Curves - Page 5

[Kelly71]

Thanks! It's really the first time ever I have stuck to any sort of exercise regimen. I really like going there. It's motivating and supportive.

[pugmadmama]

Re: Balance and time

Originally posted by CindiC
"I think I'll try to also swing a $10/mo donation to a worthy cause to combat any nastiness that my money is going towards." hey this is what I am thinking too. ....

Last year the founder of Curves and his wife gave over 10 million dollars to charities, many of them anti-choice based ones.

I belong to a locally owned gym that does not do weigh-ins or measuring of my body. That combined with not wanting to fund anti-choice charites made the decision not to join Curves an easy one for me.

[BrooklynDoula]

Hi pugmadmama-

I am glad to hear you have found a gym that works for you (re: both politics and weigh-ins). Thanks for the information, and since you are quoting from our earlier discussion of this issue I can tell that you are aware that we have discussed this issue.

This is a support thread for people who are involved with a Curves and who are enjoying losing weight through this gym.

[Peppamint]

Originally posted by megandavidson
This is a support thread for people who are involved with a Curves and who are enjoying losing weight through this gym.

[thinkingcapp]

I started a thread in the Weightloss and Nutririon forum on this question... but upon further thought, I'm just going to go right to the source ...
Does Curves provide any sort of structured eating program to go along with the workouts? People have mentioned being measured and weighed... but do they guide you on food choices?
I'm seriously thinking about joining and want to know MORE!!!

[BrooklynDoula]

My curves offers both a 45 minute class as a one time thing and also a more intense 6 week class if you want. In addition to that the trainers always talk with you at your first meeting and subsequent weigh-ins about your eating and will answer any questions about it also. In our case it is really just the owner with enough training to do this, so she does all the classes and such.

[Kelly71]

There are two options featured in the Curves book . . one that is more low carb, and another which is more low-calorie. It helps you decide for yourself which is the more sensible plan for your own body. Good luck!

[siddie]

After reading this thread and taling to friends, I am trying it for a week and will probably join after this. There seems to be a curves phenomenon going on with moms everywhere! So far, I love the workouts and find my hr is up where it needs to be. I also feel as if I am doing more than if I just walk for 30 min. Two of the ladies I talked to at Curves told me about their successes. ONe was able to quit taking her bp meds (she must be in her late 60's or older) and another lost 28 lbs in a year just exercising, not much in the way of diet other than curbing sweets.

For those of you who lost the pounds and inches, how much body fat % was that? I am assuming all curves measure body fat. Ours uses a monitor that you sqeeze with your hands and I was APPALLED at mine, can't wait to get it down. I am officially 14 pounds overweight according to my bmi but my body fat was 37% - I wanted to run screaming from the building! ACtually, I would love to lose 20 + pounds which shouldn't be that hard but since becoming a MOM, I can't seem to get it off. I haven't had one bite of Easter candy today and am not going to start either!!!

[Peppamint]

I'm reading the Curves book now after being a member for 4 years. : :LOL

I lost a pound this week! I hit a platuea over a month ago (my pre-pg weight) and just couldn't get past it so the last week I tried to curb my sweets and did an okay job... so glad to see progress! I bet sugar is probably why I have so much trouble losing weight because I have a major sweet tooth. I'm thrilled that it is easily taken care of with a piece of organic fruit leather... that's better than jelly beans!

PS- I'm not sure what my body fat % is because I don't weigh and measure very often due to time constraints. I go as soon as they open and rarely have time to weigh and measure because I have to get home before dh leaves for work because I have small children. I'm hoping to weigh and measure before the end of the month though.

[kazmir]

Okay, I need to go workout. I joined a while ago and have never done another weigh in. I quit for 3 months due to medical issues and the holidays and am just now getting back into it. I will go friday for sure

Robin who needs to get committed to this

[robugmum]

I joined Curves on December 9th. I have been working out there faithfully, at least three times a week since then. At the same time I began to make significant changes in my diet, eating less carbs and many more vegetables, taking vitamin supplements etc. I am enjoyng the workouts, and it is the first exercise program that I seem to be able to stick to. BUT I am not losing any weight or inches. I work really hard, my heart rate is always where its supposed to be and still, nothing. Is anyone else having this problem? I am beginning to wonder if the Curves program is just not effective for everyone. I joined, in part, to lose some weight becuse dh and I are going to Mexico for our anniversary. I know it is silly, but I really wanted to look good in a swimsuit! I'm feeling so discouraged!

[siddie]

Robugmom<
You poor thing, how frustrating. I think your experience is unusual. I have talked to several other ladies at my local Curves and they all have noticed a positive change. The only thing I can think of is that your body fat has decreased and you have actually lost fat but created more muscle tissue which is heavier. Have you had your body fat done? Have you asked the trainers at Curves?

I am in somewhat of the same position. Since January I have made big improvements in the amount of exercise I get and the quality of my diet. I started out walk/running but had to go back to walking due to a pulled calf muscle. I have been doing Curves for two weeks now and am planning on continuing. One of my biggest problems is overeating. I avoid sweets, etc but will eat too much. I tend to overeat in the pm's when tired for a lift or sometimes out of frustration after a challenging day with my very busy 4 yo. Last night, I made turkey for dinner and despite the fact that I had been working hard for months to lose weight, I put gravy on my dinner... Otoh, I can say I feel much better and have a great improvement in my energy levels and flexibiity. I also like the friendliness of the other women there.

I was inspired yest. by a woman who was getting measured. I was subtly eavesdropping as I stretched to hear she is 68 yrs old (looks to be in her early 50's) and her body fat is 21%!!

I am thinking of increasing my Curves workouts to 3 times around the circuit or 45 minutes total. Does anyone else do that? I know we are not supposed to go more than 3x per week to allow the muscles time to heal so I would like to increase my workouts this way. I also walk for 30 minutes on the non-curves days.

[BrooklynDoula]

We can go to our curves as many times as we want. I normally go 4-5 times a week (they are open 6 days) and there are many people who go everyday. You can evn do double workouts or work out with a trainer in th back when you finish 3 rounds.

As for body fat. I have lost just over 30 pounds and more than 35 inches which has been like 7% body fat (or something like that). I started at 35% and I think I 27.something% now.

[robugmum]

I wish I could say that I have gained muscle but my body fat has remained at 34% since I joined. To add insult to injury, I had my measurements done yesterday and I have actually GAINED 4.5 lbs since joining! I don't know what to think. Like you Siddie, I have a tendency to eat portions that are too large, but I have really been working to decrease my portions. We eat dinner early, around 5:30pm and I almost never snack in the evening. I always do the Curves circuit 3 times. I've thought about going more than 3 times a week but I can't seem to make it more often on any kind of regular basis. Anyway, I know there's nothing any of you can do but it feels good to vent anyway.

[vipassanagal]

robugmum, I've had a similar experience. I haven't gained, but I also haven't lost anything. It's very hard and discouraging.

I try to stay focused on the positives - gaining muscle, better bones, better attitde, etc. And,then I trust that my body is doing what it needs.

I think my body has held onto my pregnancy fat since my ds was born. I'm still nursing and think that factors in big time.

And, I have a very slow metabolism.

I know that doing 3 workouts is better than doing none, so I keep going.

One of the instructors at my gym told me she had the same problem and that after 6 months she started loosing.

[robugmum]

Yeah, I am still nusing dd (28 mos.), and lately she has been a little milk fiend. Maybe my body is just hanging on to the extra to help make the milk. I hope so!

[Plady]

Hey Curvy Girls!

Based on this thread I'm going to start my free week today! Wish me luck!

I was a little concerned about the whole where-the-money-goes thing so I asked the owner of our local Curves (who is also a good friend) about it and she said that she just pays a monthly fee that is the same no matter how many members she has or doesn't have. So, although the company owners may contribute to causes we may or may not like, our contributions aren't really making much difference there, we're really just supporting the local owner.

[siddie]

Megandavidson, your weight/fat loss is awesome! How long did it take you?

You can go as often as you like to our curves but they have posters in there that say that you while will burn more calories by goind more freq., you will continue to break down muscle tissue and it will not have time to rebuild if you don't rest a day inbetween. rEgardless, whatever you are doing Megandavidson, it is working.

Our curves doesn't offer trainers, I wish it did. Most of the women who work there are more overweight than I am.

AFter talking to a friend of mine who is a personal trainer I discovered I need to:
Work out an hour per day 6x per week PLUS watch what I eat on those 6 days. She says to splurge on the day off to shock your system and rev the metabolism but only within reason.
Have two forms of exercise. Curves isn't enough. For the best fitness benefits you must do something else like swim or run. She recommends slow running working up to an hour per day.

I am still a bit discouraged because I have workied out all but 2 days this month and haven't lost. I have eaten lots of carbs and even some desserts but reasonable quantities. We shared two pieces of cake between 3 of us last night and still have some left over.

There is a place similar to Curves nearby, I may try it and see if they offer trainers or more weights. I was joking with a friend of mine that I could just get trial memberships at all of the area gyms and not have to join for at least 6 months!

[Piglet68]

MOVING THIS TO THE NEW FORUM: FITNESS AND WEIGHT MANAGEMENT....

[BrooklynDoula]

I joined on September 13, 2003 and at my April weigh in I had gone from 212 to 178 with about 35 inches and 7% body fat. I have lost 20 pounds of that in the last 2 months (since Valentine's Day). Going to Curves 3-4 times a week and working out like ccrazy didn't cause much weight lose for me, alhtough I did get more tone. It wasn't until I got more serious about carbs, sugar, and portion size that I started to lose like crazy. Working out made me more hungry and I felt more entitled to eat whatever I wanted, so I only lost 14 pounds in the first 5 months and then 20 in the last 2 months.

I am really happy with my body right now, alhthough I think I'll aim to lose another 10-15 pounds (I am 5'8 with broad shoulders and I think below 160 will likely be too skinny - we'll see though.)

Good luck to everyone!!!

PS. Perhaps we want to start a new Curves thread at some point because this one is getting long?