Ladies Workout Express and Curves are both companies with workout facilities around the world. Both companies market exclusively toward women to make them more comfortable in the workout facility. Both companies also market their workout programs as 30-minute total body routines. Despite these similarities, there are some major differences between Ladies Workout Express and Curves.
About Curves
Curves is the largest fitness franchise in the world with over 10,000 locations according to the company's website. Curves facilities are franchises that are available for purchase by individuals. Curves was founded in 1992 with one facility in Harlingen, Texas and since then the company has seen rapid growth through franchising. The Curves workout premise focuses on a 30-minute workout that purportedly exercises every major muscle group and burns up to 500 calories by using strength training, cardio and stretching.
About Ladies Workout Express
Ladies Workout Express is a branch of the Lady of America Franchise Corporation, which has been around for over 20 years according to the company website. The company also owns LOA Fitness for Women, Lady of America Fitness Clubs, Workout Express and Health Clubs of America. Ladies Workout Express markets a 30-minute fitness program that like Curves features circuit training that combines both strength training and cardio. According to the Ladies Workout Express website, the Ladies Workout Express fitness equipment features specially designed equipment that have more settings than standard weight machines have.
Similarities
Both Ladies Workout Express and Curves promote 30-minute workouts that feature about a dozen machines mixed with cardio stations between weight lifting. These cardio stations feature recovery boards at Curves and both recovery boards and step aerobics stations at Ladies Workout Express. Both workout programs involve circuit training in which you perform one high repetition set at each training station. Usually, you will perform over 15 to 20 repetitions and then train on the recovery board for one minute between strength exercises. The programs are designed to keep up heart rate and burn more fat and calories by incorporating cardio and aerobic exercise into strength training.
Differences
Ladies Workout Express claims that their workout machines feature two hydraulic pistons instead of a standard one and that the its equipment features 10 adjustable resistance settings. This is designed to challenge the body and in turn conform to each individual user better. Ladies Workout Express also features an on-site trainer at each club during business hours. Curves meanwhile offers free weight management diet and nutrition classes. In addition, Curves has electronic equipment that they call Curves Smart. This program acts as an electronic personal coach that customizes workouts based on computer printouts of your heart rate, intensity and reps. According to the Curves website, all of this info is monitored during each workout. Curves also has many more locations than Ladies Workout Express.
Cost
The membership costs for both companies are very similar at most locations. Since both are franchises, costs can vary slightly at different locations because of marketing plans or demand. According to Princeton University's Task Force on Health & Well-Being, as of 2005 Ladies Workout Express enrollment fees ranged from $50 to $99. During the same period in 2005, Curves enrollment fees ranged from $29 to $39. In addition to enrollment fees, you must also pay monthly membership fees. As of 2005, Ladies Workout Express monthly fees ranged from $30 to $50 and Curves monthly fees ranged from $29 to $39.
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