women-only gyms

[treelizard]

Anybody have any experience in Curves or any of the other chick gyms? Pros and cons? Any info you can share?

[treelizard]

All right, since nobody responded, I will post my $.02 after checking out Curves and doing some research, etc. I was ready to sign up before I showed up, brought my checkbook and everything, but I was so sorely disappointed that I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

I can see how this gym would be really good for women who never get any exercise at all or who feel uncomfortable in traditional gyms. The music is not ridiculously loud, there aren't a lot of guys around trying to "help" you with the machines, the price is pretty good ($29/mo plus anywhere between 70 and 140 to sign up), you don't have to manage weight stacks because it's based on the hydraulic system (push/pull), and you only spend 30 seconds on each machine (a voice even tells you when it's time to move and when its time to check your pulse). Between the machines there are little mats where you are supposed to do little exercises or run in place.

But the bad part is that I barely broke a sweat! Supposedly the faster you go the harder it is, the more weight the machines respond to, etc. but I was on several machines where I felt like I was waiting for the machine to catch up with me! I mean, if I'm going to pretend I can get in shape for a half hour each day three days a week, I at least want to be getting a killer workout, out of breath, sweat and everything. Also I don't take too well to being told I'm not allowed to spend more than 30 seconds on each machine, and only 2 circuits. Hell, if I want to spend a half hour on the stepper, I'm paying dues, right? Also you are not allowed to use the little platforms between stations as steppers, you're supposed to stay on them the whole time.

Also, the women there were pretty out of shape. I can understand if some of the employees are, but the OWNER was out of shape. Furthermore, they didn't really seem to understand the machines very well. At one ab machine, I told the woman, "I don't feel anything in my abs at all, I feel it in my arms." And she really didn't know what to say, what adjustments to make, or anything... Oh, and did I mention one of the employees who was "leading free workouts" was wearing a DRESS?! She couldn't even demo some of the machines.

There is no sauna or pool or showers. I suppose this is to keep costs down, but it bummed me out a bit.

Lastly, the hours are really bad. They close early in the day and are closed on Sundays, and they close during lunch, too.

I *really* need to join a gym anyway and Gold's isn't cutting it, and the Y was terrible, but I just found a 24-hour gym. It's not walking distance, but there is no contract (Curves has year-long contracts), you can make appointments to learn how to work the weights as many times as you want for free, they have personal trainers (I thought of just setting goals and meeting with them once a month or so, since it gets pricey), and did I mention it's open 24 hours?

[seppuku]

this might be an obvious comment... but dont go to Curves then...
that would be a gym for women who want to feel they are getting better without actaully doing anything. ive seen exercise/aerobics classes rather similar to that. dont bother if you actually want to see any results

find a normal, both gender gym unless you are really scared of men, hopefully you arent. year long contracts imply that they dont expect you to stay for a year otherwise, bear that in mind

now look at the silly thing I say.... weightlifting is a bad, bad thing for girls to do lots of. the high weight, low rep thing is not a good one. im assuming you want to look good by going to the gym, since thats why i find myself in them (i am a guy tho and could be confused there). girls covered in muscle are not sexy at all. really not a good thing to see. athletic, toned is definitely good. 6 packs are scary on a girl. huge biceps? not attractive...

best comment i could come up with at 1 in the morning

[treelizard]

LOL yes that is an obvious comment. I do think that Curves helps a certain demographic get better (like overweight or older women) and it's great that they are getting them to exercise. They do weigh in, set goals, etc. It's just that my goals are different, I guess.

I love men, believe me, but I don't like being watched when I'm working out (which I think was the gym's fault for the way the arranged the exercise machines directly facing the weights), and I don't like being distracted by strangers trying to "help" me (which has only happened at one gym, a different one than the first one).

I don't exercise to look good, I already look good. Seriously though, my primary reason for wanting to work out more regulary (I already ride my bike a lot) is to improve my martial arts training (improve stamina, core strength, etc.) Secondary is to improve circulation, and for other health reasons. Third is attitude, I seem get better sleep when I'm working out regularly, it is great stress relief, and I really love endorphins. Also somewhere in there is that setting goals and following through with them is rewarding. Oh yeah, and I always tell my clients to exercise more, so I want to walk the walk.

Good luck with your training goals.

[treelizard]

I just realized what I wrote sounded really ageist, and I didn't mean it that way. I know a lot of older women who are kickass and extremely in shape. What I meant was that out-of-shape 93-year olds can safely use the weight machines at Curves, and I don't think that's true anywhere else.

[Blue Wave Gym]

ok

me being a guy, the only experience I have with curves is one was by my tkd school, I don't think anybody knew it was there and there was one right next to my mma school and some of guys would make jokes about the women going in and out of there like, if she lost x number of lbs she'd be hot or less nice versions of the word.

[Hardball]

I belong to a message board at a weight loss site. {calorieking.com} The women their love curves and other all womens gyms because they say they can concentrate on their workout without the sexual inuendo present at unisex gyms and also they don't worry about their appearance because these women are serious about working out and not looking for a gym that is a dating service or social club.

[JAdams]

Edit... people take everything too seriously. More fun for me.

[seppuku]

would you seriously stand outsie and stare in? get out more mate.

if there are women going to this place week in, week out adn they arent lookin better for it, they're kidding themselves. let them be conned and leave them to it.

they dont care about what they look like when theres no guys present? odd but ok... how come its the ones who are so serious about working out and getting in shape that they cant bear the distraction of having guys around that also happen to be unfit? shouldnt the dedicated ones be in very good shape?

im gonna stop now before i say something more offensive.

peace

[JAdams]

Edit... people take everything too seriously. More fun for me.

[seppuku]

i wasnt trying to offend anyone. what the hell would the point to that be?
if you standing outside the plaec was not a serious comment what made you think me telling you to get out more was?

how do you figure you sitting and watching a girl helps her out at all? saying it stops her messing up becase she doesnt want to look stupid really, really doesnt work.

i think the most stupid comment in your post by far was "That's what girls are there for." right in the first paragraph. girls go to a gym so you can go and look at them? get over yourself.

i have no intention whatsoever of writing in full sentences. live with it.

peace

[treelizard]

I think there's no like cookie cutter model of what women in gyms would or would not want. Like I mentioned, I don't like being watched when I'm lifting because it makes me self-conscious (and no being watched doesn't "help" me), but I'm sure there are PLENTY of women who do. I don't think that you can judge how serious women are by whether or not they feel comfortable in certain circumstances or gyms. I have a neighbor who plays the guitar really beautifully who will mess up when people are watching him--I don't think this makes him any less serious about his music, he just hasn't gotten to the point where he can play in public. And there are a lot of musicians who suck but will play proudly in front of crowds--just go to any open mic. In addition I don't think you can judge how fit someone is just by what they look like--you don't have the "before" picture.

Women who don't want to be watched would be best served to find gyms without big clear glass windows. (And I will admit that I often stop and watch the guys in the Muay Thai gym through the big clear glass windows... but it's more to see their technique than anything, and I doubt they even know I am there.) I think that's the whole point of women-only gyms is that they are a place where women feel comfortable working out without guys watching them. Luckily, there are other options. And I too disagree that girls are there for you to watch, btw. LOL I guess that one doesn't need any more commentary. And women don't go to Curves to learn to fight... lol... too funny!!

[JAdams]

Edit... people take everything too seriously. More fun for me.

[JAdams]

Edit... people take everything too seriously. More fun for me.

[treelizard]

I agree with you that perhaps the best thing would be to not care if people watch me in a gym, however since I'm there to work out I'd rather put my full attention to working out. Therefore I express my seriousness by going to gyms where people don't stare at me.

If they didn't want people to watch I don't think they would join a gym with huge clear glass windows. If they did then that is their fault and I would watch them out of spite.

Wow, I thought you said that people who don't want to be watched aren't serious and dedicated and shouldn't take on major endeavors. So why should they have the option (by your logic) of joining gyms without people like you watching them? Aren't you saying that any woman who isn't willing to be gawked and stared at by people like you isn't serious enough?

There are girls that don't mind being looked at who aren't strippers, lol. You're a trip. Anyway, I certainly didn't mean to start an e-fight over something so trivial.