<p>Anyone here going to Curves? I am considering changing gyms after a long time…would love some feedback.</p>
<p>I have a membership at Curves and have gone for years. This summer I have been on hiatus as I’ve been using our treadmill at home. From a cardiovascular point of view, I think the treadmill is a better workout. I’m not stretching and moving as many muscle sets though. I like Curves because it is fairly easy, the people there are great and the women often talk which makes the time pass quickly. I like that various muscles get exercised and I think it’s a lot better than not exercising. But I don’t think it’s as intense of a workout as going on any kind of machine such as a treadmill, elliptical, bike, etc. or taking the kind of classes gyms offer or even walking briskly for the equivalent amount of time. I was considering canceling my membership but I’m starting to get tired of the treadmill and the yoga DVD I was using is also sitting more unused. I think I will be going back if for no other reason than to intersperse it with other forms of exercising. The Curves near me is close to my home and convenient and the social aspect of it really does provide an incentive to go. My particular Curves is a very supportive group of women, the owner is a lovely human being and I can usually get into the exercise mentality once I’m there. I notice a lot of women there go regularly and keep going and that’s half the battle right there.</p>
<p>I have also considered joining for quite some time, but it is precisely the social aspect that keeps me from doing so. I’ve heard so much about how clique-y and chatty everyone is and how it’s difficult if all you want to do is to work out. Perhaps this is just the franchise nearest to my home, or maybe the socialization and support aspect is part of their method, I’m not sure. For my purposes, I just register for classes which interest me and serve my fitness needs as they arise.</p>
<p>You don’t have to chat. Some days the circuit is very quiet, other days people talk, but no one is offended if someone is focused and not being chatty – at least at my place.</p>
<p>Hmm. Thanks for the feedback. I’ve been going to the same gym for a while now. I generally go very early in the morning as I live in a small town and I don’t really want to chat. I was going four mornings a week and taking spinning two of the four. Lately though I have lost the momentum and am just going to spinning two mornings. Seems like a lot of money to pay just for two classes a week. And my body seems to be getting used to those classes. I have definitely gained weight. Two years ago the gym did a winter program. You paid extra money and got nutrition, calorie counting, plus extra classes. I lost the most weight and inches of the group. I was supposed to get a prize but they just kind of stiffed me on it. So maybe that was the start of the decline…I gained all the weight back in the past two years. They just raised the monthly fee again.
I am going to go look at curves on Friday. I’m just not sure if it is going to be enough exercise to do anything for me or if it more a social thing for older ladies…
any other feedback most welcome!</p>
<p>My sister has gone to Curves religiously for several years. I went there once with her to try it out (we live states away from each other). She really likes it because it is easy to fit the 1/2 hour workout into her crazy schedule–and quick to get in and out of the place unlike big clubs. And she doesn’t feel self conscious–these are women, mostly moms, mostly middle-aged, who aren’t there to show off, meet men, whatever. Usually she goes at a time that is slow–when I was there, music was playing, no one was chatting. Sis feels that going to Curves definitely has improved her fitness and health. But it isn’t so hard to do that you easily give up. (My impression–“I could do this. . .”–but I didn’t seek it out where I live.)</p>
<p>I tried it but didn’t like it ><</p>
<p>For people who like the atmosphere but aren’t thrilled with the workout, there are other ladies only gyms that have the same or similar atmosphere without the curves workout program. I have a Ladies of America by my house and I love it.</p>
<p>ebeeee- I already took the recycling out but this weekend in the News Press Curves had a special ad. Some sort of study where you pay a reduced amount. Not sure if it applied to the Curves up in your valley.</p>
<p>I agree with that the workout does not compare with anything you can get on a treadmill or elliptical. I tried Curves several years ago. I just never felt like I had worked out when the session was done. I went with a friend and that was fun. However, the thing that turned me off was that part of the process (at least at the Curves I joined) was a monthly weighing and measuring. After 1 month, I had lost one pound. Now I was ok with that because I had quickly realized I was not going to lose weight with those workouts. What bothered me was when the Curves employee measured my bust and informed me that I had lost 1/8 inch and asked if my shirts fit more loosely. Ridiculous! Umm, yeah, and is it a bit coincidental that she glanced over my previous measurements before adjusted the tape measure to a big 1/8 inch loss? I do know women who have attended Curves for years and are quite happy with it.</p>
<p>The concept of the Curves workout – alternating weight resistance exercise with high intensity cardio to get the heart rate up – is a solid approach. To make that work in Curves, you would have to do jogging in place or jumping jacks or burpees on the cardio stations between exercise machines.</p>
<p>There are better workouts in the same general vein, but if Curves is something that you would stick with, then it’s a good program. I have no idea if the resistance on the Curves machines is sufficient for a good workout or not.</p>
<p>Curves on women? I’m in favor of them!</p>
<p>Oh, you mean the workout. Well two have been tried in our area. Both were well-run … and both are now out-of-business. Um, sorry.</p>
<p>I have joined and quit Curves twice.</p>
<p>I quit for a couple of reasons - one, the woman who worked there at the time that was most convenient for me to go was very annoying. She’d follow some of her “friends” around the cycle and have a conversation, and she was always whining about something. Another reason was the music - when I went, they were always playing Elvis or Cher. I am not <em>that</em> old! I don’t want geezer tunes to work out to! So I tried wearing my own iPod, and was told I couldn’t do that for “safety” reasons. </p>
<p>I noticed when I went to Curves and friends were there, we’d chat and the 1/2 hour would fly by - but I wouldn’t feel like I’d worked out much at all. When I was alone, I’d work a lot harder… but the time CRAWLED. </p>
<p>I never lost a single pound at Curves. I think if I’d combined it with a diet it might have helped, but I don’t think 30 minutes 3x per week is enough to make a significant difference. </p>
<p>I still like the general idea of Curves and have thought of going back…</p>
<p>I hope this won’t sound terrible, but one thing that bothers me about Curves is that they also try to promote themselves as a weight-loss center running six-week weight loss programs, selling products, etc. The thing that bothers me is that most of the women who work at my location are significantly overweight. I certainly don’t expect or need or even want the staff to have perfect bodies, but it is discouraging to me to see that working out there and being surrounded by all this support to live a healthy lifestyle, etc. is not having results in their lives. When I have gone to Weight Watchers, it was motivating to me that the leader had worked the program and lost weight. I really like these women, but this does bother me.</p>
<p>Hold on now. You are saying they don’t let you use your own iPod?is that at all Curves? That could be a deal breaker for me…</p>
<p>I went to Curves for a couple of years and lost a LOT of weight - about 60lb. It was a godsend for me because at the time I was way to self-conscious about my weight to go to a regular gym, and I needed the structure that Curves provided with its equipment circuit. Plus I needed an <em>easy</em> workout – I was far too out-of-shape for much more. I loved the fact that there were no mirrors in the exercise area. </p>
<p>Since I was there to lose weight I was very happy to have the monthly weigh-ins and measuring – that weight chart was my motivation. </p>
<p>I was also dieting very seriously at the time. I did not do the Curves diet – it really didn’t fit my lifestyle. I read up a lot about dieting and then created my own – high fiber, reduced fat & carb intake, and definitely reduced calories. </p>
<p>I don’t see how anything other than Curves would have gotten me into a regular exercise routine at the time – I just needed something easy, where I could go in and out quickly. The family that ran the local Curves were great people – they were always doing things for local charities like organizing food drives – so it was pretty cool to get rid of all the packaged & canned foods in my house that weren’t on my diet by taking them in for the food drive. </p>
<p>I went at least 5x a week – I really thought I needed exercise every day.</p>
<p>I don’t go any more. I totally lost my motivation when the weight was gone. Also, as my body image changed, then instead of feeling comforted by being around a bunch of other middle aged, overweight women (like me) – I wanted to dress in tighter clothes and do things that reinforced my new “skinny” body image.</p>
<p>Oh no, no Ipod and Elvis and Cher on all the time? Signing up for hip hop class right now…</p>
<p>Calmom, congrats on your new skinny body!</p>
<p>[Ladies</a> Fitness Franchise Overview - Contours Express](<a href=“joincontoursexpress.com”>joincontoursexpress.com)</p>
<p>You might want to check out this information before joining so you can make an educated decision.</p>
<p>I used to go to Contours Express, but ours closed down and there is not one within 25 miles of where I live. Based on using the equipment I did, I was not willing to use Curves equipment even though there is a Curves about a mile from my house. I instead chose to go to a local gym run by our park district because it’s equipment most resembled Curves. </p>
<p>However, that being said, once I started working with a personal trainer at this gym several months after joining, I rarely use the equipment that I also used at Contours Express. Of course, the gym has many more options and I’ve learned a lot of exercises that don’t require heavy strength training equipment, that Contours did not have. </p>
<p>But, I will disagree with those who say you can’t get your heart rate up doing the circuits. At least at Contours Express, it was easy to use the cardio step between weight machines to get the heart rate up. If you don’t get it up, you need to have someone show you more options for using that cardio step. Our Contours did a heart rate check every fifteen minutes and one of the staff members wrote it down on your card that you carried with you from station to station.</p>
<p>As far as the monthly weight check, Contours would do a measure/weight recheck every three months, but I always declined to participate. They stopped asking after the first six months I was a member there. What are they going to do if you decline having your measurements/weight checked?</p>
<p>I will say I’ve had far better results at the park district gym, working with a trainer who changes up my routine often, than when I was at Contours Express. But I’m grateful for Contours getting me off my butt and moving again. And if joining Curves will do that for you, and it’s your best option given your circumstances, then go for it. Just be aware of the limitations and try to supplement what you’re doing there.</p>
<p>Have never considered joining Curves. I do know that the one in my previous town in Fairlfield County, CT closed after several years. BUT, not being able to listen to my iPod would make it a non-starter for me. Plus, I need to work up quite a sweat during my workouts – it’s the only way I know for sure I’m really burning calories! I’m sure it’s better than doing nothing, though.</p>
<p>Oh yea, forgot to mention… there were a couple of women at Contours Express who’d bring their iPod and listen to it instead of the piped in stuff.</p>