Got some curves questions????

[ErinC]

Okay, last Jan. (18 months ago) I started weight watchers. DH even came on board with me in about April. I just did it online because I am a SAHM with 3 kids and I have no time for meetings. DH just learned from me. By Sept. I had lost 42 lbs , DH lost 55-60. DH exercised like a maniac, I didn't exercise at all. At the end of Sept. we went on the Disney cruise (read death to all diets) and never recovered after we got home. Slowly, I have put back on 30 lbs.:holymoly: Dh has gained at least 40 back (I didn't actually ask, just guessing) So I have decided that I have to get back on the band wagon, and quit making excuses, and waiting for certain occasions to pass before getting started again. I'm going to set myself a weightloss goal for our Jan. trip to the world. I've decided that I've got to start exercising. At the end of my stint with dieting before the cruise I had kind of plateued with my weight and wasn't loosing much more since I wasn't exercising. I've decided I'm going to give Curves a shot since it is very close to my house, and DD3 will be going to preschool 3 days a week this fall (actually the 3rd week of August). The 30 minute time frame sounds good to me since I am so completely unmotivated to exercise. I think I'm going to just go back to the WW diet plan (I'm still paying the $16.95 a month, I really should be using it!). Any one have experience with the curves diet? Just wondering if it is similiar to WW at all. What about the protein shake the RWE was talking about? Would love to hear your experiences with curves.

[PoohsPal]

Erin -

Curves is a great way to get back into exercise again! Their diet is a version of low carb, similar to South Beach. I've never done the 6-week challenge that they have tost art it off, but I did read a quick and dirty book version adn followed that. It worked pretty well. The shake is part of it. I use it to supplement my breakfast when I'm running and to get extra protein. WIsh I had more details for you.

Curves tends to be a great friendly, encouraging place, though!

[mickeyndvcfan]

I wasn't one for sticking to an exercise program until I started at Curves. It has been great for me although I haven't lost to much weight. I have lost a total of at least twelve inches. I only go 3 times a week but I do stay for about an hour now but everyone just does as long as they can. I can't help with anything about the diet programs I didn't do that yet. It really is a great place to go.

[RweTHEREyet]

Erin, I can tell you that I think Curves is great. I am not a runner and am not interested in going to the gym with all the hard bodies and so forth. I love that the program is 30 minutes and I can pick the days I go, usually Mon, Wed and Fri. I went faithfully from March thru the end of May and lost about 7 inches, not a lot of pounds, but I went down 3 dress sizes and found muscles, particularly in my thighs, that I never knew I had. From June until now I have been on and off again about going to Curves, and have been feeling guilty. Went to WDW, had some family things going on, dog had a stroke and lots of things that made a great excuse not to go. I started being able to tell that I wasn't going to Curves and as a result, went back tonight and plan to get back in the routine I was in.

Curves program works, even if you don't change eating habits, if you are faithful in going to Curves, you will lose inches. A co-worker works part-time at Curves and she had told me that before I decided to join, and she was right.

As far as their protein shake, I really like it. I bought the chocolate, and I fix it in my smoothie machine with low-fat yogurt and half a frozen banana, for thickness. It is delicious and filling. That being said, we have started buying whey protein from GNC. It cost a lot less on sale and tastes just as good to me. It does not have all the added vitamins that the Curves shake does, but I take a multi-vitamin in addition to the shake, so I am not woried about that.

One of my initial deciding factors was that my Curves is very close to my house also, easy to get to and it is harded to make excuses to not go.

If you stop in at your Curves, and ask some questions, like I did, they would probably give you a week pass to go for free to try it out. When I first walked in and saw the equipment, I didn't see how that workout would make any difference, especially only 30 seconds on each piece of equipment, but twice around the circuit and I ama little winded. Some ladies do 3 and 4 times around, but I am content with what the routine is supposed to be.

Check and see how many pieces of equipment your Curves has. Some only have 10-12, mine has 13, and I understand some have more than that.

Hope this helped and good luck with your decision, Erin.

[ErinC]

Thanks so much for your replies! I'm really kinda getting excited about trying it out! I saw on the curves website that you can get a free 2 week membership with a UPC code from klondike slim a bear bars. I figure I'll run out tomorrow and buy a box. I'll probably wait a couple of weeks before I go. Our curves closes at 7:00 pm. I'm really hard pressed to get DH home before 6:30 these days. If I wait a couple of weeks, the kids will be back in school and I can start on the right foot, making sure I get my three times a week in.

[Rozzie]

Thanks so much for your replies! I'm really kinda getting excited about trying it out! I saw on the curves website that you can get a free 2 week membership with a UPC code from klondike slim a bear bars. I figure I'll run out tomorrow and buy a box. I'll probably wait a couple of weeks before I go. Our curves closes at 7:00 pm. I'm really hard pressed to get DH home before 6:30 these days. If I wait a couple of weeks, the kids will be back in school and I can start on the right foot, making sure I get my three times a week in.

Erin, is this the one in Daphne you are going too?? :tilt: I was thinking about joining....

[withdisneyspirit]

Wow, rozzie, you are getting motivated today! Way to go! :thumbsup:

[KNWVIKING]

I don't know much about Curves other than they have iron clad contracts and will pursue you to the grave for non payment, regardless if you are using the facilities or not.

Don't be intimidated by "gyms" or hardbodies. Nobody cares who is working out next to them.

Start using free weights rather than machines. Machines control the motion so you only work a portion of the muscles in the group you are concentrating on.For instance, a machine that simulates benchpress only requires your muscles to push a bar up in a controlled,straight up motion. When doing benchpress with free weights, you have to control the motion, use the smaller muscles to prevent the weight from falling over your head, onto your belly or side to side.

Pick two contrasting muscle groups to work on each day. Don't do chest & tri's the same day, as tri's burn out from a chest routine.

Do four exercises per muscle group, 3-4 sets of diminishing reps - no more than 15 reps - going to failure on the last set. If failure on the last set requires more than 8 reps, next time you do that muscle group, increase the weight.

Don't eat at least a half before the workout, digestion of a meal increases blood flow to the intestinal areas, you need that blood flow for your muscle pump. Waiting an hour is ideal.

Take an amino acid supplement within a half hour after the workout. Your muscles need certain proteins that your body cannot synthsize to repair the muscles you tore up going to failure.

Don't worry about weight loss.It's unimportant if you are building muscle. You probably see a weight loss early, but eventually you may see a weight gain because you are building muscle. Your appetite will also increase but don't be afraid to eat quality food in large amounts before 6 pm. Remember: After 6, it Sticks.

A body building / power lifting hybrid workout burns an incredible amount of calories.

Last piece of advise. Only get on a scale once a month, after you wake up.

[withdisneyspirit]

Viking, are you feeling okay?! :jawdroppi ;)

[KNWVIKING]

Viking, are you feeling okay?! :jawdroppi ;)

Always.

[Stimpy]

Viking, I had the opposite experience with the contract. When my year was up, it was up. I didn't have to renew, they didn't automatically renew me on my credit card. Maybe it was just the location I went to, since they are individually owned? They even gave me a few months free b/c of medical problems I was having and couldn't attend. (Which is why I didn't renew :( ) They also offered to cancel contracts anytime with a prorated fee....something along the lines of if you cancel the first 2 months, you pay an $80 fee, cancel in 10th month it was $20 (I'm sure those aren't the correct figures LOL)

But I do agree with you on the other stuff about excercise and strength training. I wish Ihad the time and motivation to do it now :(

I liked the program but took it for what it is....it's not really for weight loss, more for better health. I wish we had one closer, the one I went to was too far away and I couldn't get a babysitter 3 times a week for DD.

[ErinC]

I didn't realize that this post was revived. Just thought I'd give an update. I started curves about three weeks ago. It's going pretty well. I wish that their hours were a little better, but I'm still managing to get my three times a week in.

I did find it a little odd that my curves only has 8 machines. I noticed that RWE said 10-13 at her place. I might have to do a little research about that. I did sign up to do the year, sorta had to.

Rozzie- I'm doing the curves in Fairhope. Just so much closer to my house..

[SummerAnn]

I started with a free two-week membership when I ordered something from Avon. Still going after six months. I do recommend going three times a week. If I have something to do one day, I alternate between Monday-Wednesday-Friday or Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday. I know people who go every day. I think that would burn me out, so I just make sure I do the three days.

I don't really care how many pounds or inches I have lost. I just know that I truly feel better and I'm wearing smaller-size clothes.

I think the number of machines at each Curves can vary--depends on the size of the room and the amount of money the owner is willing to invest.

[ErinC]

SummerAnn- I'm pretty sure that the reason we only have 8 machines is that it would be really difficult to fit more in the space our curves has. I'm just curious how many other types of machines are out there that we don't have.

[KNWVIKING]

"Curves for Women" is the largest chain of franchised fitness centers in the world with over 8000 locations. They are small facilities with hydraulic resistance machines that are arrayed in a circuit where you move from machine to machine on a time interval. There are 8-12 pieces of equipment in the circuit that target specific body parts."