I'm thinking about joining the women's fitness center Curves. The concept is to do a circuit of resistance exercise machines between some stepping at timed intervals. There also is some stretching involved. The workout takes about 30 minutes.
I'm thinking I would do this in addition to the walking.
The manager at the Curves I visited said that the franchise is the fastest growing in the U. S. She said that women notice losing inches more than weight. I want the weight gone though if I'm going to exercise. So, that's a bit of a drawback for me.
I was wondering if any of you ladies out there go to Curves. What have your results been like? Is it worth joining?
CW
CreativeWoman posted on Apr 16, 2007
| views: 1749
Comments
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dailyachesandpains said on Apr 16, 2007....
CW, as much as I would like to join, I can't.My cousin has been going for a couple of years now...she LOVES it!{{{hugs}}}Daily -
silverwhisper said on Apr 16, 2007....
i can tell you that i see them (curves locations) popping up all over the place in my area.
ed -
MissMimi said on Apr 16, 2007....
There's a 'Curves' right next to - get this - my grocery store. I have heard a lot of good things about it. -
gingersoul said on Apr 17, 2007....
CW....the concept is popular because is a very easy way to work out. If you are pretty big you indeed will lose some inches, not serious weight though.
These women claim to have lost some inches because if you go from being a couch potato to this easy 30 minutes program sometign gotta change a little bit.
But i also read an article in which serious trainers were warning about the too easy steps and the too short time dedicated to the exercises.
To lose weight you have primarily to increase you heart beat. Simple like that. And Curves doesnt do it, or at the least, doesn't do it enough.
Prolongued weight liftings, intervals of sprints in jogging or running, alternating exercise to use all your big muscles (arms, legs) is decisive for a serious weight loss.
I wouldn't suggest you Curves.
But it can be useful for giving you an idea of what you can do with some machines and be less intimidated going to a serious gym.
I would save this money to pay me some lessons with a trainer at any gym around you.
In addition you should keep walking and do exercises at home: i use a yoga ball for the abs and i have some elastic bands and some dumbells.
But if the idea of easily strolling around a circle of (few) machines while chatting with other womene intrigue you, do it.
You can always take a free tour, right? Go and check it out. But then attack a gym.
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CreativeWoman said on Apr 17, 2007....
daily,
She is sticking with it. :-) What have her results been like?
ed,
You do see them everywhere. I guess they must do some good if they are that popular.
Mimi,
The location is ironic. :-) I once saw a Nutrisystem place right next to a doughnut place. I thought that seemed an unfair temptation.
ginger,
I am overweight, but I'm not huge. (I've been told that I see myself bigger than I am.) I do already walk two miles a day. I did go check out the local community center gym. I was wanting a daily class and although they have classes, they didn't have what I wanted The main thing is that I want to feel better about myself. I have lost 80 pounds and have been keeping it off. I need some sort of boost to get off this plateau.
Thanks for all your great advice. :-)
CW
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dailyachesandpains said on Apr 17, 2007....
CW, she's lost two sizes. She looks great and feels great when she goes. Her mother (my Aunt) goes with her too. She starts when the kids are in school and then stops during the summer. I wish I could go. I might now that I've gained, but I've got to calm my brain. I'm frantic over this weight I have put on.Let me know if you do join and how you like it!Kudos on the 80 pounds! That's awesome, CW, and I'm sure it wasn't easy!Daily -
SexAndMoney said on Apr 17, 2007....
I would highly recommend incorporating resistance training into your workout. You might try some interval training as well. Make sure your diet is in check and that you are getting enough calories for the amount of activity you are doing daily. Diet is 80 percent of the battle. I hit a plateau 2 months ago and found a great trainer/nutritionist. She got my diet on track and broke my plateau that first week.A lot of women don't want to lift weights for fear that they will get big. This is just not true unless you are eating a surplus of calories consistantly and/or you are injecting yourself with testosterone. Give it a try, you will not be disappointed.
Consistancy yields results! -
gingersoul said on Apr 17, 2007....
Sex......exactly my point......and Curves doesnt do enough resistance training....
I actually start my work out with weights...my arms went from kind of defined to well defined in 3 weeks only....i am actually lifting 20 pounds with dumbells and 30 on the bar...50 pounds with the controlled machines...
I used to do even more so i am trying to go back there.....
The key is simply burning more calories than you intake.....
CW.....its just a matter to find what you like and stick with it...and you have will power since you lost all those pounds already....:-)
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CreativeWoman said on Apr 17, 2007....
Daily,
Good for her. And thank you...the weight loss has not been easy.
SAM,
Thank you for the advice.
ginger,
Curves does have resistance machines. I saw them with my own eyes. They aren't the kind that you add increasing amounts of weight to, but they are resistance.
This is a quote from the brochure...
"The combination of resistance training and cardio exercise protects muscle, increases muscle and burns fat..."
It sounds like you getting well defined muscles. That's great for you. I'm wanting more tone than muscle definition.
I think both you and I want to be fit, but are going about it from slightly different angles with neither being wrong.
CW
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CreativeWoman said on Apr 17, 2007....
That should have said "protects muscle, increases metabolism, and burns fat". (I'm losing my mind. lol)
CW
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LilStinker said on Apr 17, 2007....
I think Curves would be a great idea for you If you can afford it and need the extra support of others that are there.I have rarely struggled with weight problems but I've had my moments (including recently... I took a year off from work and during that time I traveled for a couple of months and packed on some pounds pretty quick) I'm now in the process of taking it all back off again as I'm back to work and getting back into shape at work and on my own time. I'm almost there.Resistance training and weight training are both GREAT! Go for it!!! I do them both because I need the strength for lifting for my job.And personally... I don't pay any attention to my "weight"... I go more by how I look and how my clothes fit me. Muscle weighs more than fat... and I'm cool with that.Happy training!! Have fun with it! -
CreativeWoman said on Apr 17, 2007....
Lil,
I think I do need some support sometimes. The ladies in there when I visited seemed to be about my age. So, we'll see. I have decided to try it.
CW
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MsStar39 said on Apr 17, 2007....
Cw my daughter goes to a personal fitness trainer and she love it, she came home with the story last week how everyone was surprised when one of the trainers from curves joined the club there, they were all laughing at that. My best friend goes to curves and she loves it. -
mom said on Apr 18, 2007....
CW- I heard it is pretty expensive. I would love one right next to a dairy queen.;)I hate going to those places since i am over weight. I need to lose weight and then go. -
CreativeWoman said on Apr 18, 2007....
MsStar,
That is an ironic turn of events. Did she join to work out or to work there?
mom,
If you lived here, we could go together. :-) I want to go there to lose weight more quickly. I'm leaning toward Curves because it's just for women and seems to draw women closer to my age that are sort of in the same boat. It doesn't cost as much as I thought it would. I'm going to try and work it into my budget.
CW
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mom said on Apr 18, 2007....
CW- that \would be great. :) Do you have someone to go with? I think an exercising buddy would be most excellent. :) -
CreativeWoman said on Apr 18, 2007....
mom,
No. I'm just going by myself.
CW
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mom said on Apr 19, 2007....
:( I'm sorry. Take your kitties!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -
kingcobra said on Apr 19, 2007....
,,,,you go girl!!! -
CreativeWoman said on Apr 19, 2007....
mom,
Maybe I'll make a few friends there. :-) My kitties would be on the machines with me!
KC,
Thanks for being supportive. :-D
CW
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gingersoul said on Apr 19, 2007....
CW....speeding up metabolims is the most timportant thing for us women because aging everybody tends to slow down but we do it more than men...(shut)...
As i say, Curves can be great for a start....good for you...and good workout...
even to your kitties.....lol...
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MsStar39 said on Apr 19, 2007....
CW, she joined the personal trainer group at the gym my daughter goes to. -
CreativeWoman said on Apr 19, 2007....
ginger,
I agree that speeding up metabolisms is key. I know I haven't done mine much good in years past with lots of fad dieting. Curves should be a good start for me since other than walking by the lake, I don't enjoy exercising.
MsStar,
She must be a good one. :-)
CW
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mom said on Apr 20, 2007....
CW- I don't see any reason not to make friends there. I will keep nmy fingers crossed. :) -
Angelic said on Oct 10, 2007....
Hi Everyone I just started working at Curves and the experience is great! You can lose inches as well as pounds. Curves can help give you all the tools you need and the workout does increase as you progress. Healthy foods will keep the pounds you burned off and that is something we have to control ourselves. It's not expensive and there's always fitness techs avaolable to help you develop a program that will work for you. I've been to regular fitness clubs and i usually feel that i may have overdone myself or under done myself, and we cant always aford personal trainers. I feel like woman understand eachother and i've seen people will great results because they had a goal and achieved it. Also it gives you everything you need in 30 minutes, which leaves us with pleanty of time for all our usual running around. I would recommend this club to all woman of all ages! :) -
CreativeWoman said on Oct 10, 2007....
Angelic,
I went for about a month. It was a good experience for as far as picking up some good habits. I didn't see the progress I hoped for. I hope you do great there!
CW
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