Curves
A 30-minute women's fitness center that provides a total body workout.
QUICK FACTS
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- Established: 1992
- Founder: Gary and Diane Heavin
- Headquarters: Waco, Texas
- Accessibility: Fitness facilities and gyms
- Diet Type: 30 minute workout circuit training
- Gender: Female
BACKGROUND
Women today live hectic schedules, balancing family, work and often not able to schedule time to workout. Thanks to Curves, a nationwide women's gym, you no longer have to worry about squeezing in enough time to hit the gym.
Curves offers a 30-minute workout that you only have to do three times a week. The Curves program was created specifically for women to fit busy schedules and alleviate some of the uncertainty and hesitation that comes from being a part of a co-ed gym. Each Curves offers trained professionals on staff to teach you the right way to use the equipment. Based upon your weight and height, a single Curves workout can burn up to 500 calories.
Curves has expanded its intention to help women live their healthiest lives possible by offering a weight loss programs, support and much more.
Here is a look at some of Curves' additional offerings:
Curves 30-Day Diet plan: The program, which is used in conjunction with the Curves trademark circuit training fitness plan, features diet counseling classes that don't require that you count points or calories as you shape up and trim down.
Curves Smart: The Curves Smart ID Tag allows you to keep track of your fitness goals and monitor the intensity of your exercise sessions. After completing your personalized profile, a Curves staff member will help to develop a workout program that is designed for your body type, endurance and exercise goals.
Curves Diet Book: In the book, you will learn how to exercise three days a week for 30 minutes at a time, in addition to following a three-part nutrition plan, taking self tests and questionnaires that evaluate your calorie and carbohydrate sensitivity, and using Curves recipes, meal plans and progress reports so that you can lose weight effectively without feeling restricted.
Curves Complete: Curves Complete is the new Web membership program. Its doors are open 24/7- giving you greater access to the information and support you trust. It's an online resource to access Curves nutrition experts and dozens of useful tools- a more comprehensive extension of the traditional program.
PRO
- Curves offers fitness in a manageable amount of time
- Includes an online diet and fitness plan
- Female-only gym
- Trainers available for instruction and motivation
- Expanded services makes it easy for members to lose weight and stay active in an efficient manner
CON
- Curves locations are franchised and may not provide the same quality experience at each one
- Female-only gym
DIET and NUTRITION
Curves has expanded to more than just a fitness gym. Now you can follow a nutrition plan along with your gym membership. This is great for those that want to boost their metabolism or start eating healthier. Before you get started on the diet, you do a self assessment to see which of two plans you will follow. The two plans are a low-calorie diet and a high protein diet that is low in carbohydrates. The low-carb plan restricts carbohydrates pretty severely in the first two weeks. This plan really models many other low carbohydrate diets that are being followed by dieters. During the first two weeks, your daily carb count is limited to less than 20 grams. The amount is raised to 60 grams daily after that.
The low-calorie plan is simpler. You stay within your allotted calories and limit carbs. The first two weeks the diet is more restrictive and you only eat 1,200 calories each day. After the first two weeks, you can eat up to 1,600 calories daily and carbs are limited to 60 grams daily. Although the low calorie diet is more focused on calories, limiting carbohydrates is a constant throughout both plans. Foods that are to be avoided include bread, pasta, rice, potatoes and other foods high in carbohydrates.
No matter which plan you follow, the standard amount of meals per day is six. The goal of the Curves diet is to help you lose weight faster and help you work towards a healthy normal diet for after you reach your goal. Some of the foods you will eat often include lean cuts of meat, poultry, fruits, fresh vegetables, eggs and cheese. A sample day of eating on the Curves low-carb plan is reflected below:
- Breakfast: ¼ fresh blueberries on low-carb cereal
- Snack: Protein shake
- Lunch: Salad made with 4 cups dark green lettuce, 4 oz. cooked chicken, avocado and vinaigrette dressing
- Snack: Celery stalks with peanut butter
- Dinner: Grilled 5 oz lean steak, 1 cup green beans, 1 cup mushrooms with peppers
- Evening snack: ¼ cup whole almonds
EXERCISE
Known as the Curves Circuit, this 30-minute program includes five parts; warm up, aerobics, strength training, cool down and stretching exercises. You can jump in the circuit at any point and simply perform the exercises until you have completed the full workout.
You alternate between strength training machines and cardiovascular exercises. Between each machine is a recovery board where you walk, jog or run in place for maintain your heart rate so that you're burning calories throughout the entire workout. The machines focus on strengthening the major muscle groups in your upper and lower body.
A Curves trainer will walk you through the entire circuit so that you know how to use the machines effectively, safely and properly.
Curves is also keeping up with the latest in fitness-tracking gadgets. Its Curves Smart ID is a small tag that you place on your Curves workout equipment. Since it is customized just for you, it tells you when you need to step it up a notch or when you are working out at your peak fitness level by monitoring heart rate and the speed and pace of your workouts.
And with Curves Complete, an online portal of information, you'll find a supportive community available via discussion boards, fitness experts guiding your fitness needs, nutritional guidance and meal planning.
CONCLUSION
For women who want to exercise but lack the time to clock hours at the gym to stay in shape, Curves offers a convenient way to get fit.
Its all-female gyms are also appealing to those who are uncomfortable working out around men.The gym also features a weight management program that can help you lose weight and improve your nutrition. You also get an online component at an additional cost, which gives you more support and motivation to succeed.
Curves is clearly dedicated to helping women stay healthy and fit and by developing new products and services to its members, it keeps with the ever-growing industry of health and fitness.
Common Misspellings
Curve, Curves deit program, curves for women, curves.com
Featured Diets
Related Diets: Curves 30 Day Diet Plan, Curves Complete, LA Weight Loss, The Curves Diet Book, 24 Hour Fitness, Curves Smart, Elements for Women, Lucille Roberts
Wikipedia
Curves International, also known as Curves for Women, Curves Fitness, or just Curves, is an international fitness franchise co-founded by Gary and Diane Heavin in 1995. Curves currently has 10,000 locations worldwide and an estimated 4 million plus members (as of October 2006). It is a privately held company by its co-founders, with corporate offices located in Waco, Texas. Curves fitness and weight loss facilities are designed specifically for and focused on women, although in some states, men are allowed to join.
User Feedback
(Page 1 of 8, 156 total comments)Sarah Friedman
I do at weight watcher
posted Mar 22nd, 2013 5:47 pmBonnie
Curves info? hello,I am a international student living in Melbourne. I have been joining Curves in my country before. I am very interested about join Curves again but curious about the price in Melbourne. Does anybody could tell me about the price? How much per month and how much for join? It's ok if I have no account? Thank s lot!
SHARON MARQUEZ
I lost about 50 pounds on Optifast, which was medically supervised, and followed up with a CURVES membership to keep the weight off. I hated to exercise, but I had been advised by my dietician, that if I wanted to keep the pounds off, I had to find an exercise program that I liked and would do. Thank goodness I found Curves. I have been a member since May of 2012, and was going 3-4 times a week. Since 2013, I have a goal to go 5 days a week. So far, so good. It's a very good workout, I like doing it, and I have been able to keep the pounds off! It's 30 minutes out of my day, with about 10 minutes of effective stretching exercises. I am 67 years old, so you can do it even if your are an older woman.
posted Jan 31st, 2013 8:38 pmTosha
Curves is what you make it. If you do the workout 3 to 4 times a week with changes in your diet you will see results. I have been been a memeber for about 3 months and I have seen lost is both inches and pounds. I have lost a total of 7 inches all around and also 8.50 of pure body fat not water not muscles but pure body fat which is what I am going for. So I believeme if you work at it you will see the differnece .
posted Nov 21st, 2012 5:04 pmAnn
I joined Curves 2 weeks ago and am committed to hanging in there. I was convinced when my co-worker lost over 13 inches in slightly less than 5 weeks. That was just with going 3 times a week!!! I need to get healthier and hate exercise but with the motivation from my co-worker and the ladies I have met so far, I know I will continue or will seriously regret it if I don't. I am a 3 times weight watcher drop out and need the motivation that this group of people and the exercise circuit offers. I for one am very thankful to be a part of it. I feel muscles in places that I didn't realize I had muscles to feel!!! It gives a a feeling of accomplishment each time I'm finished.
posted Jul 14th, 2012 1:27 amDebbie
Curves is a joke. The Manager at the Curves on Calvary Dr in Raleigh NC was more interested in telling everyone about her love life than instructing members. Everything I learned was from other women working out. Definitely not what I signed up for. I only used 6 months of my yearly contract.
posted Feb 9th, 2012 2:07 pmMaijken
I've been a member for almost 2 years. and as long as I stick to the weight loss program, it works for me.
posted Jan 31st, 2012 12:26 amAnjean
I just realized today that Curves has been charging me $29/month even though I haven't been there for 2 years. DuBois, PA owner tells me my $600 is not refundable even though their records show I haven't used Curves during this time. I signed an agreement that binds me as a member forever unless I inform them IN WRITING otherwise. Odd. CONSUMERS BEWARE!
posted Dec 12th, 2011 8:04 pmmcdana333
I really like the sound of curves, gonna check if they have one near my house. How much is it a month?
posted Oct 13th, 2011 3:39 pmLC
Found a good deal on Curves today. Forwarding in case any of you ladies were interested. It's cheap.
posted Apr 20th, 2011 3:58 pmkaren
curves is the only gym that has ever worked for me and ive been to many gyms,,i feel i am toning my muscels properly and doing some cardio which i can do at my own pace,,overall i come out feeling brill from my workout and would defo recommend it 2 any1,,tanx curves uve changed my life :-)
posted Mar 10th, 2011 7:35 pmDianna
I work out at my local Curves where I am a member 4 evenings a week. During the work week I like to visit a Curves location near my work, I have a travel pass. How many times per week/month can I use my travel pass to visit this same Curves location?
posted Feb 21st, 2011 7:47 pmRita Austin
I was previously enrolled in curves but did not finish the program will that prevent me from joining again?
posted Feb 19th, 2011 4:31 pmSam
I like Sandie's post about wanting to work out for a healthy longevity, and not for weight loss. I am in the same boat, I dont need to lose weight, however my doctor said my resting heart rate is high (over 100) and I need to do more cardio to get my resting rate down, because I am supposedly a skinny yet out of shape person. So yeah, if you see a skinny girl working next to you, dont judge them, lol. Their heart may just be out of shape because they are so skinny, they never thought they had to work out!
posted Feb 8th, 2011 1:38 amSally
I am in the middle of my free week. I read some of the feedback and noted that some people thought that this was not a serious workout. Well, in my opinion, those people are wrong! I thought I was in good shape, working out 2-3 times a week at the gym. So, I was shocked when I did my first workout at Curves. This workout 'kicked my butt'! I am hooked! In 3 visits I feel every muscle in my body, so I know this workout is working. I look forward to becoming a long time member.
posted Feb 5th, 2011 4:01 pmnikki
I joined curves a two months ago. I try to go for two or three days a week. I like it alot .Everybody is very nice and polite. It gives me motivation and good start for the day. I am looking forward to loose some weight , Although I am not over weight, but I think its good for health.
posted Jan 19th, 2011 3:42 amCindy
I love Curves! I am in my 40's & look forward to my workouts with the ladies! As for children, mine are grown, but women shouldn't expect it's ok to take their children with them everywhere! I like the no children policy because not everyone will think your child is well behaved and frankly it's a lot nicer without them there! Take some Mom time & get a sitter for an hour!
posted Sep 10th, 2010 7:50 pmDeeann
This is the best 30 minute workout! No need to figure out which weights and adjust. CurvesSmart does it for me and on my 2 days between 3 regular days, the workouts are lighter (auto adjusted to ME). I sweat but am not sore and no need for an armband as the pulse is checked on an elliptical each round. It's super because when I travel, I know where I can find a quick workout, too. Friendly, caring support all around.
posted Jul 9th, 2010 2:27 pmsandra
This was a terrible experience. The 'trainer' asked about my medical conditions...which she did not understand. Then pushed me thru a workout, which I could not do...and brushed off my request to quit..I hurt myself and ended up in PT for 6 months.
posted Jul 8th, 2010 1:39 pmThat and the 'founder' is a scum bucket that was in prison for not paying child support and now is on the family first band wagon.
Pegg
I joined Curves in early May 2010, I really lost 8 lbs in 7 weeks. I work out at Curves about 5 days a week. I must say it really works for me. Certainly I also cut down some calories intake and it does help a lot.
posted Jul 1st, 2010 8:20 pm