I went by Curves to check it out...

[perdidobay]

and I am seriously thinking about joining. My only problem is with having to sign a contract for a year.
Also the place was freezing, and I know that when I will be working out it won't feel so cold, but I have a problem with my hands when they get cold!
Maybe I should wear gloves!!!!

 

[antmaril]

I am going tomorrow morning to check it out. I am meeting a friend at Curves and we are going to see what it's all about. We are both reluctant to sign up for a year, but it seems there is no alternative. I called Contour Express and they required a one year commitment as well.

I know this will be good for me -- I just have to find the time to do it!

 

[nativetxn]

Good for you! I have a problem with signing up for a year, too. Also, I understand payment options are limited to either giving them an automatic draw on your checking account or paying in advance for the entire year.

I have never been comfortable with automatic draws on my account so if I decide to join, I will have to pay in advance. They want a years worth of money and that's it.

It sounds like a great workout place, though.

 

[myjulybabes]

What did you think of the workout? From the little I've heard, I'm afraid it'd be too easy for me, despite the extra weight I'm carrying, I'm still in ok shape. (can walk a mile in about 15 min) My issue with paying for a year would be that after the first couple mos, it wouldn't be at all challenging, and therefore, pointless. But I like the idea of working out where it's all women, and most of them aren't hardbodies. Do they let you do a trial class? Either free or a small fee? I'd definitely want to do a class before I joined for a whole year!

~Josie~
217/217/155

 

[minniecarousel]

I can address a few issues: it's cold because after about 10 minutes of working out, you'll be glad it's cool! At the Curves I go to, majority rules! (if it's too hot for most there at the time, they'll lower the AC, if it's too cold they'll pop it up a bit.)
The work-out is what you make it - you decide how many reps you put in in the alloted time on a particular apparatus. Sure, everyone spends the same amount of time on each piece, but you may do 30 reps and I might do only 22. I've been going for 14 months now and I haven't gotten bored. Of course, I've never joined a fitness gym either. I'm thinking that you can be shown the circuit and try out each piece, before buying into it. I think it's worth the $$ & you can go every day that they're open, although they recommend 3X per week.

 

[perdidobay]

Hi Josie

Yes, they do let you do a trial class for free (when I went yesterday I just stopped by without an appointment) and they were showing another lady around and let me follow around. We just sat on each peice of equipement and tried them a few times.
I will go back Friday for a "free" class and do the real program, and if I decide to join that day will get half off the joining fee. I also can walk a mile in 15 minutes and do tae-bo which is a tough workout, but this is different in that it works muscles I can't through walking or tae-bo. I found that you can make the workout harder as you progress through the speed of your repetitions on each machine.
The main reason I want to join is to build up muscle mass so I will have more lean body than fat. I still plan on doing my tae-bo, walking and watching what I eat.
I like the fact that it is all women too, I used to belong to a gym, where the jocks all tended to view middle aged women like me as a pain they had to work around.
Nobody was a hardbody when I went by yesterday and they were all very freindly.

 

[tlgoblue]

Perdi!
Sounds great! Let us know how you like it!

Keep the Faith!
Tracy

 

[maryliz]

I'm a big-time Curves fan! Ask about their different payment options, if you're concerned about a 1 year contract. I live in Canada, so we pay $39/month on automatic withdrawl. However if you don't want to sign the contract, you can pay an extra $10/month and it's on a monthly basis. I also recently heard an employee tell someone that if they sign the contract, and then want to break it, for example 3 months later, they would allow them to do that, but just charge them the extra $30 ($10/month)that they would have paid had they been on the higher plan.

I also got a free week when I first joined because I told them I didn't want to commit to something without trying it a few times.

Let us know how you make out!

Mary Liz

 

[BethR]

Here is what I have learned about Curves. Each one is a franchise and they may have different pricing policies. At the one that I joined, it was $29/month if you do a bank draft. If you paid by check monthly, it was $39. There is a one year contract, but you do pay monthly.

The machines at Curves are hydraulic. Think HYDRO-lic - or WATER based. So the faster you work, the more resistance. I was telling my DD (the scientist ) about this and she said that it makes sense. Think of this. Picture yourself in a pool and that you are moving your hand slowly through the water. There is little resistance - your hand glides through. But if you try to move your hand fast through the water, there is a lot more resistance. It is harder to move your hand from point A to point B. Well, that is how it works on the machines that Curves uses. The slower that you work, the less resistance. The faster you move, the more resistance. It is all about getting to that target heart rate that is listed on the chart. If you are getting to that heart rate, it is the best condition for you to be building muscle. (There is a LOT about this in the Membership Guide.)

What they say about the 3 times a week is that your muscles need a day to rest. They say that if you do this resistance training more than every other day, you can bulk up like Arnold.
The membership book says that if you WANT to come more often, that you should work out less rigorlously - ie: keep your heart rate at a lower level.

 

[perdidobay]

WELL, I went back today and joined
I still am nervous about the year-long contract, but on the other hand I may stay in this if I feel like Iwill have lost money if I don't! I also like the fact you are weighed once a month and I think I need that too!

 

[antmaril]

My friend and I went this morning to check it out. We were shown how to use each machine and given a one week free pass. We are going again tomorrow morning. We liked it! It seemed like a very relaxed, casual atmosphere. Not intimidating at all.

Looks like we will be joining.

 

[BethR]

I am not sure if the Curves that I joined has a one week trial. I never thought to ask because I was determined to start an exercise program.

For those of you who are concerned about joining for an entire year, I heard someone mention this this morning while I was at Curves. They said to just pay monthly fee by check (if that is available to you). If after a month you like it, then sign the one year contract.

I would suggest that you do this when they have a VERY REDUCED membership fee, because you pay that right off the bat no matter what you do.

 

[tlgoblue]

Hey MJ! Good for you! I'm sure you will love it and honestly, most health facilities require yearly contracts. Some have summer memberships, due to lagging participation, and it is a great bait for the full blown membership, but it is November, and we all want to get in shape for the Holidays and get back into shape after them. They know that and can set terms. Supply and demand. Don't fret my friend. Go and have a great time. You'll use it, I know. You won't get bored. Pretty soon, you'll get grouchy when you can't go! I'm gald you are doing this for yourself!


Keep the Faith!
Tracy