika]

Just an FYI to anyone interested in joining Curves for Women. If you sign up this week (I believe it is nationwide), they will waive the application fee (usually $75 - $150). All you have to do is show proof you had a mammogram in the last year.

I just signed up on Monday... so far so good. I'm enjoying it!