LOL . . y'all are SUCH chicks . . Gyms are to train in . . . only women would make them into social clubs ;)

A teacher at my school works at the Curves near my house and sent me an offer for a free week to try it out. I think I probably will do it, at least I will try it. I have no idea if my two bad knees can take it or not. I do water aerobics at the YMCA in the summer but I badly need something for exercise in the winter. The women I know that have tried it really like it!

Check it out
 

You should go check it out - most of them offer a one week trial membership to see if you like it.

The workout is 30 minutes which I love because i can do it on my lunch hour. At my curves there are 8 stations in a circle with machines and in between each machine are stations where you run in place, jumping jacks, march, etc - just some time of cardio workout. You are at each station 30 seconds and by doing three circuits you have done your 30 minute workout. The stations are placed so you do a lower body workout machine, cardio, upperbody workout machine and then start the cycle again.

All the machine are based on hydraulic resistance rather then weights. It's the same principle as working out in a pool. For those who have knee problems, like me I damaged my bursa sac and cracked up the knee cap a couple years ago, you may want to check with your doctor. This may be a workout they can give you the okay for - or like my mom's doctor did he gave her limitations so she does a different movement that isn't hard on her joints.

You are asked to make the commitment to go three times a week so that you get the full benefits of the workout. They do have travel cards so you can go to other Curves. I do know at our national conclave last summer one of my L.A. sisters went to the Curves just down the street from the hotel.

Carolyn

The men in my area have turned the gyms into meat markets... a woman can't go to a co-ed gym without getting hit on.

I prefer Fitness USA.. women only M, W, F, men only on T, Th, S and there's another location near me with the opposite schedule. They have a pool, numerous types of classes as well as weight machines and, as a reward afterward, a sauna and hot tub!

Dee

i'm sure it varies from state to state, but how much is it per month and how much are the enrollment fees?

My enrollment fee was $79.00 and I pay $29.00 per month, which they automatically deduct from my checking account. I believe, though, that Curves are all franchised so it could possibly be different at every one.

If you are interested in learning more about Curves, here is a link to its website:

www.curvesinternational.com

Thanks :) I had actually been thinking about it before this thread was started. there are like several locations within like a 10 mile radius of my house and I saw a commercial last night for 1/2 off enrollment. I'm still thinking about it, but its good to hear all the positive feedback...

I've been a member for almost 3 years and still love it. The beauty of it is that you know you've had a workout, but you're not so sore that you can't go back again. I do the bank draft from my checking account--I figure my health is worth a dollar a day!

The hours do seem to be a problem for some people. Ours opens at 8:00, closes at 1:30, and reopens at 3:30 until 7:30 (of course, you have to get there 30 minutes before they close so you can get your workout in).

A ton of my chapter sisters were going to Curves last year - the student gym was sort of a meat market so they hated going there.

Posted by James
Chances are that if you are going to curves you probably don't have a lot of experience in training or nutrition related to fitness. Therefore Curves is much better than nothing and certainly not threatening for the novice/meek.

Why does it sound like you are turning up your nose at Curves, James? There is no call to be mean or snide, just because you are so knowledgeable about training (for what?) and nutrition. Curves is a success in large part due to the fact that most gyms across the country cater to younger, in-shape folks -- and they convey an attitude not unlike yours -- not nice nor helpful... If you are not young, good-looking and in shape, you are sneered or scoffed at or tittered about. I was a member of the nearby (5mins away) Gold's Gym for almost three years and though I am not fat, I certainly could stand to drop several pounds and get in better shape. Without exception, I ALWAYS felt self-conscious going into Gold's -- I was almost always the oldest and largest person there. And many had a know-it-all, "I'm better than you" attitude solely based on their looks...It took a monumental effort to go. I hated it more each time I went and I eventually stopped going. My mom is a charter member of the Curves near her home in Tierra Santa (San Diego -- polarpi, is that the Curves you go to?

My husband saw how much I admired my mom's commitment and how much she loved Curves and gave me a membership for Xmas. I enjoy it because I do not feel self-conscious and it fits well into my schedule which has too many volunteer duties packed in each day.


Posted by James
LOL . . y'all are SUCH chicks . . Gyms are to train in . . . only women would make them into social clubs

James, if you came to the Gold's gym near my house, you'd change your MCP tune in a heartbeat!


The Curves I go to opens at 6:30 am three days a week and stays open till 1pm; then it's open from 3pm till 7:30pm every week day. On Tues and Thurs and Sat it is open 8-noon. It cost $75 to join and $25 each month from a checking account. This annual membership allows me to go to any Curves across the country.

OK, here's my question about Curves...

I was a dance major in college and was very active in performing/classes here in NYC until about a year ago. I am 'out of shape' dancer-wise (lost some flexibility and tone) now and am trying to get back into being fit. I am going to start taking dance classes again, but I also feel I should start a "work-out" regimine as I can't dance forever. And while I would love to loose some weight, I'm not overweight. Will Curves do me any good? It seems to me a lot of older women, and people who are quite overweight, are the ones who really benefit from it. Any opinions - especially from the 20-somethings.

I HATE the normal gym b/c I don't want to deal with being hit on, having trainers bug me, and trying to figure out those darn machines! :rolleyes:

Curves is all over where I live in Northeast Ohio! My mom is a member at the one by her house...she loves it! She went out and bought all new workout wear!!!! I decided not to go that route (too expensive). I am taking Pilates at the YMCA and love it! My class is two days a week and next session I am going to add yoga!!!!

Last summer, I had a membership to a local gym that is very similar to Curves. (I joined with my mom and we let our memberships expire because she lost her job...now that she has a new job we're probably going to rejoin.) I hate to exercise, but I really liked my gym because you just did the workout and didn't have to think about it, and I was never really sore afterwards. Plus, there was no waiting for the machines that you want to use and there was no worrying about what the other people there think of you. It was also much less expensive than other gyms. The only thing that was a little weird is that I was the youngest person there (I'm 24 and everyone else was mid-to-late 30s or older).

I think this is one of the best reasons why Curves has been so successful. I think too many guys don't understand WHY so many women are afraid of the gym. I even took a weight training class in high school so I know how to use most of the machines and I am still way too intimidated to lift at the school gym here.

Well, I am going to try Curves in about an hour. My friend from school is working today. I'll post later and tell you what I thought about it (if I'm not too tired to type - LOL)