Apparently, I’m not the only one intrigued by thick sweats, over-sized t-shirts, and the company of 60 year olds while working out. I’ve received a few emails with questions, and here are my answers.
- The workout is 20 minutes (2 circuits) long. If you do the stretching afterward, it’s 30 minutes. Each station is 30 seconds long. So I work out on a machine for 30 seconds then jump to a recovery platform for 30 seconds.
- I work out at 7am. Curves doesn’t offer childcare, so I need to be back home early enough for the Mister to leave for work on time.
- I pay $34 a month. I think this is expensive, since the Mister’s full-package gym membership is only $22 a month, but worth it so far. I think the price discrepancy reflects the size difference in establishments. He works out with 50 or more people at a time, I work out with 5.
- The workout is as strenuous as you make it, so in my case it’s a good workout. You can burn up to 500 calories, depending on how hard you work. The older woman next to me can talk the entire time, and does. She doesn’t really break a sweat, either. I, on the other hand, can’t speak, can’t stop sweating,–and at the end of the workout–can’t move.
- They do offer a way for you to see how effective your workout is if you belong to a club with Smart Equipment. On my 4th visit (tomorrow, for those of you counting) they will program with my height and weight a little card that looks very much like a supermarket key-ring club card. At each machine station I insert the card and based on my data and performance, the machine calculates my exertion and calories burned. At the end of the workout I’ll insert my card in a computer near the changing rooms. The computer reads the card and gives me a breakdown of the calories burned, strong areas/muscles, and areas of improvement.
- Do I love it? No. I hate working out, I hate sweating, I hate exercise. The most you will ever get out of me is that it’s ok, as far as exercising goes. I’m only doing this because it’s good for me and sets a good example for the boys. Also, if I have any hope of losing weight I need to burn more calories than I take in. With my sedentary lifestyle, I would have to eat perfectly all the time to maintain my weight–let alone lose any! Exercising gives me the wiggle room to be human when it comes to food.
I think those were the most common questions, and I hope I did a good job answering them. Ask away if you have any more!
p.s. Sorry for the boring post!
Good for you, Jules! Starting is always the hardest. Well, that and KEEPING IT UP. So, keep going! The best part about your plan is that you know when it’s over and it’s only 20 minutes AND since you’re doing it so early in the day, you’ll think to yourself later in the day “I should exercise. No wait..I DID ALREADY! YAY!!”
Jen, that’s I think Curves is the best thing for me right now. I can’t imagine doing an hour workout, and I can’t imagine working out in the evening. I’m tired as it is!
Nothing against Curves but have you thought about get a treadmill and a BowFlex? I just went to check out a local gym (local for me is 25 miles round trip) and with their joining fee and monthly fee, I think we will try to get a BowFlex. I got a treadmill for under $300 at Sears Weslo Treadmill, Cadence 80. The big problem is not enough room for the equipment.
AP4C– I hear what you’re saying, but neither is an option–at least not now. A top of the line treadmill sat in my garage, used maybe twice, for almost three years. I just gave it to my mom, who used hers until it wore out (almost 10 years!). The only thing I would use a bowflex for is to hang clothes. I know how I am, and I need to have someplace to go, with people expecting me, if I have any chance of keeping up with my work out routine.
Maybe one day I will be intrisically motivated, but not today! :)
Oh, and I have no room in my house for equipment! They both would have to be outside, and since I live so close to the desert, I wouldn’t use it for the better part of 4 months. During the summer it can reach the mid 90s before 9am.
What I really loved about Curves is that I could get in and out. There was no waiting around for machines and it fit around my schedule. I agree that I loathe working out, but it wasn’t so bad at Curves. I hope you keep it up!
Jules,
I’ve gone both ways too! I had an ecliptic that ended up being more of a clothes hanger. I’ve also paid for 2 years of a gym that I never went to. Hence my hesitation to join another one. I’ve been good with the treadmill but here I am again about to lose the same 20 pounds for the 3 time in 4 years. UGH!!
I didn’t know you stopped exercising! I assumed you were still doing great. Curves is about 3 miles from my house, so distance isn’t a factor. Motivation…that’s another story. But the Mister is really proud of me, so that helps…on day 4. We’ll see how much it helps 30 days in. ;)
Oh, and I also had a gym membership that I never used. That’s why I’m hoping Curves works–there isn’t much thought to it, unlike the gym (at least for me).
Yeah, I was doing really good (almost back to full jogging) just before Christmas and then my knee locked up. Had it looked at and I’m starting to get athritis in my right knee. No more jogging for me and its been had to get back into it since then.
We’ll keep you motivated!!