Curves For Women: A Lot Of Hype?

I have been trying to take off pounds. I recently used a Curves - 1 week free coupon. It is pure hype. The actual experience is stupid and leaves you feeling had. I found women there that actually were losing weight, they all signed up for Curves after 6 12 month weight watchers program. I asked the circuit manager about this fact an she said yes most women come to curves to maintain weight loss not to lose weight. All I can say is this: Try it once and you will never try it again. It simply is stupid in practice.

Hoodia Gordonii hype or help?
Has anyone heard about the newest weight loss pill?
Is it any good? Has anyone actually used the product?

I have to say that I am a believer in the Curves program. I've been a member for 2 month's now and have lost 22 pounds. I don't think anyone should go to curves for only one week {free}, and then bad mouth it and say that it's stupid or that it leaves you feeling had.Sounds to me like this "Sharon" dosen't try anything long enough to see that it can be a good thing. I think she's just a quiter.

Curves can be extremely beneficial. All of this about being "had" sounds sketchy. I never felt "had" at Curves. Tired? Yes. A little bit bored by the music? Yes. Physically challenged? Yes...

I've been a member at Curves now for a month and have seen excellent results. You need to give it more than a week to truly see the benefits. My energy level has been higher, I'm not sluggish in the afternoons at work ( I go during my lunch hour), and let me just say....my sex life-- WHOO HOOO! Like anthing you have to give it 21 days isn't that the old saying. 21 days to form a habit or break one. 21 days to make a permanent change in your life.
7 Days does nothing and if you didn't go all seven days you might not even think you got a workout.

I have been a member of Curves for 2 months now. I have had 22 weigh ins and both times I had dropped 10 lbs. As of right now, I have lost almost 30 pounds. You can not go for 7 days and know whether or not it will work. I truly love Curves and recomend it to anyone thinking about joining. Set your mind to it and you can lose weight!!!

I have done research on the Hoodia Gordonii it is a very safe product that works. It actually( if taken properly) will take your hunger away. The hardest part is your will not be hungry to eat. and it is very important if you want to loose weight to eat. Food is the fuel that will keep your motor going if you put good fuel in you will, loose weight feel great and over all be healthier.

I manage a Curves and in 1 year the members of my club have lost a total of 700 pounds adn 3,000 inches. There is no way that this program does not work. If you work it it will work, it is like anything else. There are people out there who are looking for any excuse to stay in the physical mis shape they are in. They will bad mouth any program they attempt becuase they are not comitted to changing. I have been in fitness for about 20 years and will admit when I saw the machines I thought I would never get a good workout. It has been over 1 year and I workout every day and every day I sweat and get a great workout. It is all in how you work the machines. I have seen Curves work in the lives of many many women. I will say that it is not for everyone, however, I make sure that the ladies who attend my club leave having felt honored, respected and armed to have a great day! Curves works and it is awesome!!

Hi:

I've been a member of Curves for 5 months. My goal was to loose 10 pounds. The first few weeks, I didn't loose that much weight but I lost a lot of inches and had much more energy than before. It felt totally revitalized. Then, I took the book "Curves", by Gary Heaven and started changing my eating habits according to the recommendations. I've lost my 10 pounds and I feel better than ever! In our Curves outlet, we had a spring challenge where people were divided in groups and the group that lost the most weight (all together) won a prize. The "top loser" won one month free membership.

The great thing about Curves is the encouragement. It really keeps you motivated. You're not alone in your struggle.

A happy Curves member.

I have been a member of a Curves for about a year and a half, and I worked at one for about three months. One week probably won't give anyone a great idea of what Curves can do for you, but let's be honest, some people just don't like it. I'm really sorry that some people don't like Curves, but I think it's very wrong to discourage other people that may have very good results and walk away feeling as though they have done something very beneficial for themselves. One of the great things about Curves is that women feel very comfortable there generally. You don't have to look like a model to work out. I would recommend it to most women. The ones for whom I would not recommend Curves are women who are already extremely active. Not because they won't get a good workout, but because it can sometimes be hard to maintain a pace if you are behind someone who is perhaps older or slower at getting into and out of the machines. In my time workind at Curves I noticed that women in truly great shape were sometimes frustrated by the slowness of other women who had not worked out for a long time.

I have just finished my first year at Curves. I have had wonderful results!!! When I began April 2004, I weighed 252 pounds, 116 of which were fat pounds. From April to December I attended sessions 4 to 5 times a week -- that's all. I made no dietary changes; I continued to binge and eat sweets (I'm not recommending this, it was just the best I could do at the time.)

Despite my imperfections, I still lost 29 pounds!!! So I was motivated to try the Curves Six Week Challenge, an intro to their recommended diet plan. From January to the middle of April I lost another 24 pounds. So after I year I lost a total of 53 pounds, 43 inches. I went from a size 22-24 to a size 14.

It is true that you have to focus during the workout and not socialize while working on the machines. An now that I am more fit, I can really push the workout. I also only work out three times a week.

My results are not really unusual. Many women at my Curves are losing weight and keeping it off. Curves is a great place to work out and the women are great!!!

You cannot do anything for a week and claim to be an expert.

I have to say that an old friend that stopped by this weekend AND SHE had lost 60 pounds! SHE LOOKED GREAT! She still has quite a bit to go but WHAT an accomplishment.

I was really anxious to find out what finally worked for her! She said it was CURVES. She admitted that she laughed at the women huffing and puffing when she first saw the machines. But she said she quickly realized it was a much better work-out than meets the eye initially.

I was so inspired by her weight loss that I am going tomorrow to sign up myself! No matter what the results, EXERCISE can't HURT you, in fact, it is imperative if we want to live long healthy lives.

Good luck to all of you and whatever you do..........
JUST KEEP MOVIN!
:-)

I have been a Curves member for 1 month and just had my first weigh-in. I only lost 1 pound and 1/2 inch. BUT, although I had anticipated that I would lose more, and more easily, I have to remember that it took me 68 years to put this weight ON so it will take a while to take it OFF! The thing about Curves, for ME, is that I have always been a very sedentary person. Now I am energized to do some kind of stretches or walking-in-place, or dancing every night! This is unheard of for me, to actually get up and DO something. Probably the really biggest thing for me is that I can go up 2 long flights of stairs at work, fairly quickly, without having to take 5 minutes of gasping to get my breath back, I just breathe normally. Maybe it doesn't sound like much, but to me it is really a biggie. I know that this is something I can stick with.

I have been a religious curves member for 2 1/2 years, going on my lunch hour every day. I did not need to lose a tremendous amount of weight, but have lst, and kept off what I needed to lose. I have also been able to get through the winter and Holidays w/o a gain. That in itself is success to me. also, it is mentally healthy for me and I go at the cardio/aerobic stations pretty hard so i KNOW that it has to be helping with my cardiovascular,cholesterol and blood pressure. Any form of exercise performed regulalry will reduce our risk of so many diseases that are so prevalent these days. It isn't always just about what the scale reflects. It is also important that my 7 year sees that Mommy works out everyday and that is part of life as he knows it. A very positive thing. Also, people continually ask me how much more weight I have lost. I really haven't, but because of the increased toning, I am smaller. I know this by the way my clothing fits. I ope this helps to motivate anyone considering this program.

A friend of mine told me about the Curves Program, so I went online to check it out. Sounds great to me.. but does anyone know if the program has reached Europe yet? I live in the Netherlands.

Thanks!

I have found Curves in the Netherlands! It is a couple of hours away from where I live, but I might give it a try if I can go friday-saturday-sunday. Will call them for info tomorrow : )

Just giving another point of view,after comparing the equipment I much prefer contours express,which is the same idea as curves.Not saying better or worse but just giving people another option

I have been going to Curves on my lunch hour atleast 3 days a week for over 6 months. I had around 10lbs to lose. The first month I was not controlling my diet (holiday season) and did not drop any weight, I did however lose 2% bodyfat. Since then I have begun to watch my diet and have lost another 2% bodyfat, 10 inches, and 7 pounds. You get out of the workout what you put into it. If you work the machines hard and fast you will see results.

i was wondering how to get a free week or month membership to curves? i have been diagnosed with luekemia and it has been suggested that i try to lose twenty plus pounds for my health and i did call to price a membership and i am a mother od four children and extra money is not in the budget and i thought there might be something i could do to get some help with the cost...i just cant come up with the first time registartion fee plus the first month...any ideas would be appreciated..

I am in the same position. They WILL work with you. They are always running special, like in July, if you sign up, you pay only half off the registration fee, and you get two months free. Right now, its bring in 2 milk caps and get 2 weeks free, and also there is the $71.85 (half off registration and first month)till may 31st. Good Luck!

Tomorrow I will be starting my second week at curves. I am doing the 2 weeks free if you bring in two milk tops. I am really enjoying it. Of course I haven't seen any weight loss yet but I do feel a big difference in my energy level. I plan on joing as soon as my 2 weeks are up. I was thinking about taking the 6 week challange and was wondering if any one took it and was it worth the $59.

Yes!! It works, I've done the challenge, you not only lose weight but you also learn how to eat healthy and the support from the meetings is great, after all you're not alone there's many of us trying to lose weight. In my year and a half of being a Curves' memeber I've lost 50 lbs and feel great.

I just got back from my measure/weigh in at Curves and after just 4 weeks, I have lost 5 lbs., and 8.50 inches overall. I also lowered my bodyfat by 3.68%. It really depends on how hard you work the machines. I push/pull hard, creating a lot od resistance, equaling a tougher workout. I have seen women go in and "tickle" the machines. I'm sure thay are not seeing the same type of results. I am 34 and work full time. I have found it to be a great start to a healthier lifestyle.

That's great Cathy, it only gets better! I know what you mean about "tickling" the machines, it's social hour for some, but in some cases just getting out of the house and socializing is work-out enough, their results will take longer but maybe if you share your success it will motivate them! How often do you work out at Curves?

I just finished a web search and found many others who have been ripped off by Curves because even after you have completed a year contract of monthly bank withdrawals, unless you send them a letter in writing 30 days prior to the end of the contract they keep taking out the money until you do. I just recieved a rude voicemail from the Curves manager telling me to 'read the contract'. This fact was never communicated to me that I had to give written notice when I signed up. During the sales pitche they only focused on a monthly or yearly payment method. How much money do you think they make off of clients before discovering this 'policy'? I can't think of another business that has such a deceptive 'contract.' Bottom line: Buyer Beware.

Delilah, I work out 3x/week. They said that some women who were going more than that were actually starting to build muscle and bulk up. I will see how it goes for another month, and if need be, I will go 4x/week.

That's good, I know alot of ladies do other things like waks on their off days or water aerobics, myself do none of the above, I only do Curves. I work out at least 3x a week also but if I can I do more sometimes 5 or 6 times, I only do a hard work out Mon,Wed,Fri, on the other days I take it real easy. I had my weigh in this week and I'm finally under my goal weight, actually 2lbs under. A total of 52lbs and 38.5 inches lost. So keep up the good work cathy. In fact at our club we even have a member of the "Curves' 100 Club" that's for ladies that have lost 100 or more pounds, she's my inspiration, though I didn't have to lose that much, I did reach my goal.

Rebecca, it's too bad your club has such poor people skills, at our club we are taken thru the entire contract line by line, EVERYONE. What you say is true about the cancellation letter, but that's why you really shouldn't sign something without reading the small print. I know on my contract that particular line was highlighted in front of me and explained. I'm sorry you had a bad expierence but was it really Curves fault?

I am now on my second week at curves.I was skeptical at first but I do feel better and you do get a workout with those machines! I do seem to be having trouble keeping my heart rate down though, even if I just stand still on the boards. Any suggestions?

Jackie, do you do other exercise? Breathing is a BIG part of keeping your heart rate in good range, "In thru the nose out thru the mouth" Nice deep, slow breathes. As you get in better shape will also notice it gets better. It's good that you stand still on the recovery stations, I see lots of ladies running or really going on them, all that means is they aren't working the machines like their supposed to. At our club that's what they tell us, if you work the machines like your supposed to you'll need a recovery station. So keep at it, and you'll really start feeling great. Oh also rememeber to breathe while doing the machines, holding your breath will shoot your heart rate up. Try holding your breath while just sitting down it'll shoot up.

i've been a member for 8 months, i have lost over 15 lbs. and i am definately smaller and more toned. however, i feel like i have platued. i work out pretty hard while i am there (3 or 4 days a week), lift free weights after and use the ball to do core exercises. i always stretch as well. i don't diet and know i should decrease my caloric intake but am having a hard time at that one. any advise to get my metabalism boosted???? does the curves diet work, i'm not a fan of low carb diets, i need the fiber, and i enjoy bread way too much. any ideas ladies?

juergens
The Curves' diet is good, it works, but it's not just low carb, first you take a little quiz to see if your calorie or carb sensititve, and go from there. When I took the challenge there were a few ladies that just couln't follow the carb diet so switched to the calorie format, it worked for them. The advise that helps the most is start a food diary of what you're eating without dieting and then see where you can decrease, alot times just the fact that your keeping track stops you from eating bad. The Curves' challenge works, you just have to comitt to it, lots of food prep but it works. Good luck.

thanks for the tips Delilah. i think i'll give it a whirl!!

Are there any Curves Franchise owners out there? I'm interested in buying an existing club and see that the revenues have been declining this year. Have any of you seen similar trends? Has the Curves boom seen its peek and on the decline? Any comments will be appreciated!

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Analysis of the “Curves” Fitness Program
By Kyle Battis CSCS, L/ATC, NSCA-CPT Professional Fitness Coaching

Many people have asked me what my thoughts were on the Curves fitness program. After researching the program, interviewing current and past members, and speaking with other fitness professionals around the country I have compiled the following analysis.

WHAT IS “CURVES”?

Curves is a franchised exercise program designed exclusively for women. The Curves program has spread across the nation like wildfire due to claims such as: “No experience necessary, only 30 minutes for a full-body workout, no class times, no appointments to keep, you can’t be late for your workout because the circuit is always on!” In fact, the Curves franchise is listed by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the top franchises to own. The question is why has it grown so popular?

The answer can be found in the target audience of the Curves program. Curves caters to a very large group of women seeking positive physical change in a supportive environment. Most commercial gyms and fitness centers do not come close to offering a friendly and supportive environment for beginning exercisers be it female or male. You have to give credit where credit is due. The originator of this franchise recognized that there was a huge market for a gym such as Curves and surely has tapped into a goldmine.

GREAT CONCEPT, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE ACTUAL PROGRAM?

Curves is definitely great from a marketing and business perspective but what about the actual exercise program that is followed? One of the Curves members that I interviewed offered the following synopsis:

“They have about 10 different units. Leg extensions/leg curls, squats, leg press, glut press, biceps curls/triceps extensions, lat pull downs/overhead press, chest press/seated row, a dip/shrug machine, and a seated abdominal machine. They repeat some of the machines and you go around the circuit 1 and 1/2 times. In between each machine there is 3’ x 3’ platform that you perform some continuous exercise such as running in place or stationary jumping. The goal is to stay in the fat burning target heart rate zone for 30 minutes.”

Curves is a 30-minute exercise circuit comprised of hydraulic resistance machines and bodyweight exercises. The nature of the hydraulic machines used in the Curves program forces the user to perform concentric (muscle shortening) contractions of the opposing muscle groups. No eccentric (muscle lengthening) muscle action occurs when using these machines so very little muscle soreness is developed. The problem with the lack of the eccentric muscle actions is that it does not put a lot of stress on the muscle and a muscle not stressed is a muscle that will not change.

In fact, as Strength Coach Christian Thibeadeau points out in his book Theory and Application of Modern Strength and Power Methods,

“It was found that omitting eccentric stress in training program severely compromised the potential strength gains (Dudley et al. 1991). “ Curves members are encouraged to check their heart rates every 8 minutes to ensure that they are in their target heart rate zones. In summary, the Curves routine is a circuit-training program that focuses on muscular endurance and aerobic exercise.

A GOOD START BUT………..

It is important to point out that every exercise program has benefits and inherent weaknesses. I commend the originator of the Curves program for the benefit that it introduces women who would not otherwise be exercising to a regular exercise routine. There are, however, many limitations to the exercise routine utilized by Curves.

Some of those limitations are lack of an individualized exercise routine (cookie-cutter approach), absence of a comprehensive fitness assessment, reliance on limited-value hydraulic exercise equipment, lack of progressive overload (for both resistance training routine and cardiovascular conditioning), lack of exercise variety which can lead to overuse injuries, lack of program design that is based on current research to deliver optimal results, lack of instruction on how exercisers should progress after reaching a plateau with the program, and finally a lack of qualified supervision by an exercise specialist which poses many problems in itself. The lack of qualified supervision can lead to problems such as not knowing when to refer out to the appropriate medical professional if problems arise, recognizing when an individual is over-training, or modifying an exercise routine to suit the individual’s current needs and training level.

Simply put, the Curves fitness program utilizes outdated exercise programming that predisposes the exerciser to an abundance of overuse injuries (bursitis, tendonitis, medial and lateral epicondylitis, etc.) and does not deliver optimal results in the safest manner possible. I work full-time at a Physical Therapy clinic and we have seen countless cases of women developing overuse injuries from the Curves program. It should be a big red flag but some people just are not making the connection that the nature of the program is what causes the problems. I hate to say it and I hope that you are not offended, but the Curves program is fairly limited.

Any competent fitness professional could design an individualized exercise program combining progressive resistance training, anaerobic intervals (when appropriate), aerobic exercise (for recovery purposes), flexibility training, and restoration/recovery methods that would deliver results that are far superior to the results delivered by following the Curves fitness program. An individualized exercise program that suits your specific exercise and health history, caters to your specific fitness goals (athletic or aesthetic), focuses on metabolism-boosting resistance training methods, and focuses on progressively overloading the system in an intelligent manner with a variety of different loading parameters and exercises will far surpass any “one-size fits all” exercise program as found in all Curves centers.

Any current Curves members would be wise to pay attention to nagging pains that are developing (any joint pain or soft-tissue pain that does not diminish in 48 hours). They should also pay attention to any plateaus that are reached in their weight loss or fitness results.

The human body is an amazing adapting machine and eventually the body will adapt to the stresses (exercise is a stress after all) that you are asking it to perform. If your body has adapted to a specific exercise routine and you continue to subject your body to that routine, you not only run the risk of developing overuse injuries but your fat-loss results will come to a screeching halt and you will see no further improvements by following that same program. Here-in lies the major weakness of the Curves program, it does not change!

There is a concept in exercise physiology known as Progressive Overload. Basically, it means that over time, you have to gradually and intelligently lift more weight, perform more repetitions, or change something about your workouts in a progressive manner in order to see results. Once your body has adapted to a given form of stress, it basically says, “Yeah. We have done this before quite a bit. This stress is nothing new and we don’t have to do anything differently and we don’t have to change.”

If you want to see your body change (i.e. lose fat, get lean) then you must expose your body to varying and progressive stress. I can’t stress this concept enough and any program that does not obey this law is doomed to fail! It has been said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

Understand that Curves is a great program for an absolute beginner but it is a vehicle that can only bring you so far!

WHAT DO I DO IF I AM A CURRENT CURVES MEMBER?

Curves has tapped into a huge market of women exercisers that find comfort in being surrounded by other people that are in the same situation as they are. In that regard, Curves is important because it gets more people active and involved with a structured exercise routine. The program that is followed is hardly ideal and is deficient in many aspects. I doubt that the franchise will alter the parameters of the exercise routine any time soon so the current Curves member might take some of the following advice into consideration.

1.Watch out for overuse injuries that might develop and seek the appropriate medical assistance if problems do arise.

2.Pay attention to your body and keep tabs upon your progress. It is always a good idea to check your body fat percentage, body weight, strength levels, girth measurements, energy levels, and track your progress. When your body has adapted to the routine provided by Curves, recognize when it is time to move on. Remember that it is a vehicle that will only take you so fat. Once you have adapted to the program you will simply be spinning your wheels!

3.It has been said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Curves is simply a gateway program. After its full value has been maximized, a member would be wise to seek the advice of a qualified fitness professional to determine an individualized plan of action that would lead to further results.

4.If this plan of action does not sound appealing, then the budding exerciser should begin a journey into the science and practice of shaping their body with the tools of progressive resistance training, cardiovascular exercise, and supportive nutritional practices. The resources are out there such as e-mail list serves like “Supertraining,” fitness books, fellow gym members (although not always the most accurate of sources), and fitness magazines.

5.The key is to find progress and escape the restrictions of the simplistic circuit training routine found in Curves. It can be an enjoyable process if approached in the appropriate manner. Have fun, keep progressing, and enjoy the adventure to discovering your best body!

I would be happy to assist you in any way that I can! Sincerely,

Kyle Battis CSCS, L/ATC, NSCA-CPT Professional Fitness Coaching www.profitnesscoaching.com, www.fatlosskeys.com Concord, NH 03301 (603)-867-4934

About the author: Kyle specializes in physique-transformation programs, athletic performance enhancement, and injury rehabilitation. Go to www.profitnesscoaching.com to sign up for the Professional Fitness Coaching Newsletter and recieve a great bonus for signing up!

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I've known probably a dozen women who have joined Curves. Of those, only ONE of them has lost a significant amount of weight - but I agree that any program that gets people who are otherwise completely sendentary to begin some form of excercise isn't necessarily bad. Two more of those dozen accquaintances say they FEEL better even if their "progress" is minimal.

I accepted a one week free coupon and found that the environment wasn't right for me for two reasons: First, the machines are not adjustable. That's a problem for me, since I'm over six feet tall. Some of the machines were okay, but some just didn't fit me. The bodyweight or motion based exersises weren't enough for me, either, since despite being overweight I am in fairly good physical health.

Second, the social environment didn't suit me. It really was full of middle aged women who wanted to gab. Nothing against soccer moms, but they weren't nice to me because I wasn't like them. They were as condescending and exclusive as any clique of highschool girls - and it made the experience a lot like going to a "regular" gym, where I won't be accepted either.

My mother also tried Curves for a week. She also despised the other women there (even though she'd "fit in" better than I would), and thought the excercises weren't adequate for all but the most out of shape. She took up the "10,000 Steps" program instead, and has done very well. It keeps her MOVING at least a little, all day.

I'd rather go to a gym that's more affordable and has equipment I can USE, since I'm going to be outside the social norm for either environment. I choose gymbunnies and jocks over gossipy housewives, but I'll reiterate that the program has at least a little merit in that it gets people to exercise who otherwise wouldn't.

I would recommend curves to anyone, it is a great workout, gets my heart rate up and after years of doing aerobics and not seeing any definition in my body this is the first time i am seeing some actual curves in my body. My arms are really my problem areas and curves has helped me get some shape in them. Its so easy, go around the circuit twice for a completion of 3o min, 5 min cool down and 5 min stretching and you ar done. I also do 30 min of walk away the pounds at home, i love curves but you need to give it at least 3 weeks to see results.Initially you may not lose lbs but you will lose inches for sure!!!!!the staff is friendly and if u dont want to talk noone forces u to, just exercise and you're outa there.

Whether you like it or not, Curves has brought an exercise opportunity to many small towns across the US. Everyone does not have the advantage of living in an area with a full blown health club.

Also, Curves and clubs like it have introduced many people to exercise and it's health benefits. Everyone is not interested in being a triathalon participant; they just want a doable exercise program that gives them some better body tone and energy.

Curves are everywhere, but does anyone know of any other women's fitness club other than Curves that are also good?

I think the idea behind Curves is awesome, but I think it really is geared toward sedentary, middle-aged women. I went for a while with my sister and mom. My mom was one of the "target" women and she indeed got quite a workout from the 30 minutes. My sister and I (neither of us are sedentary or overweight) got bored quickly, barely got a workout even though we were pumping the machines like mad, and got completely ignored by the other women because we weren't the typical "soccer moms with a lot of weight to lose". Give me a real workout any day. My mom, on the other hand, loves Curves. So I guess it really depends on your health level and personality.