Question:
Curves
I am three months out and ready to do start a little more organized form of exercise. Anyone have experience with the gym Curves? — Jeanne Aldrich (posted on April 28, 2008)
April 28, 2008
Don't waist your money on Curves. I work for a Physical Therapy office and
we have people coming in weekly due to back pain from Curves. Curves is not
a licensed facility for exercising. They hire people off the street and
call them trainers. The people they have working for them are not licensed
athletic trainers and don't know what they are doing and could hurt you
badly. I go to a regular fitness facility for my exercise and the licensed
trainer comes with the $19.99 monthly fee and helps me work on what areas I
want to work. I work out three days a week and I do upper body, adbomen and
lower body each time I go in plus I walk on nice days for 20-25 min at
lunch.
— Karen M.
April 28, 2008
I went to Curves and that is not really what you want to do. I went for
three years and the answer above me is correct, they just hire people off
the street that knows nothing but how to do the circuit. I would call
around and see what different fitness centers have to offer. I started
with low impact, water aerobics until my doctor told me I could do more and
then went to a fitness center that would help me, the right way. Good Luck
— dyates2948
April 28, 2008
Curves supports anti abortion legislation (its true, you can google it and
read all about it) so, if you are opposed to that you shouldnt give them
your money.
— SameButDifferent
April 28, 2008
I also went to Curves and got no real benefit from it, except that it did
give me an exercise routine. The money could easy buy you a gym
membership. Their anti-abortion stance (support for the life of the
unborn) might be a good reason to go if you ultimately decide Curves is
right for you.
— Kathy T.
April 28, 2008
I went to Curves before my surgery and got no real benefit from it. The
women that were there praised it but they were already skinny, the bigger
gals such as myself, just worked right along with them but not seeing the
same results. It was good for a 30 minute social connection with other
women but I wouldn't go back now. I get more results from my treadmill at
home.
— PAWLLA L.
April 28, 2008
I'm a curves member. And proud of it! We need more places, people (Gary
H. & establishments) like them. Curves can have up to 13 or 14
machines. Between the machines are step boards for walking on. The people
I know there do get benefits from Curves. So do I. My chiropractor told
me which machine to stay away from, so the curves I belong to has an extra
2 or 3 machines you can use. People know when you miss a day and when you
come back in, they say that they miss you. It is true that the women are
not certified trainers. I was never led to believe they were trainers.
They are there to make sure you are working the machines correctly. Some
Curves' have little incentives for when you've either made it so far on
your weight loss journey, how many times you make it in that week, etc. I
joined when it was 29.95 it has now gone up somewhat. But mine still
stayed the same. Some Curves are better than other Curves, it just depends
on who owns it. Cardinal may also be a good one to try. Right now, I
believe it is 29.99 a month. But both places I believe allows you to try
them out for at least a week to see if you like it. Not knowing where you
from, you may have a lot of other places to try. But exercising is great!
I've been doing it since my 3rd week post-op.
— jct001
April 28, 2008
I TOO, GO TO CURVES. I REALLY ENJOY THE TIME SPENT. I HAVE BEEN GOING FOR
2 1/2 MONTHS, IN THAT TIME LOST INCHES, AND TONING UP MY ARMS, BUTT, LEGS
AND MY LOVE HANDLES. AT CURVES YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SOME MEN JUST
LOOKING AT YOU, TRYING TO PICK YOU UP. AND THE LADIES THERE HAVE NEVER
SAID THEY ARE TRAINERS. GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR DECISION AND WITH YOUR WEIGHT
LOSS JOURNEY. VANESSA
— Vanessa Dates
April 28, 2008
well i went to curves and loved it! lost alot of inches but then butterfly
life came out and it's like curves but a few steps up...you actually have
weight machines that you can adjust...not just hydrolics and instead of
just a platform to move around on they have trampolines between machines!
plus they have every type of class there is...from pilates to step to
dancing, yoga even belly dancing! everything! i started there in aug
2007 and started at 230lbs and am now 143 lbs so if there is a butterfly
near you go for it!
— lizzie42
April 28, 2008
My Dr. told me to stay away from that place, its bad for your back and
knees. Well I didnt listen to him & I tried it anyway because my
sister talked me into it, well I really waisted that money. So go else
where. I am going to my local high school for now just walking around
their track, when my incisions heal I plan on joining the YMCA. That
place has so many things to do, and it opens at 5:30am to 10pm mon-fri. So
check it out. good luck
— moosey52
April 28, 2008
What's bad for your regime is to NOT exercise! Like anything else, Curves
may or may not be for YOU. If you are VERY self conscious, if you have had
difficulties just getting an exercise routine started, Curves is a great
alternative to the local/highly advirtised gym. First, few or no men.
Second, REAL people -- not just the sticks who make a living from working
out. Third, very friendly/welcoming atmosphere.
No, the women who work at Curves are not "trainers" they are
there to make sure that you can work the machines. Curves is generally set
in a smaller facillity than a gym, so that does mean few machines -- but if
you have a problem using one or two -- say because of your knees, then skip
it and move on. As you lose weight, some of those issues will resolve
themselves, allowing you to use more of the machinery.
And at worst, if you get yourself moving and DON'T like Curves as an option
for you, then go to another gym!
I have both a gym membership and a Cures membership. As a larger woman, at
Curves, I feel like I "fit" in, whereas I have to remind myself
that the people at the regular gym are to pre-occupied with themselves to
care about me (but they're still probably gawking, anyway!) Good Luck to
you
— zandeldm
April 28, 2008
I am 3 months out also and felt I needed something more than just my
treadmill. I went to Curves and Planet Fitness. My teenage daughter
wanted to go with me. Curves would have been over $30 a month for each of
us. With a 1 yr contract. Planet Fitness is $10 month with a $29 startup
no contract. They also have a $19.99 with no start up (Black card)
membership which is one year but you can bring a guest everytime and go
anywhere. They also have free tanning beds with the black card. They just
mailed me another deal yesterday I can add a family member for $10 month
and $10 start up. They also have a circuit program similar to Curves it is
separate from the rest of the gym off to the side. So far we love it. The
initial consults are 3 - one hour sessions to learn all the machines. Seems
to be a great place all kinds of different people attend. Good Luck!
— ToniLee
April 28, 2008
I was a member at Curves...I didnt feel like I got anything out of it...you
also have to sign a contract for a year and it comes straight out of your
checking account....dont waste your money....
— british88
April 28, 2008
I enjoyed curves, the atmosphere was great and the people were very
encouraging. Its great for beginning exercize, but its all about how much
you push yourself, no different from anywhere else. you get out of it what
you put into it. Good luck! and hey, its a start!!!
— renee K.
April 28, 2008
I joined Curves about 8 months (2002) before my RNY (2003). You have to do
the workout, watch what you eat (just like anyone or anywhere). Before
surgery, I lost over 60 pounds. Curves does train there workers (at least
the ones here in Mid-TN that I know of). The Curves I attend has sent
there workers to nutrition training. You can't sit at home and expect that
any exercise program is going to work. I have removed over 90 inches off
my body since joining Curves -- I am 55 years old and the inches wouldn't
have come off with just the gastric by-pass. I drink plenty of water and
work out 5-6 times a week. I am at my Curves early in the morning and I'm
not there for social time. Even if I feel tired before the workout, I am
totally refreshed afterwards. This is a Christian-based organization, I am
proud of that and their stance on anti-abortion!
— maggie1952
April 28, 2008
I joined Curves in October (3 months before my surgery) and love it! I
used to see a chiropractor 2X per month and since I have been going to
Curves I have had no more back/neck pain. I love it that I am done in 30
minutes and now with Curves Smart I really have to work hard and feel I am
getting a good workout. I think it would be beneficial for you to give it
a try. Everybody is different with what they are comfortable with.
— Kristis2ndchance
April 29, 2008
I have worked at Curves for a little over a year. Yes they hire peope off
the street, but we do get training. In my case I was a member for 8 months
before I started working there. It is a Christian based company, but not
all of them cram religion down your throat. The monthly fee where I work is
$37 a month if you go auto-pay. It's more if you pay month to month. Yes
you sign a one year contract. We charge $50 to get out of it before the
year is up. Like any gym, you get out of it what you put into it. If you
don't work the machinces hard then you won't see any results. So basically,
you get out of it what you put into it. A lot of the women like the fact
that there are no men at the club. There are women of all sizes that work
out. Some lose a lot of weight and inches and other don't seem to change.
Curves has just come out with a new system called CurveSmart. Your workout
is monitered on each machine, this lets you know if you are really pushing
it or just going through the motions. My club is scheduled to get the
system in a few weeks. I have never worked out in a "real" gym, I
have always been to self concious to go to one. So I have no idea what it's
like. I do go to the base pool and water walk for 90 minutes 3 thimes a
week.
I know all the regular ladies that work out during my shift and notice when
they don't come in. We try to make it a friendly place for women to come
to. I admit that I don't put my all into my work outs, if I did I wouldn't
be working my way through the pre-surgery maze. Sign up for a free week and
give it a try.
— Lisa B.
April 29, 2008
I was once a member of Curves, you just need to try it for yourself. Do
what you can and stay away from what hurts. But warning, for me it got too
repetitive and boring and I lost interest. So try it before you sign up.
— Pam_B_OR
April 29, 2008
I'd check out all your options in the area where you live. Go in and talk
to staff and ask what special offers they might have. I personally joined
a place just like curves and tried out curves on a 1 week free
membership...it's better than nothing, but is that what you want? Your
better off finding a gym with a personal trainer and starting a real
exercise routine. I checked out 5 different places before I setteled on
one and I live in a rural area where there isn't a lot of options. Good
luck to you.
— deebunny38
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