Curves

I'm not sure if they even have these outside the US, but has anyone tried Curves? It looks interesting and I have a free session this weekend but would like to hear any other opinions on it.

A friend of mine owns two franchises of Curves and has done really well... two other friends have been long-time members; one has been enormously successful with it (I mean, she was BIG and is now gorgeous and curvaceous) and said it gave her the motivation and environment she needed, while the other... well, just like any gym membership... stopped going.

I was supposed to go to Curves a couple weeks ago for a free session but never made it there.   

I really need to go but I don't like the hours.   The last entry on a weeknight is 7:00 pm.  They are only open from 7:00-11:00 am on Saturday and they are closed on Sunday.   Those hours just don't fit my schedule. 

I like the 30 minute circuit idea. And there is one about a mile from my house, the hours fit my schedule fine as they open at 6am three days a week, have Saturday hours and since DH picks up DD two days a week from school I could go those days after work if need be.  I belonged to a full facilities gym and went about three times for the six months I paid for. 

This one has a deal going on of a $75 fee to join that I thought was a little high, but they give you the rest of the year free so there would be no monthly fees til January, and then it is $29 per month, way less than I paid at the gym I didn't attend. Plus I don't have to sign a contract, it is month to month.

I'm kind of skeptical about it but if I can get any results it's worth a try. I'll keep everyone posted.

A friend of mine owns two franchises of Curves and has done really well... two other friends have been long-time members; one has been enormously successful with it (I mean, she was BIG and is now gorgeous and curvaceous) and said it gave her the motivation and environment she needed, while the other... well, just like any gym membership... stopped going.

Do you mind me asking her weight loss and how long it took? I'm not looking for overnight transformation, just gradual weight loss to keep it off.

I used to go. I went for over a year! It's very fun to go and make friends with the ladies. Its easier to work out there then at a meat market gym but...at the same time you don't get as good as a workout as you would at the gym. All in all it's fun

The most I lost was 7lbs...the lady told me that for some people it doesn't work as a way to lose weight...

I've been going to the Curves here in South Woodham for about 2 months now (just had my 2 month measurements on Monday) and I love it.  I've referred a few friends to it as well and every week I seem to see new faces there.  I've been overweight for years and really didn't do much exercise at all.  Gyms always intimidated me... mostly because of my size and self-consciousness.  Who wants to workout next to stick figures when you're overweight??  But this is sooooo different than a typical gym.  First off, it's just for women, so there's very little to feel self conscious about... and there are women there of all ages, shapes, and sizes.  No fancy shmancy workout gear... I usually just wear a simple pair of tracksuit bottoms and a t-shirt. 

I go 3 times a week (which is what they recommend) and the full workout takes 30 minutes plus about 5 minutes of stretching at the end.  After 2 months I've lost 9.5 inches, 11lbs, and 2% body fat.  My clothes are falling off me and everyone is commenting that I've lost weight.  It's a great feeling... and I can't believe how easy it's been.  The whole atmosphere is one of motivation and making you feel good.  I just can't say enough about it

I'm sure it doesn't work for everyone... but so far all the people I have gotten to know there really enjoy it. 

Do you mind me asking her weight loss and how long it took? I'm not looking for overnight transformation, just gradual weight loss to keep it off.

Not at all; but I'm afraid I don't really know all the details either (she's back in CA; we email occassionally), but I do know it took at least a year and a half to get where she wanted to be, along with a lot of hard work.  My guess is she lost at least 100 pounds and probably a bit more.  She's curvy Mexican hourglass figure, so she's never been petite and didn't aim for that.

Not at all; but I'm afraid I don't really know all the details either (she's back in CA; we email occassionally), but I do know it took at least a year and a half to get where she wanted to be, along with a lot of hard work.  My guess is she lost at least 100 pounds and probably a bit more.  She's curvy Mexican hourglass figure, so she's never been petite and didn't aim for that.

I am shaped the same way, even at my most active point in high school I still had that kind of hourglass curvy frame. That is very impressive of your friend, that is a huge weight loss, Kudos to her. I'm looking to lose 60 lbs and I'm thinking it could take a year to lose it.

I've been going to the Curves here in South Woodham for about 2 months now (just had my 2 month measurements on Monday) and I love it.  I've referred a few friends to it as well and every week I seem to see new faces there.  I've been overweight for years and really didn't do much exercise at all.  Gyms always intimidated me... mostly because of my size and self-consciousness.  Who wants to workout next to stick figures when you're overweight??  But this is sooooo different than a typical gym.  First off, it's just for women, so there's very little to feel self conscious about... and there are women there of all ages, shapes, and sizes.  No fancy shmancy workout gear... I usually just wear a simple pair of tracksuit bottoms and a t-shirt. 

I go 3 times a week (which is what they recommend) and the full workout takes 30 minutes plus about 5 minutes of stretching at the end.  After 2 months I've lost 9.5 inches, 11lbs, and 2% body fat.  My clothes are falling off me and everyone is commenting that I've lost weight.  It's a great feeling... and I can't believe how easy it's been.  The whole atmosphere is one of motivation and making you feel good.  I just can't say enough about it

I'm sure it doesn't work for everyone... but so far all the people I have gotten to know there really enjoy it. 

Congratulations on the results so far! Sounds like it is working out great for you. I'm hoping I will see some results but we'll see.

The atmosphere at your location sounds exactly what I'm looking for, I hope the one I visit this Saturday compares. I did join a women's gym once but the trainer was a bit$% and the equipment was always taken up by Barbie-types (which I'm not knocking but if you are 50 lbs overweight you don't want to see that beside you). 

I did join a women's gym once but the trainer was a bit$% and the equipment was always taken up by Barbie-types (which I'm not knocking but if you are 50 lbs overweight you don't want to see that beside you). 

I know exactly what you mean!  Well I hope that the location you are checking out has a similar atmosphere to the club I go to.  The staff attitude definitely has a lot to do with it, but if it's anything like my club, not every staff member is there every day.  So if you are unlucky enough to have 1 or 2 staff members you don't really like, there are always 3 or 4 others and you can usually avoid the days when the not so good ones are there. 

But at least you won't have to worry about the equipment being taken up by barbie types as you say.  Everyone does the circuit at Curves... 30 seconds per machine, so no one hogs anything.     So far, I have yet to see a "barbie-type" at my club.  I think those types usually hang out at coed gyms where they are more concerned about being seen than actually working out. 

Good luck to ya