Curves Fitness Center? (women only)

[Maine-ah]

so, anybody been there? if so whats it like? Does it work and is it affordable? I'm trying to drop about 20 for a wedding this summer, and just for overall health. All of the other fitness centers in my area charge over $1000 per year (ouch!). Curves won't give out info without me coming in to talk to them. :shrug:

[redqueen]

1. They donate to the GOP.

That's all I need to know.

I work out at home, anyways.

[CO Liberal]

2. They're Run By Fundies

They cater to stay-at-home moms. No evening hours in most locations. And they're closed on Sundays.

[redqueen]

4. Is that right?

Doesn't surprise me a bit.

[Maine-ah]

3. I wish I had the space

I also have no sidewalks, and the road is a little dangerous to walk on, lots of hills and curves.

[redqueen]

5. I just push the coffeetable up on it's end and use the living room.

Have you tried pilates? I love it.

[jackster]

6. I've heard from a friend who goes there

that it's a GOP haven - but she likes the program and goes anyway and she's a socialist!

[curse10]

7. They donate to radical right wing pro-lifers

that's all I know

[LSparkle]

8. I do walking in place with leg and arm weights

Doesn't take much room -- there's a tape by Leslie Sansone that's on an infomercial that (believe it or not) has worked for me.

[WestHoustonDem]

9. The only problem with it is that the founder is a big supporter

of right-wing issues. I didn't find this out until I had been going a few months and was locked into a one year contract with automatic deductions from my credit card.

That said, I really like it. Several of the people that work at my local Curves are progressives. Some are better than others. It really depends on the owner. You can make as much as you want from it - the nice thing is that everyone really is supportive and non-judgmental. If you decide to try it, you can pay for just the first month and not sign up for the reduced rate automatic payments until you're sure you like it.

[rawtribe]

10. See this thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=113&topic_id=8778

[Maine-ah]

11. reply to all

thanks for the info, unfortunately boycotting in my town I wouldn't be able to shop pretty much anywhere. Hannaford, Shaws, Home Depot, all the big guys have taken over, and all the small fitness centers charge outragous prices. There is a Y but it's too far away (jeez I'm such a whiner today LOL). So, pilates? I'll have to start googling some of the info. About how much does curves run? $$$

[LynzM]

18. Pilates is cool

You can get a DVD/tape for about $10 and a mat for about $15, and that's all you need. I'd recommend the beginning mat workout by Ana Caban, she is fun and funny, and it's more interesting than your average workout-video.

Good luck!

[blondeatlast]

20. I LOVE Pilates. Get the "Pilates for Dummies" DVD and book.

Very thorough and she lets you know what to watch out for. The DVD is only about $15, too.

Not for purists, by any means, but for beginners and cross-trainers (I fitness walk as well) it's perfect.

[Beware the Beast Man]

12. Apart from the GOP contributions, they're like the AOL of fitness clubs.

My wife works at a bank call center, and deals with people on a regular basis that get charged by Curves even after they ended their commitment to them.

[Maine-ah]

13. ouch. n/t

[GreenPartyVoter]

14. Look into community exercise classes instead.

[aintitfunny]

15. I go there

in spite of their political leanings. I think it is a great workout and it runs around 50-100 to start and then about 30 per month. Very easy to do, not boring and good for building muscle and trimming up.

[Ruby Romaine]

16. Don't do it- go elsewhere please!

http://archive.salon.com/mwt/feature/2004/05/19/curves/index_np.html
http://www.ntimc.org/newswire.php?story_id=1477&condense_comments=false

[goddess40]

17. I used to go and I developed shoulder problems

There machines don't develop the muscles that pull your arm down in the socket, only those that pull it up. Pretty painful, after physical therapy and finding out about their owners politics I never went back.

The owner of the local Curves developed the same problem.

[blondeatlast]

19. I started last year, but dropped early.

Couldn't deal with the hours; especially since they are closed on Sundays.

It is a far more comfortable for most women, I think, but there are all kinds of independent fitness centers in my area that cater to women.

My own experience says pass and look for an indepnedent.

[ceile]

21. Evil, GOP spawn

I actually got my apartment complex to remove the brochures for our nearby Curves from the office.
Oh, and they are very supportive of anti-choice orgs.

[THUNDER HANDS]

22. isn't that the gym that

has women run from one thing to another in like, one or two minute intervals?

Sounds stupid to me, but I've heard from women who've done it and enjoy it.

[blondeatlast]

26. One other thing from an ex-Curves goer: it gets boring FAST.

That was the worst part about it, I think.

[Enraged_Ape]

23. Lots of gyms have "women only" rooms or hours

Go to one of them instead. You will probably be able to get your hands on more and better equipment and even work with an exercise professional (at least at first) who knows what they're doing.

I know you didn't ask for any guy's opinion, but I couldn't help giving it. Curves has a "McExercise" approach that I find...let's say I find it unsettling.

[Bluebear]

24. & BEND & STRETCH & TITHE, C'mon ladies, & GIVE & PRAY...

Curves is like a Holy Roller Fitness Center.

"The world's fastest-growing fitness chain is helping ordinary women get healthy-body and SOUL."

http://www.christianitytoday.com/tc/2004/001/3.30.html

Founded in 1995 by Christian businessman Gary Heavin, the Waco, Texas-based, privately owned Curves International likely will saturate the North American market by the end of 2004, with an estimated 8,500 outlets open in the U.S. and Canada. Currently, 1 in every 4 health clubs in the country is a Curves for Women, and another 1,400 are under construction. The company also has opened centers in six other countries and is described by Entrepreneur magazine as the fastest-growing franchise in the world.

The atmosphere at numerous Curves locations is almost like a recovery support group. Susan C. Hickman of Springfield, Missouri, joined, as many women do, after noticing that a friend from church had dropped a lot of weight. Hickman, 55, started going to Curves every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to surprise her husband, Bill, who had been mobilized to Iraq with the Army National Guard.

"My objective is to take his breath away when he comes home," Hickman says. "I'm committed to doing this. I can't believe how fantastic I feel."

Cathy Buchanan, 34, of St. Augustine, Florida, says she has a lot more energy to play with her two young daughters since she started going to Curves. She lost 29 pounds in seven months, and has hopes of shedding another 31 pounds. Soon after working out at Curves, Buchanan became a part-time employee there, too.

"It's the first job I've ever worked where I can tell people I'm praying for them," Buchanan says. "I never did devotions before but now a lot of women tell me about the Christian books they're reading."

[blondeatlast]

25. Can you take exercise classes through your local Parks and Recreation?

Again, as many have said, Curves is scary red.

I'm a big-time fitness walkerand love Pilates. Can you get to a local shopping mall? Most open early for fitmess walkers.

I know people who don't have good areas to walk in and they still do it. You have to buy shoes that are a cross between walking and hiking shoes, but they are easy to find (try Walker's Warehouse: http://www.walkerswarehouse.com).