Ugh, Curves Gym: Opinions... longish explination inside

Why don't you get yourself something like a TRX strap and do some suspension training? You can get a pretty good workout and that way you won't have to travel down the mountain.Lots of YouTube videos to show you the exercises.

My mom belonged to Curves for a few years. She is in her late 60s, has severe arthritis in her spine and hips, has some problems with her sense of balance, and has lost a lot of strength in her arms over the years. She joined Curves to do exercises that her phyisical therapist wanted her doing, and to just get into better shape in general. She went through three or four different trianers while she was there. All of them pushed her, Jillian Michaels style. She got injured several times from doing exercises that were too much for her, with her conditions. Or from falling over from her balance issues, with the trainer refusing to help her stabilize herself.

I'm sure you'll be able to direct yourself, being younger and more knowledgeable about fitness. But it really bothered me that they seemed to be unable to understand the concept of my mother's physical needs and to individualize a program based on her level of fitness. They seemed to just be geared to push push push, faster cardio, heavier weights. Period, the end. Like all women who go there have the same goals. It bothered me.

Normally, I am completely against 'fem-gyms', for a plethora of reasons that I won't go into here.

That said, if your options are Curves, or nothing.../cringe....go with Curves.

Curves has actually changed a lot from when it first opened. They have Curves Smart now and your work out is computer based directly on your needs, size and weight. I joined Curves on Oct 25, 2012 and as of Jan 23, 2013 (3 months), I have lost a total of <-23.75"> (inches), <-31.5lbs>, <-16.38> lbs of body fat, and my body fat % has went from approx 58% (est because it didn't register on the meter) to 49.8% (actual...it does register now :happy: )...all this in just 29 work outs.

I guess it is just up to you and what you are wanting to do...bulk up, get healthy, etc.... BTW, I am not old...I'm 40

Good luck! :flowerforyou:

Thanks, my boyfriend and I will prob just buy some at home weights, and machines and put them in the basement.

I would do the math, and if the bottom line says you can get your own equipment ... do it. Especially if you have a built-in workout partner already there with you.

I have been at a Curves gym and saw women in the ages of 30 to 80. You work on your own pace with your own goals based on your muscle strength. The reason I stopped going was that although it's only 30 minutes, I couldn't find the time to do it in the 7am - 7 pm time frame because they didn't offer child care. Having three kids with hobbies, I cannot make that commitment; mornings are hectic, afternoons and early morning for hobbies (two hobbies, twice a week for two kids...) When I signed up I worked from 11 am, so I had some hours to myself till I started working.

After that I found a bootcamp and kettlebell trainer who offered 6 am trainings. At the moment I work out at home. But I think Curves is a good workout. It really does work; you tone up really good.

My mother-in-law used to use Curves. From what I understood, it was a 30 minute circuit type of routine. I am not sure if that would be your thing or not.

I am having great luck working out from home. I bought a Fluidity Bar and a bunch of barre dvds (you could just use a sturdy chair), and I'm incorporating Zumba\Hip Hop Abs\Turbo Jam\Turbo Fire for my aerobic and am having good results so far.

Good luck!

Observations & questions:

- How does this town not even have a rec center or pool?

- You will be IN THE BEAUTIFUL AND AMAZING MOUNTAINS. (And I am so jealous.) What about hiking as one of the cardio possibilities? Skiing in winter?

- You could add a stationary bicycle (these can be had cheaply second hand), and that with the other outdoor options should offer enough variety to keep you from repetitive strain. If you wanted, you could also get someone to put a customized, low impact series of 10-15 calisthenic exercises to do at home, rather than risk a DVD.

- Curves might actually be ok for you if free weights are really too much. Like right now I can't do regular squats or deadlifts. My modifications (doing ok with them so far) are: single leg lunges and squats, bodyweight squats, leg presses (machine), and a bit of the leg curl machine (but not too much, as that one's bad for knees). But if you are basically mobile, and take the time to learn, you can do lots at home with adjustable dumbbells and even a barbell (with guidance).

All of these though will mean taking time to learn how your injured body responds, so some help from a rehab-minded trainer NOW where you are might be useful for your planning.

edit: ha, I originally said Rocky Mountains, but I have no idea if that's true, and really all mountains are gorgeous. Oh wait you did say the Rockies. Totally jealous!

ha, also, you've already decided. Happy lifting!

They just opened a new Curves in the strip mall behind my house. I hadn't seen one up close in a while. It had the smart system. I hate to be super negative but, man, that equipment looked really cheap. Hard to imagine even a newbie being able to work that hard enough to do any good.

I have known people who get a lot out of Curves. I've always refused to have a membership there because, for all their pseudo-feminist "women's empowerment" rhetoric, they donate to a lot of very anti-woman causes: organizations that try to block access to reproductive health care, for example. Each location is different based on the owners, but given my part of the country they tend to be run by pretty conservative Christians, and that's not my bag. (That said, if you are looking for a place to work out that supports conservative Christian values, your local Curves may be for you.)

I just had a huge problem with the way they promoted themselves as so supportive of women and then took the money women paid them, and paid it to organizations who disrespect women and our needs.

Hate it, boring.. wld rather exercise at home, heaps of good stuff on utube to use

I joined Curves a few weeks ago...and I HATE to admit it, but I'm a little disappointed with it. I think it's a great gym for women who are MORBIDLY obese or have never worked out before. I'm no work out wiz and I'm mad overweight (232 pounds) and the first few times I went, I got a good work out in. However, after going several times a week I realized that I'm getting less and less of a workout, no matter how hard I push myself. I think it's the lack of changing things up mixed with the fact that the women there are VERY chatty and it's hard to work out when people are asking you your life story.

Now, I'm not complaining. I love making new friends but I'd rather have the level of respect that when people see me trying to work out and lose weight, they keep comments to themselves until the cool down. Also, I'm 20 and one of the youngest that goes to my gym. Apparently there are 14 year olds who are members...but I've never seen them. The next youngest woman there is 36. I don't care about the ages though, but you did bring it up so I thought I'd mention it.

Lastly, if you're someone who gets bored easily, I would say this isn't the gym for you. It's on a circuit so you do the same machines in the same order for 2 rounds. I'm a creature of habit so I don't mind....I wish my Curves was a Curves Smart- I'd like it a lot more then.

My honest opinion.