What do you think of Curves?

[Anonymous]

I'm looking for an easy way to get back into exercise after five years of sloth. I hate running, I don't have the discipline to do videos at home, and there's a Curves right near our house. Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Curves might be just the fit for you.

You could go in and see if they will give you a free trial for one day. So you could test it out.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone tried one of these places?

[Anonymous]

I did it for a month, going 3+ times a week. It was great and novel for the first couple of weeks. Then I found it rather boring and not an intense enough workout. Plus the music is terrible! The one I went to in Bethesda used poorly remade tracks of somewhat popular songs. It was like putting on Musac for a dance party - just didn't cut it. And you can't really use your ipod because you have to hear the signal to switch machines. It was def geared to a much older crowd - 50's, 60's and older - or to people who are very very overweight and are not at all familiar with exercise and really need an easy to learn program. I'm almost 34 and I felt like it was a seniors' program. Plus a lot of people use it to socialize for the 30 minutes that they are there. The conversations can be very distracting and avoiding small talk if you want to work out hard makes you feel rude in such close quarters. I quit and moved on to pilates class and jogging.
For you, I would def do a trial without signing up so you can be sure about it longterm. But google "couch to 5K" and look into some classes. You might find them more rewarding than Curves.

[Anonymous]

My 30something neighbor LOVES Curves. I will most likely sign-up in Jan.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the feedback--very helpful!

[Anonymous]

Doesn't Curves support the pro-life movement?

[Anonymous]

My MIL does Curves...I picked her up from there once and there were a ton of older women there - sorta the crowd you see shopping at Talbots.

I think it appeals to the older crowd b/c it's a more relaxed setting. Unlike gyms with hardcore people and intimidating weights, Curves has a slower pace with lame hand weights.

...but this is just from a quick subjective personal observation. Maybe there is more to it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Doesn't Curves support the pro-life movement?

Individual Curves clubs are franchises.

I really like it. I'm on the young side there, yes, but I have no problem with that. It's repetitive, yes, because it's circuit training. If you use Curves Smart, the system guides you toward using more strength and doing more reps over time. I get a great workout and I like the data you get at the end of each workout. I can get in and get out in less than 45 minutes and burn 300 or more calories while I'm there. It works well for me.

[Anonymous]

from Snopes -
http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/curves.asp

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:from Snopes -
http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/curves.asp

And as the last sentence says, while the founder of Curves is a patron of pro-life causes, it "would not be right to point to Curves as a supporter of those same causes." The owner of the Curves I go to is a pro-choice lefty, if her bumper stickers are any indication, but she owns several Curves franchises in the area.

[Anonymous]

I've never been to Curves but my mother (mid-50's) really likes it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've never been to Curves but my mother (mid-50's) really likes it.

Agreed. I associate it with lame workouts for older moms - like my MIL who goes there.