CURVES Workout - is it Right for You?

If you are looking for a fun social and lighter work out then CURVES offers several unique features. CURVES claims that you can burn up to 500 calories in just 30 minutes. This probably depends on how much effort you put into it. Still, the program is easy to learn, fun to follow and located through out the world. Millions of women have joined and here is the information that I discovered.

The claim to fame is the circuit training. The equipment is set up in a circle. You spend a minute on the equipment then a minute doing an in place exercise on a specialized board. Each machine works a different body part. Each is calibrated for women and offers the amount of resistance that you need to build muscle. The faster you work the machine the greater your work out. As you move around the circle, peppy music plays and an automated sound or voice tells you when to switch to the next exercise. It is quick and a lot of fun. I was a member of a competing circuit gym and greatly enjoyed the variety of movement and the social interaction. Because you and the other members all face inward there is often conversation and sharing.

Despite the attempts of the parent company to brand each site every one will be slightly different. The owner and staff make a huge difference. Some will encourage interaction and motivate you to return. Some will add other equipment or classes. Each has the circuit and a staff who should show you what to do.

In an interview with Fox News Dr. Cedric Bryant, Chief Exercise Physiologist for the American Council on Exercise, said circuit training "removes some of the intimidation factor". "The machines are smaller in size," said Bryant. "They appeal to the female population."

The Fox story continues to quote Bryant as saying that the machines only provide one phase of resistance training. "Because you don't have the negative portion of the exercise, you are going to limit skeletal muscle and bone development. I would say that CURVES is giving the minimum effective dosage."

CURVES often appeals to women who are not big fans of exercise. Most members want to firm up and loose some weight in as painless a manner as possible. It is not a work out for fast results. It is a time efficient work out - you barely feel that you have exercised yet your body will start to see results. Not bad for 30 minutes a day.

What are people saying who have gone and tried to lose weight or firm up at CURVES? The website Curves.com has multiple testimonials including interactive videos. Online testimonials are often from women who were surprised at how easy it was and who were pleased with the firming. But, for the real deal, google the gym of your choice and see if there are any online comments.

As with most health clubs there is an automatic renewal of your membership fees. You must remember to cancel and contact your individual site to be sure that you are doing it correctly. Difficulties that people have had are because they assumed that once the contract was over that they would no longer be charged. According to www.consumeraffairs.com the majority of complaints are surrounding money issues. The corporation is not responsible for how each franchise does business. If you pay for the year in advance you want to be sure that you will enjoy going and that the CURVES is solvent. CURVES that have closed have numerous complaints because members were not reimbursed their prepaid fees.

Since each site is a franchise you usually cannot use your membership to work out at other locations. There are over 700 locations. This may only be helpful if you find one near you that you wish to go to consistently. Travelers may want to choose a health club that allows members to go to any location. Most sites have only changing rooms. Child care is not offered and the hours are notoriously limited. Some owners have said that this is corporate policy. If you check the coupons you receive in the mail you can often find a special on joining.

If you haven't worked out in a while or need the motivation of a quick light workout then CURVES may suit your needs. Weight loss may be slow but the social aspect can keep you coming back. If you need to find out more than enter the curves forum where a committed group of ladies offer advice and share their weight loss stories. You may find that this is the work out for you.