Curves??

[jrcads 0]

I was banded almost two weeks ago and feel great...looking forward to starting my exercise program. I noticed on lapband.com if your registered you get a 2 week free trial at Curves...was wondering if anyone had any success with this>? i attempted it years ago...and wasted money becuase i never stuck with it...but its a new me! just wondering what others thought about the program..

thankss

[pwoods5015 0]

I tried Curves a few years ago - the idea is good, but there are issues to look at.

The one I used had 2 very small changing rooms and no pool, spa, sauna, etc. The whole program is a circuit, which works well in theory, but when the 3 in front of you are having social hour and forget to move, or move at their leisure, it kind of throws off the rythmn. I would definitely try it free for the 2 weeks before getting into a contract/payment plan.

I don't know about then, but in the past, they were all franchises, so the quantity of equipment and training could vary widely from one to another. If one doesn't suit, try another.

[momcof3 1]

I have been going to Curves for over a year and really like it. My Curves has the "smart" machines that keep track of your workouts, calories burned etc. Since starting Curves I have lost a total of 55 inches. Try the 2 week free trial and see if you like it.

[TQUAD64 9]

I could not fit it into my busy schedule. I now workout at home. But I did love going to Curves.

[suepro 39]

I joined Curves a month ago and am doing great, I have lost a lot of weight and inches. i hated the regular gym and found it boring.

The Curves work out is so quick and painless and enjoyable, I don't care that there aren't the sauna and pool and other facilities you get at a regular gym. If I want to swim I can still go to a pool.

[Jachut 487]

I like to say only positive things about exercise because ALL exercise is good exercise, but I think Curves is fabulous but has a few drawbacks you need to be aware of. They are not an issue if you're just starting out, in this case I think its a fantastic environment for women and a great workout.

I love the idea of it, I hate hate hate their machines. I think it would work better with proper weights machines with adjustable weights, hydraulic machines just dont cut it.

If your'e just starting out with fitness it will be fantastic, strength training circuits are fabulous for fat burning. But as you get fit, you need to move the machines faster and faster and despite Curves insisting you never get too fit for them, there is only so fast you can move those machines (their return slows you down) before you completely lose your form, which makes it very easy to get injured.

I think there's a massive problem with instructor education, its woefully out of date and inadequate. Educate yourself a bit and ignore the instructors (apart from them instructing you on proper form). They will tell you off for getting above your targeted heart range if this happens to occur. I tried to explain that I was a regular runner and very fit and my "fat burning zone" was WAY higher than the average - working out at a heart rate of 120 bpm is ridiculously easy for me. No no no they insisted, you wont be burning any fat. A statement which is entirely incorrect, and the whole fat burning target heart range has been debunked anyway, the harder you work the more fat you burn, end of story. It really annoyed me.

I think the whole set up is great, but it could be so much better to cater for a wide ability group. But if you fit their average - older, overweight or just starting out fitness wise, you will get loads of benefit from it. Being a sprightly 25 year old, be prepared to move on at some stage. Which is not a problem at all really because until then it will be great for you.

Its not a great calorie burner either at the rate most clients can do it, you will probably need to do some extra cardio elsewhere - like walking or swimming or running.

Edited February 23, 2009 by Jachut

[Jodi_620 37]

I have been going for a little over a month now. From my research I think that many of these issues depend on your particular Curves location. Whether Curves is right for you is an individual thing.

Selling points for me are: my Curves is just a block from my work and on my way home, At first I thought that I would get bored real fast but now that I have been going for a few weeks I am thinking that it is just right for me because it is only 30 minutes in-and-out and the time really does fly by; no matter where you choose to exercise, it will eventually become tedious but I can handle just 30 minutes three times a week. My instructors are very attentive and the other members have been quite considerate. Mine does not have dressing rooms and none that I know of have pools or saunas but that is really not what I was looking for in a workout...I change before I leave work and that works fine for me.

I like the atmosphere, layed back,all women, no judgement. I can go in and concentrate on my workout without worrying about what others around me think...I can't say the same about the gyms that I visited close by.

As far as the workout, you get out of it what you put in. I go in and give it my all. I pump the machines until I am begging to hear "change stations now", I run in place on the recovery boards and work hard to keep my heart rate up. I am not sure where I will be in a year but I feel like it is a great starting point, I am sure I will be able to complete my first year contract then I can re-evaluate where I need to go from there.