Hello All,

I just joined today.

I have been doing the Curves Diet and Exercise since the beginning of July this year - but had to pause the exercise for a couple of months, due to illness.

Now I am back to where I can exercise regularly, and I was wondering if anyone here have experiences with Curves, good or bad and how Curves compares to Atkins.

"You dont love a woman because she is beautiful, she is beautiful because you love her."

There's a thread called the Curves Bunch that discusses just this topic. I didn't do the Curves Diet, but I did do the Curves Excerise (I would say do currently, except have not darkened the doors in ssveral weeks as work is nutty and I am working late hours - My Curves does not open before 6:00AM so I am relying on home treadmill and pilates DVD). I also do Atkins. Lemme tell ya, I have been VERY pleased. When I first joined Curves (May of this year) I was a round 160 - I have since lost 31 pounds, and Curves was a HUGE factor in that. I did have to be careful during the induction phase of Atkins, otherwise would get very wonky - many folks find exercise during induction an immpossibility. I plan to get back to Curves as soon as things shake loose here at work. I love it.

Jen
175/129/120

Been thinking about joining the Curves in our community. I am very overweight, get winded easily and have developed arthritis in my knees and ankles. All I have been doing recently is walking at the mall two or three days a week. Sometimes just that takes a day or two to recover from!

Do you think that I could use the program at Curves on a regular basis or would it be too strenuous? My thoughts were to wait until I had taken off the first 50 lbs before taking this on too.

I am 5'10", 49 yrs old and, except for the walks, quite sedentary now. Any suggestions that you have about Curves or exercise in general would be appreciated.

MsCellany
363/347/185

Hi,
I have been doing curves for nearly a month now and am very happy with it. I haven't had my monthly weigh in yet <friday>, but can already feel the difference in my body. I have asthma, lower back problems and floating knee caps. I have always had problems with exercise, besides water arobics. However, curves has been pretty easy for me to do. The staff is wonderful and supportive. They are actually out in the circuit with you. It isn't a overly strenuous workout. Only on each machine 30 seconds. I have seen all sizes and ages of women working out with no problems. There is one woman in her 80's that put some women in the 30's to shame. Best advice I have. Make an appointmeent, go talk to them, try the machines, ask questions and know you are worth ever ounce of effort and ever sacrific =).Best of luck.

Christine

253<lost 50lbs first time>/233/226/130

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by MsCellany:
I am very overweight, get winded easily and have developed arthritis in my knees and ankles. ... Do you think that I could use the program at Curves on a regular basis or would it be too strenuous? My thoughts were to wait until I had taken off the first 50 lbs before taking this on too. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

When I started Curves about five weeks ago, I weighed about 15 lbs. more than you do now and I haven't had any problems doing the program. this is becuase you set your own aerobic pace. Some women jog. I march in place. Other women just swing their arms and don't move their legs much. It's all up to you - what you feel comfortable doing.

There are women at Curves who are larger than I am - women whose stomachs hang down to their knees - and they seem to have no problems keeping up either.

Curves has been great for me, because I get bored easily by exercise. It goes SO fast - you're in and out in 40 minutes tops - and who can't make the time to keep that appointment with themselves?

Curves is running a special right now - half price to join and no payments for the rest of the month. I encourage you to go check it out!

Mscellany: I encourage you to make the appointment at Curves and give it a try! When I started at Curves, I had terrible pain in my hips and back that my doctors throught was the start of osteoarthritis. It got so bad it was keeping me awake at night. Guess what? Gone! I think much of my knee and hip problems were related to my weight and my sedentary lifestyle. Even losing 15 ounds initially, and I could tell a difference in my joints, etc. Another thing - my aunt has rheumatoid arthritis and she says if she doesn't exercise (the woman is a MACHINE) her flreups are more frequent and more debilitating.

So, give it a shot! YOu really have nothingt o lose!

Jen
175/129/120

Mscellany,

GO FOR IT!!!! I just joined on the 1/2 price sign up special and no payments until January too. I LOVE it and think about going EVERYDAY. Of course it's only 5 mins from my house as opposed to the BIG GYM I used to belong to that took me a half hour to get to. It's as easy as you want to make it. The machines don't have weights, they are hydraulic, so the more stress you put on the hydraulic apparatus, the harder resistance there is. If you do it nice and easy, it won't be that hard. As you lose weight, more strenuousness will get easier for you. And keep doing the low carb along with the exercise, you'll be melting the fat awat before you know it. I have been doing LC for 8 months and am almost at goal. It will take someone your size longer, but just think how fast even 6 months flies by.

I am trying to talk my mom into joining curves in ST. Louis. She's afraid she'll be the only OLD lady there. What's it matter??? We are all women, we are all there for the same reason, and we all want to see each other succeed. I am even thinking about getting a support group started there. I think it would be so cool.

Just do it............you'll be glad you did!!!!!



Barb
Atkins-3/14/03
174/146/135 5'2"
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."

Barb - you're Mom will most certainly NOT be the only "old lady" there. That is something I love about Curves - they are really making it accessible to older women who traditionally have not done any weight training - and they are the gtroup that needs it the most, as weight bearing exercise if the number one deterrent for osteoporosis. The other things I like about Curves: no men there and no fanny floss!

Jen
175/129/120

Hey - We have a Curves out here in Katy - I haven't looked into it b/c I signed up for 24 hour fitness and HATED going.. between the size 2 girls and my own self consciousness - it was such a trial that I just stopped going... took me MONTHS to stop paying though... ;-) self induced pennance. ;-)

Can anyone give me an idea of the cost per month? That's a huge factor for me, because my hsuband and I are getting ready to buy a house!!! WOOHOO!!!

Cajun

Cajun:
My Curves, here in MA is $29 a month, but I had to commit to a one year memebership. This was not tough considering that my monthly fee for my old gym (full service, crowded and way to many pushy size 2's in their thongs) was $78 (gasp, what was I thinking?). I also did not pay an initiation fee - I have never wnd will never pay such a fee. Usually, you can strong arm the gym into not charging you the fee. I think, and chime in the rest of you, that it's $35/month if you don't want to commit to the full year.

Jen
175/129/120

Ladies,
WOW Thank you so much for all your encouragement about joining Curves. The idea of a gym without sweat or stink on the equipment and the brawny men is just as appealing as one without size 2 20 yr olds in their thongs! I am intimidated by both. :-) You are right that being able to make 40 min. for myself each day should be easy. Any kind of pain relief would be wonderful. It would be nice to have some kind of exercise every single day, combining walking and Curves might just do it! I had not heard about the special so I will check that out as well.

Mscellany

P.S. I just found out that my neighbor down the street who appears to have lost 75-80 lbs and is now out doing all her own yard work every day (used to hire it out) lost it by going to Curves!

Mscellany....Curves is great! Although I wish mine here in West Palm Beach had the same price as some of the others on this post! With tax, it's $41.64 a month if you commit to one year. It's kinda painless though because it's automatically taken out of your checking account and you really don't even miss it. I am 5'10 and was 227 when I started 2 months ago, and am now (according to their scale) down to 221...mine says 217! I've also lost 4 inches in the month I've been doing Atkins! (got measured today). Another good thing...my doc told me to lose weight because of knee problems...with just that small amount of weight gone they don't hurt anymore!
Besides...even if you lost nothing, it's still good to exercise...can't hurt your heart one bit! I am the worst exerciser you've ever met, and I haven't missed going to Curves 3 times a week since I started September 16! Give em a try!

227.5/217.5 helloooooo 150!
Gertie

Mine is having the half price sign up fee this month thru the end of Dec.- $75. Then I signed up for the $29.00 Direct from checking. (I just have to remember to subtract it everymonth)

I like the fact that there are no sweaty guys there either, man they sweat a lot.

LOL at the size 2's in butt floss. Boy can I relate to that. I've seen a lot of heavier women at my Curves in just the week I have been going so far. So I don't feel so intimidated now. I LOVE it!!!! Can't wait to go tomorrow. Go check it out!!!! You can start slow in the beginning too. They support low-carb which is another plus!!!!!



Barb
Atkins-3/14/03
174/146/135 5'2"
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."

My Curves in the greater Chicago land area, has a sign up saying FREE THE REST OF THE YEAR.

And thank you all for your comments.

Kay
Curves since 7/8/03
244/228/150?140?
"You dont love a woman because she is beautiful, she is beautiful because you love her."

KAY!!!! WHERE???????? Me too, me too!!! I go to the one in West Chicago.


Barb
Atkins-3/14/03
174/146/135 5'2"
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."