Curves anyone? Have questions...

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-03-2005
Curves anyone? Have questions...
4
Wed, 04-06-2005 - 3:39pm
My Mom has bought me a three month membership to Curves. I went seven times last month and had fairly good results with no more effort than I put in. I was wondering if anyone else is a member and if so what they thought about the program. My doctor says it is for maintaince only and wants me to do a 45 minute workout 5 times a week. I thought about just staying on the machines for 45 min insteed of 30 like they recommend might do the trick. I like going well enough and figure it is better for me than staying home on my butt and not doing anything at all. Just wondered if anyone else had heard that or is a curves member seeing postive results. Thanks in advance for the input~Angie
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-25-2004
Wed, 04-06-2005 - 3:51pm
Well, I've not used Curves myself, but I'll tell you about the experience my mother had. It probably would be a good way to get your 45 min/day 5 days/week in for now, until you get more fit...if they will let you go that often. In the past few years, my mother has lost around 100 lbs. She exercises religiously. She usually takes a 45 minute walk most days of the week and still does weight training 2 days a week and swimming 1 day a week and tae bo or some other fitness video another one or 2 days a week. Well, she finally got her weight where she wanted it and decided to cut down her exercising. She got a membership to curves and started going 5 days a week for 1 30 min session a day. Well, they told her that she was exercising too much and that they didn't want her exercising more than 3 days a week--they said they thought she had a problem! She really likes it though, but maybe you could get your exercise the other 2 or 3 days by walking? That way you know you are getting a good aerobic exercise and it's easy to do anywhere.


 


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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-30-2005
Wed, 04-06-2005 - 3:55pm

I was member at a local Curves for three months last year (college membership) and I enjoyed it. However, I found that after about 2 months it was difficult to get my heart rate up to the appropriate level, and during the 3rd month the workout wasn't challenging me enough. I enjoyed the atmosphere and support I found there, but didn't renew my membership because I didn't think the workout was worth it.

Before I gained all this weight I played 4 years of basketball and was in great shape. I still have a lot of muscle in my legs and arms, so maybe that's one reason Curves didn't work for me.

If I were you I would use the membership while you have it. If nothing esle, it would be a good way to get into a routine, and going is definately better than sitting at home on your butt :)

Anything is better than that!

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-17-2004
Wed, 04-06-2005 - 4:38pm

I've been a Curves member for almost 3 years, I also work there. (And I don't want you to think I'm just trying to sell the program as an employee, I've been a member WAAAY longer than I've worked there and I still LOVE it!!) I don't believe at all that Curves is just for maintenance, I've lost 50 lbs in the time I've been a member there (gained some back, but that's another story, LOL!), my mom has lost over 50 lbs being a member of Curves, I've witness many other women lose amazing amounts of weight, some with the only change being their working out at Curves. You really get out of the workout what you put into it. If you notice like the other poster said that its harder to get your heart rate up after a while, well then you need to push the machines faster and it will go up. It is a workout that will adapt to your changing fitness level, IF you put the effort into it. You can go 5 days a week and you can workout for 45 minutes if that's what you wish. That's exactly what I've been doing for quite a while now actually, well its been 6 days a week for the past 2 months. What I do is alternate, pushing hard on the machines M,W,F and doing more cardio on the recovery stations Tu, Th, & Sat. I think if you've gotten good results so far you will only do better if you put more time and effort into it, you could even prove your dr WRONG!

Amanda

Amanda

mom to Ethan (7), Ryen (6), and Katelyn (2)

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-03-2005
Thu, 04-07-2005 - 11:10pm
Thanks to you all for your imput. I think I will stick it out longer and see how it works for me. Have committed to going at least 3 times a week (went twice already this week, yeah me!) and walking the other days. Thanks Amanda...I will try hitting the weights hard a couple days a week and working the cardio hard the other...want to build up to five days a week.