CURVES - yay, or nay?

[MissJanet79]

Okay, this friend of mine wanted some tips on workin' out etc., & I invited her to come workout w/ me for a lil' while. But she said she's going to Curves now & loves it. (I was like, well if you liked it so much then why are you asking me for tips?)... but besides the point. She says she works out 30 mins per day - which "includes" cardio. What do you ladies think about it?

 

[Daisy_Girl]

I think for the VERY unconditioned, it is good. But if you go consistently, you will "outgrow" it VERY quickly. Curves is quick, not intimidating, uncomplicated, simple. There is no thought process involved, no guessing on what to do. This is nice for the newbies who are overweigt and intimidated by a traditional gym. Many of these women are older, never worked out, and are overweight. No matter WHAT they do, they will lose weight once they become active! lol

I had a girlfriend, who is in her early 30s, who wanted to lose about 10lbs and "get toned" (blech). She started going to Curves, went for 2 weeks. Dropped that and joined Gold's. She quickly realized that she was not going to reach her goals THERE.

But if she likes it, then good! She might outgrow it, she might not. Just let her know that if she ever wants a change of pace and come workout with you, then she can.

 

[MissJanet79]

Thanx for the response Daisy... That's what I thought about it... I mean it seems too simple. She lost like 60 lbs about a year ago... but she joined Curves about 4 months ago. Seems as though she makes it so complicated for herself that she relies on Curves to do it for her in "30 mins". She noticed inches lost etc but I told her that's from the strength training she had been doing b/c she never did it before. I guess once she gets over it, then she can join me for a good workout! What's funny is that she tried to get me to join & I was like, uhhh NO way! She didn't want to understand why I thought it wasn't challenging enough for me.

I think for the VERY unconditioned, it is good. But if you go consistently, you will "outgrow" it VERY quickly. Curves is quick, not intimidating, uncomplicated, simple. There is no thought process involved, no guessing on what to do. This is nice for the newbies who are overweigt and intimidated by a traditional gym. Many of these women are older, never worked out, and are overweight. No matter WHAT they do, they will lose weight once they become active! lol

I had a girlfriend, who is in her early 30s, who wanted to lose about 10lbs and "get toned" (blech). She started going to Curves, went for 2 weeks. Dropped that and joined Gold's. She quickly realized that she was not going to reach her goals THERE.

But if she likes it, then good! She might outgrow it, she might not. Just let her know that if she ever wants a change of pace and come workout with you, then she can.

 

[Daisy_Girl]

What's funny is that she tried to get me to join & I was like, uhhh NO way! She didn't want to understand why I thought it wasn't challenging enough for me.

lol lol lol lol lol

 

[gypsy]

Curves is for lazy people who are just jumping on a bandwagon. They think WOW, only 30 minutes? And I don't break a sweat? Cool, I'll try that!

 

[FigureSkater]

My roommate goes to Curves (as well as a weight loss center!!...as much as I've tried to convince her NOT to go to either!!!) and so far she's doing good...lost about 20 lbs in two and a half months or so, went from about a size 20 pants to 14-16. She can't do a ton of cardio because she's had two knee surgeries and has a really painful bone spur, and even walking is hard.

I really do not like some of the stuff the weight loss center tells her to eat. For example, she only eats 3x/day and they just reduced her daily caloric inake--get this--and told her to EAT LESS GREEN VEGETABLES!!! That bothers me, because that's one thing you can get away with not limiting. She also eats these MRP bars or shakes twice a day, so she only really eats one or two real meals.

As far as Curves, I guess it's all machine-based. No free weights. They don't lift heavy AT ALL, I guess they tell them they don't have to! Some of the Curves stuff is ok for her due to her concerns about her knees and her feet, but she should also try the bike or swimming. And I try telling her that if she builds up some muscle in her upper body, she won't look as pear-shaped (like I said, she's about a 14-16 pants, but she could easily be a 10 or 12 up top). But she's not lifting heavy enough to do that.

I guess to each her own. But some of the stuff these places tell you is just backwards. My roommate told me to join Curves with her. I told her NO WAY...I'm trying to LOSE some of my body's curves...a place called Curves is the last place I'd need to go to do that!

 

[MissJanet79]

Yeah I know what you mean... I guess it's ok for people who don't want to commit to something... but in the end, they'll get it. My poor friend told me she had eggs this morning for breakfast (breakfast sandwich she made) but get this, it was ONE egg white... that's it! I was like how 'bout 4 whites & one yolk?! She wasn't having it...said it was "too much". This coming from the person who had/has a huge appetite.

 

[MissJanet79]

I told her NO WAY...I'm trying to LOSE some of my body's curves...a place called Curves is the last place I'd need to go to do that!

By the way... real curves are nice if they're "managed" the right way...
http://www.bet.com/images/flipbook/large/sm_melyssalarge2.jpg
http://www.bet.com/images/flipbook/large/sm_sb2004_melissa_ford_01.jpg

 

[MissJanet79]

I told her NO WAY...I'm trying to LOSE some of my body's curves...a place called Curves is the last place I'd need to go to do that!

By the way... real curves are nice if they're "managed" the right way...
http://www.bet.com/images/flipbook/large/sm_melyssalarge2.jpg
http://www.bet.com/images/flipbook/large/sm_sb2004_melissa_ford_01.jpg
Vida

 

[jenscats5]

Curves has to be a great place cuz if women lift heavy they'll end up looking like a man or will be bulky, Right? Right?

Oh wait......

What Daisy said.....LOL