Getting Fit Again with Curves: No Excuses + ONE MONTH UPDATE

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Thank you Curves International for sponsoring this post. Ready to get #CurvesStrong?

For years I’ve said that I didn’t have time to work out. When I worked outside the home I just headed to the gym before work or attended a  lunch time yoga class . Both were conveniently located at my workplace of predominately women. It was easy and inexpensive and I loved the results I could see in my body.

Once I had kids things really changed. I was tired often and had little energy. I felt my time was precious each day and I wanted to spend that working, doing chores or actually getting a little “me” time in. Three kids later, my youngest has now headed off to kindergarten. I have absolutely no excuses. When I was offered a month long trial at my local Curves, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. I look forward to getting fit again with Curves®!

Are you like me and thought Curves was only for older women or that you couldn’t get a hard workout? After working out here several times I’ve learned that both are not true.

What makes Curves special?

No Makeup, No Men, No Mirrors. That is right. No men are allowed. Period. As a larger chested woman who already is insecure about my body, this is huge. It is much easier to workout and work myself hard if I know there are no men watching me do it. Not having to eye myself in the mirror or worry about makeup also makes me feel more comfortable.

You only need 30 minutes. Yes, really, just a half hour for a total body workout. By enrolling in the Curves Fitness® Program, women are able to participate in a 30 minute, total-body workout on strength training machines. These circuit classes are designed to burn fat, increase strength, and kick start weight loss. Everyone has 30 minutes in a day!

You get CurvesSmart, a digital coaching system. This system tracks your workouts and gives you progress reports detailing muscles worked, calories burned and more. And it isn’t only at the end of your workout. As you move from machine to machine it will give you instant feedback and motivate you to push harder based on your own fitness level.

You use hydraulic strength training machines.  These machines are awesome and need no adjusting. You can quickly and easily move through the circuit, saving you tons of time over traditional gym equipment. But trust me, they can give anyone at any level a strong work out. Your intensity level is changed by how fast you do the movements.

What does a Curves workout look like?

While some classes are available, you can stop in at any time and work the circuit. You spend 30 seconds on one of the hydraulic machines, working as hard and fast as you can before spending another 30 seconds on the mat for cardio to get your heart rate up. If you follow one of the workout videos that are playing, trust me, the mat work can get really intense. But the Curves system is really designed to work everyone at their own rate and goals so you are free to do whatever you want on the mat. Some woman dance or do a light jog while others do planks, squats, jumping jacks or other high intensity movements. The workout is really what you make of it.

For a standard workout you move through all 12 stations twice, with the video reminding everyone to change stations either to the next machine or mat.

Curves Specialty Classes. These classes are designed for women of all ages and activity levels. They include body basics, balance, boxing and cardio. Each Curves has a different owner so how exactly they chose to run their classes may be a bit different. Some will have set times for specific classes while others will take requests from people who stop in.

What is the Curves facility like?

Curves locations are usually ranges between 1,200 to 2,500 square feet. There is an area for monthly coaching session, a stretching area, changing room and products display.

What is Curves Complete?

Besides getting a total body workout, with Curves Complete, women have a fully integrated, personalized weight loss and weight management solution that includes the Curves fitness program, customizable meal plans and one-on-one coaching and support.

My Curves Experience

So far I’ve really enjoyed working out at my local Curves. The first time I went was to get a tour of the facility and learn more about the program. The second and third time I had a coach go through the whole circuit with me to show how to use the machines with proper form. We also went through all the stretches for the end of the workout. By my fourth visit I felt I had the workout down and didn’t need help. But there is a coach available throughout your workout to answer any questions or make your experience more enjoyable.

I won’t lie, I was so sore for a couple of days after my two workouts and learning all the machines at first felt a little overwhelming. But everyone is so nice, supportive and helpful.  By my third time I felt comfortable with my workout and really enjoyed how I felt afterwards. The support system here is really great and I loved how encouraging the other members were for someone just starting out.

I feel like this is a great place for me to reach my goal of getting fit again with Curves and feeling more confident in my body. Curves has been around for more than 25 years and is committed to providing women with the tools necessary to empower them to live more fulfilling lives. What is not to love about that?

ONE MONTH UPDATE:

My one month trial may be over but my journey at Curves is not. I’ve decided to become an official member! All of the ladies I’ve met have been absolutely wonderful and supportive and I’m happy to continue to get in shape in a place that I feel so comfortable. One of the hardest aspects of working out is really getting into a routine and now that I’ve gotten into the groove, I’m not going to stop now!

Be sure to visit Curves.com to set up an appointment and start your own journey!

 

This post was sponsored by Curves International but the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.