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2004/05/21, 09:33 AM
Anyone had any experience with Curves? Good, bad, recommend it? :) There are a few in my area, and wouldn't mind checking it out, but wanted to see if anyone had any opinions first.
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2004/05/21, 10:16 AM
If you are a begnner, curves will give you results (almost any workout will yeild results for beginners, after a while you will need more variety and stimulation.
Your money would be better spent on a gym membership where there are freeweights, aerobics classes and a variety of equipment.
I have a couple of clients who came away from curves with injuries, but I can't say for certain it was due to curves equipment or program.
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If you fall down seven times, get up eight.
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2004/05/21, 01:11 PM
I actually used to work at curves and I agree with asimmer. It was more of a sewing circle for housewives and youd hear all the women talking about how they hadn't lost a pound but they lost all kinds of inches. personally the only people i saw curves work for werethe ones who were also dieting or the women that were extremley overweight and yeah in that sence curves is a great way to get started on getting yourself into a routine of getting off your butt 3-4 days a week but you really need more progression.For the amount of money curves costs you could much easier find a healthclub to join and hire a personal trainer! well good luck to you whatever you choose to do.
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The greater the obstacle the more glory in overcoming it!
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2004/05/21, 02:07 PM
I went to curves when I was just starting to work out, and in the first month I lost 10 inches. If you are severly overweight, or a begginer, it is fabulous. After a good 6 months though, you will want to switch to a gym membership, as your body gets used to the same exersizes at the same resistance, and you will stop seeing results unless you change things up. However, I must say that if you are looking for a way to get used to routine, or need to start out easy, it is deffinately worth it!
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2004/05/21, 07:57 PM
I always see those and I wonder what goes on inside those places that are forbidden for such members of the world to go.
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Listen to the Deftones
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2004/05/24, 01:54 AM
Okey okey okey girls!
Not everyone in here is American or live in the States, so could you pleeease explain me what is this "Curves?!!"
Merci beaucoup! :):):):laugh:
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- Nina :o) Les Victoires éternelles sont celles du coeur.
www.nme-pro.com
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2004/05/24, 08:17 AM
Curves is a chain (the fast food of exercise) of 'women's only' exercise studios. The equipment is very basic machines and inbetween sets on the machines you do intervals of running in place or something. I have never ventured into one, but have clients who have come to me after plateauing there or getting injured.
Many women go there because it is a non-threatening atmosphere, it is fairly cheap and it is a place to socialize.
Because a beginner will get results doing almost anything, these places do work, for a while. Then it is time for the more serious trainees to seek out a real gym or a trainer to take them to the next level. IMO.
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If you fall down seven times, get up eight.
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2004/05/25, 01:48 AM
Hmmm well that sounds to me that they are more working AGAINST us than WITH. I mean we know that weight training is the key to a beautiful LONG lasting body, but if they only got cardio and little pink dumbbells, then the women will just keep to those exercises. And since they'll stop getting results after a while, they are more likely to stop all exercising which is a BIG shame..........
We women are strong so why do we need to get SOFT solutions?
I think it's a good idea to have "women only" gyms but I guess they need some more trainers like you Asimmer! :)
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- Nina :o) Les Victoires éternelles sont celles du coeur.
www.nme-pro.com
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2004/06/04, 06:23 PM
I was an assistant manager at Curves 3 years ago and I gotta tell you, I lost 28 pounds in 2 months - but the owner was insistent that we did not sit at any point (unless signing someone up) but workout constantly with the customers, I was often on double shifts, so the loss was due to my working out nearly to the dropping point. I have to say, though, that is is a wonderful program for beginners or someone wanting to lose a few pounds. I prided myself in getting to know each member and found that many would cry, get hysterical, or flat out refuse, when asked to be measured and weighed they were that bruised inside. It was so sad and my heart went out to them and I did all I could to remind people to do the exercises right. There were times when people would be injured, but it was due to their refusal to do the machines the way they were meant to or working out beyond what they were shown. It is unfortunate the some individuals cannot understand that it is important to use equipment the way it is meant to in order to benefit and avoid injury, I think that goes with any gym, etc. It was created with the thought that some women prefer to workout alone without some guy behind them checking out their rears (not that they all do that...) as most of the people were obese and would hardly leave their homes let alone go to a gym where men could see them. Many I met were put down by their hubbies and made to feel worthless...it was a sincere pleasure to get to know these women and do all I could to encourage them to keep coming and money had nothing to do with it for me. It is a great place for people with fibromyalgia and arthritis, also, as we would allow them to come during special times so they could work out with a program designed to assist them in their special needs. It is a cardio program using resistance, not a weight lifting program by all means. If a Curves manager and their employees follow the strict regimine assigned to all Curves, each member is to use the equipment with continual assistance, support and there is a heart rate check every 10 minutes, I believe it was, so you could work within your cardio heart rate level. I visited other Curves and the employees were on the telephone, talking to one another and not paying any attention whatsoever to what the members were doing and it upset me as so many were using terrible technique on the machines and would most likely have injuries before they knew it. It is a good step for those afraid to venture out, hopefully the employees will help these individuals with their self-esteem and that it is important to move on to bigger and better things when the time comes and not focus on money but these wonderful people.
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MISERY IS OPTIONAL
SMILES FOR MILES
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2004/06/05, 02:04 AM
Hi Kathryn, thanks for sharing and congrats of your 28lb weight loss! :)
For a person who has never exercised, the first impression in a sport center is VERY important. Often it determines if the person will continue or not.....
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- Nina :o) Les Victoires éternelles sont celles du coeur.
www.nme-pro.com
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2004/06/05, 12:41 PM
Thanks for the thanks, Philia2, but we moved 1200 miles after a few months of me working there and I gained it all back in a lonley stupor, such a shame, I worked hard for those pounds to come off. But, that is alright, I found all of you and this time, it won't be just 28, it'll be the full 78 and it'll stay off because I'm not going through these withdrawls from sugar, carbs, fast food cravings, etc. again! You are soooo right, though, a person needs to go where where they know they will keep coming back, I've joined gyms where the only time trainers would talk to me was when there wasn't some gorgeous, thin member keeping them occupied, those were horrible experiences as it was so obvious that us frumpier, weighter members were ignored, many of us left in frustration with another hit to the self-esteem! But there were many gyms I really enjoyed, too, wish we had one of those nearby, I'd love to be able to use the awesome machines they have now!
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Veda
MISERY IS OPTIONAL
SMILES FOR MILES
HAVE A GREAT DAY!
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2004/06/13, 02:42 PM
I joined Curves 3-4 weeks ago and i like it a lot...but it's too much to start off with for someone like me who hasn't really exercised in 13 years. I spoke with the manager about my goals and she said i should do Curves 3 times a week and cardio the other 4 days. But after a week of doing that, i was worn out to the point where i thought i was gonna get sick. I don't know what to do anymore. I'm trying to start back up with just the cardio and maybe do Curves once a week...but i don't know if i can even do that much :(
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2004/06/14, 02:02 PM
Rainbow, I would suggest doing Curves 3 times a week, and thats it. Curves by itself can be enough cardio for you until you adjust to being active again. You don't want to do so much that you burn out in 2 weeks!!
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2004/06/15, 12:50 AM
Yes, Curves is actually cardio (they base their workouts on the heart rate percentages you work within) with resistance and CristalBelle is right, 3 times a week is just fine as with the resistance you may need to rest those weary muscles and try it every other day. The other thing I taught while working there for the beginners is that you just do your machine slower and when you get to the stepper, walk slower, just slow it down, that is ok., then each day you will get stronger. You are doing all your warmup stretches and cool downs, right? Very important.
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Veda
MISERY IS OPTIONAL
***When you are up to your ears in trouble, try using the part that is not submerged.
***The difference between a dream and a goal is a plan.
HAVE A GREAT DAY!
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2004/07/08, 11:47 AM
Curves is owned by a right-wing ultra religious conservative who donates heavily to anti-choice organizations and is also a big contributor to the Bush/Cheney campaign. As a politically active woman, this kind of information helps me decide who to give my money to and who not to. Perhaps it will help someone on the boards decide yay or nay.
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2004/07/08, 12:15 PM
Of course some politically active women may be ultra religious, conservatives who prefer to donate heavily to anti-choice organizations and contribute to the Bush/Cheney campaign....not saying I am, but I'm sure there are.
Then again, maybe the fact that every gym owner in the world has a political preference has no bearing on the fact that someone enjoys just getting a good workout and since Curves is based on setting up shop in small town areas with affordable rates, sometimes that is ones only choice and they are grateful to have one.
But, I prefer to not talk politics or religion or the can of worms will spillith over, so I'll zip the lip with one last comment...Personally, I don't check into political preference before checking out a gym, never thought of it, I guess, maybe I should (?), but unless the politics involved sending money to support Osama bin Laden or something radical like that, I would base my views on whether or not I was comfortable, the place had good management and trainers, good equipment, was clean and was able to support and help motivate me.
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Quoting from eb7540:
Curves is owned by a right-wing ultra religious conservative who donates heavily to anti-choice organizations and is also a big contributor to the Bush/Cheney campaign. As a politically active woman, this kind of information helps me decide who to give my money to and who not to. Perhaps it will help someone on the boards decide yay or nay.
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Veda
MISERY IS OPTIONAL
***When you are up to your ears in trouble, try using the part that is not submerged.
***The difference between a dream and a goal is a plan.
HAVE A GREAT DAY!
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2004/07/08, 12:29 PM
actually all most all Curves are franchises, how may you ask do i know this? I work for ADP and set up payroll all day long for small business. A few curves are owned by the founder Gary Heavin, but all most 90-95% are owned by the franchise owners.....so I guess that your point that the founder not onwer is politically active in an are you dislike is not a valid point....just my thought
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LIFT HEAVY! BECOME STRONG, LIKE BULL!
7707mutt@freetrainers.com
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2004/07/08, 08:30 PM
I agree, Mutt, the Curves I managed was owned by two women from my home town looking to improve their health and there was absolutely no other gyms within 60 miles at least.
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Veda
MISERY IS OPTIONAL
***When you are up to your ears in trouble, try using the part that is not submerged.
***The difference between a dream and a goal is a plan.
HAVE A GREAT DAY!
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