I promise, I did a search for this and found a thread from about a year ago, but I’d like to hear how those folks enjoy it still - or if they still go, and others who might have joined since then.
I’m considering joining Curves mainly because I don’t want to join a regular gym again, and because I need to lose about fifteen lbs for my wedding dress to fit (anyone know how embarrassing it is to go into the bridal store and realize that your dress won’t even zip up?). I’ve found that I do better at things that involve minimum effort - which is why Weight Watchers works well for me - I put full effort into it when I’m involved but it has to take the minimum effort to get me there. My mom likes Curves, but I also have more experience working out than she does.
Curves is right around the corner from me and my office, which is a huge plus - I’ll have no problem stopping by after work each day. I’ve heard really good things about it, and plan on stopping in one day this week to look into it. However, I know I can’t afford a major joining fee - I’ve seen horror stories of $150 to sign up, and there’s absolutely no way I can swing that. Has anyone actually paid the full sign-up fee? (And I know it varies from place to place - if it’s $89, I can probably do it).
I used to go but I got extremely bored after 2-3 months. I much prefer my gym where I get a new program every few weeks. It’s not a bad place to get started but it won’t be enough for the long term. Value wise, yeah $150 is a huge fucking rip-off and if you are on a budget I’d look elsewhere. Good luck!
One of my cow-orkers swears by Curves, she’s been doing it for a few months now and it seems to be successful. I can’t actually swear she’s losing weight, she’s not the type I could just ask, but she looks more fit, in any case.
I love it. I go five times a week now. It’s right up the street from my house, it’s inexpensive, everyone is very supportive, and I actually look forward to going every day. I just wish the hours were a little longer.
Mr. Jim, are you a female? I thought Curves was just for women. I know screen names can be deceiving, so I ask. There has been some controversy regarding Curves, http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2004/apr/04043005.html This may tempt you to join, or it may turn you off completely.
I considered joining a Curves, there are two locations near my house, but in the end I joined a gym for the other amenities like showers, pool, whirlpool, and most important factor to me - my gym is open 24/7/365. Curves hours, by comparison, were severely limited, and many aren’t open at all on weekends. That wouldn’t fit with my schedule, so I passed it by. I also considered the fact that I would get bored by doing the same workout every day.
Did they ever move the machines around for you so that you were doing it differently every couple of months? I’m wondering if they did that and you still got bored.
As far as the long term, it’s honestly a regular gym I can’t stick with in the long-term. Mainly because my injury makes it difficult - I can work out, but then I start hurting and I quit. I’m hoping Curves will provide just enough of a workout that I can start rebuilding the muscles in my leg without being in too much pain.
Maureen, did they automatically waive the fee for you, or did you have to ask? Honestly, I’ll pay a smaller $89 fee if necessary, but I think $150 is price-gouging, especially around here. We’re a small Ohio town - $150 is ridiculous.
Luckily, the hours are okay for me - my company allows for flex hours, so I can work earlier and leave earlier - I’m usually out of the office by 4:30 or so.
They moved the machines about once every 2 weeks but it’s still the same machines, same exercises, same music. It’s different for everyone I realize though, don’t let me scare you off if you can get a good deal. (:
Interesting article. I’m 100% pro-choice, so I may not agree with his beliefs, but I can’t exactly fault him for having them. I’ll withhold judgment on anything with that until there’s a bit more proof of his activities.
My fiance gets a free membership to the Y through work, but as far as I can tell, it wouldn’t apply to me, not even as a spouse. And I just have issues with regular gyms right now - I’m about to sue my last gym over a $100 cancellation fee which THEY said they’d waive (and I have the paperwork to prove it), yet they’re siccing collection agencies after me. I’ll doublecheck Curves, but from what I’ve seen, if you cancel and you’re on the annual program, you just have to pay $10 for each month you’ve come. That’s not a big deal for me.
They did waive it automatically, but I had to sign up for a year. I’m not sure if theyr’e still offering that. Also, if you go month to month, it’s $10 more, IIRC.
The machines are switched around occasionally to keep it from getting too boring, and that 30 minutes goes by a lot faster than I thought it would. Since it’s hydraulic machines as opposed to free weights, you end up with more toned muscles as opposed to bulk. I’ve lost about 20lbs and 3 1/2 inches so far.
Right now, the Curves in my area is offering a 2-for-1 deal-- where you and a friend join up and split the membership cost (which here is about $150). They also require a year commitment but it’s $30 a month; I reason the extra $30 from my checking account as a-dollar-a-day-to-a-thinner-me.
I’ve been going three months now and I really enjoy it. A friend and I go during our lunch break at work, five days a week. We’ve grown to become friends with many of the ladies who work out at the same time and it’s nice to have a group of people “suffering” the same way cheer at your “successes.”
I think Curves offers different promotions every two or three months. I joined for free when they did a food drive for the neighborhood soup kitchens; for the price of a bag of groceries, I was in. You might want to call your local one and ask what promotions they have coming up.
I disagree completely. This is not like disassociating the Ford Company from Henry Ford’s Nazi sympathies. Money paid to Curves goes into Gary Heavin’s pockets and then to anti-abortion causes.
Exactly. Although I no longer have a membership there, I was thinking about re-joining after I’ve had the baby. Not going to happen now. I even called my mom - she has cancelled her membership as well.
I had this discussion in my LJ yesterday. Yes, the man is allowed to give his money to whomever or whatever he chooses - but I have the right to not support his company because of it.
You can put it either way, particularly if you don’t want to feel responsible for supporting pro-life causes. But nevertheless, if you’re paying money to curves, that’s where some of it is going.
A lot of women in my neighborhood joined a year ago, and became obsessed with recruiting other people. They talked incessantly about how many “inches” they lost, though it was painfully clear that not one was losing any weight.
If you goal is to lose weight, 15 minutes of aerobic activity done in 5 minute intervals 3 days a week just is not going to cut it. You could go for a 30 minute moderate to fast walk and get a better aerobic work out. If your goal is to tone, follow the weight routines offered each month in various fitness magazines with 2-10 pound weights and you can save yourself a boatload of money.
Or, if you need the social outlet, for $40 a month you should be able to join a gym that will allow you unlimited visits as well as offer a variety of workouts and classes. That is certainly the route I’d recommend.
