Curves is a popular weight loss program with fitness centers across the United States. Curves is unique in that it is mainly a fitness program that also includes emotional support, health counseling, nutrition tips and friendship. No men are allowed in Curves fitness centers, which is one of the reasons Curves tends to attract more women clients who do not feel comfortable working out in front of men in a gym. Curves has been immensely successful as a business, most likely due to its unique philosophy and approach to fitness and health.
Curves Philosophy
The Curves chain of fitness centers has a unique philosophy full of positive energy, motivation and promoting self-esteem. Body image often is addressed during fitness sessions at Curves. Instead of extolling the image of pencil-thin women, Curves likes to promote, as its name states, curves. The centers advance the ideas that women can be healthy and happy without having a perfect-looking body and that all shapes of women are beautiful. Because only women are allowed at Curves, the centers often address women's health issues, such as breast cancer awareness.
Method
According to Diabetes Self-Management, the Curves program begins with an initial visit in which your body measurements and fat percentage are determined. These measurements can be tracked monthly for progress. The actual workouts involve circuit training. Various strength machines are set up in a circle, with cardiovascular workout stations in between them. Participants can start anywhere in the circle, joining other women at doing a 30-second interval at whatever station they choose to begin. Recordings that contain music lead the workouts and remind the women to switch stations every 30 seconds. Occasionally, the recording also reminds women to check their heart rates, which they learn how to do at the initial visit.
The Exercises
The exercises are broken down into strength and cardiovascular exercises, and then further broken down into exercises for different parts of the body, according to Diabetes Self-Management. The majority of the cardiovascular stations do not have equipment, but rather have an empty platform with an assigned movement such as jogging in place, marching or doing a specific dance move. The exercises are designed to keep you at 60 to 80 percent of your maximum heart rate throughout the workout.
Effectiveness
The Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism evaluated the effectiveness of the Curves fitness center approach by enlisting 161 obese women in a study. Women were divided into groups, one with no exercise or diet control, one group with a Curves exercise program but no diet assigned and several groups in which diet and a Curves exercise program were assigned. All of the groups assigned to Curves exercise programs significantly increased their muscular fitness. Those who participated in Curves exercise sessions while dieting lost the most weight. An interesting note is that the groups that participated in Curves exercise sessions reported significantly improved qualities of life and body images.
Cost
According to Diabetes Self-Management, the Curves weight loss program usually has a one-time initiation fee of $149, which sometimes is waived during special times each year. Monthly dues for using the Curves circuit as often as you like are usually between $29 and $59. Essentially, the program costs anywhere from 96 cents to $1.97 each day. Prices may change depending on the time of the year, the location of the Curves weight loss center and individual management.
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