Curves For Women

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loywi1

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Anyone familiar with Curves? Does it work? I like the 30 min concept and I'm not a BIG weight lifter or anything like that. I try to jog 3 days/week but am wondering about Curves on my alternate days? I've done the free week there and seem to like it but I feel like I'm the youngest one there and at the Curves I go to, no one appears to be all fit and trim. Is it too good to be true? Yet they are all over the country...I read 1 for every 2 McD's.
I should also say i'm about 30lbs over weight and trying to fit in a workout during my day - 3 kids, work full time, yadda yadda yadda... you know the drill.

Thanks, D:confused:
 
Curves works for some people. The problem is that after a few months you plateau. Since Curves machines are not adjustable (you cannot make the intensity harder) and they do not offer anything more than the circuit... there's no way to increase your intensity level.

Try it out for a few months if you feel as though it is the best place for you. I'd prefer you be in a regular gym or just buying some dumbbells and a stability ball for home workouts. :)

But Curves has the attraction of networking and meeting other women in your similar situation. Do what's best for you. Just try to avoid a long contract because you will plateau after a few months.
 
Just keep in mind that a typical Curves workout burns about 187 calories...it's great for people just starting out with working out, but it is hard to acheive any long term goals with this...If you are just beginning hopefully you will get a kick start from this...but eventually you will will have to progress to see long term benefits...:cool: Debra
 
The studies I've read on Curves say it burns even less than 187 calories. According to studies it's not intense enough to increase cardiovascular system unless you have been sedentary, and any strength increases are minimal at best. And you plateau fast, as was mentioned.

Sarah
 
I myself did try Curves several years back and my mother currently goes.


There are several pros and cons to Curves.

Pros
1. Relaxed atmosphere, with no pressure to look like Miss Olympia
2. All women, so no pressure to look like Miss America either ;)
3. One circuit, so no wandering aimlessly through a maze of unfamiliar contraptions wondering what to do next and how in the hell to do it

Cons
1. No child care
2. One circuit, so no variation in workout - meaning plateau is inevitable after a few months
3. The only way to increase intensity of the workout is to do the machines faster, which is potentially dangerous on your joints (slow and controlled motions are safest)

Overall, my advice when people ask me about Curves, is that it can be a good place to start out for a few months, so pay by the month instead of signing the contract. It will allow you to get accustomed to working out around other people, getting the feel of exercise equipment in general, and get used to putting exercise into your routine. Then, when you are more comfortable exercising and start to plateau, "graduate" onto a traditional gym where you can expand your workouts, and thereby, your results.
 
loywi1 said:
Anyone familiar with Curves? Does it work? I like the 30 min concept and I'm not a BIG weight lifter or anything like that. I try to jog 3 days/week but am wondering about Curves on my alternate days? I've done the free week there and seem to like it but I feel like I'm the youngest one there and at the Curves I go to, no one appears to be all fit and trim. Is it too good to be true? Yet they are all over the country...I read 1 for every 2 McD's.
I should also say i'm about 30lbs over weight and trying to fit in a workout during my day - 3 kids, work full time, yadda yadda yadda... you know the drill.

Thanks, D:confused:
Click to expand...

Yes! Curves definetely works. My Mother started at 299 and she is now 248 pounds. O and my Moms got 5 kids and has a full time job.

Your only 30lb overweight? thats not bad at all. My mothers gotta lose about 120 more.
 
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