Dangerous Curves Ahead

Dangerous Curves Ahead - We all dream about the perfect hourglass figure. Unfortunately, however, many of us have all the sand in the bottom. Our constant struggle with our hips and thighs is a common topic for many of us women during our midday luncheons and impromptu coffee meet-ups.

Thankfully, a leading fitness franchise in the world, Curves, has come to the Kingdom to help us take control of our curvaceous figures.

Located behind Patchi among the slew of fitness centers opening up on Tahlia St. in Jeddah, Curves is the only one made especially for women — from the supportive atmosphere of trainers and nutritionists, to the machines that were specifically designed to optimize weight loss in the female body. Women swear by the 30-minute, 3 times a week fitness regiment. And, the best part is they all say the same thing: The weight stays off!

The Curves workout provides the key components for optimum health: Cardiovascular training, strength training and stretching. The program is designed around circuit training, which utilizes hydraulic resistance equipment instead of weights, eliminating time wasted adjusting weight stacks, as well as providing the user with the correct amount of resistance based on effort exerted. In other words, the intensity of the hydraulic resistance machines depends on the speed of the user. That also means you’ll never outgrow the intensity of the machines. As you become stronger and more physically fit, the machines will provide greater resistance, elevating your heart rate and overloading your muscles for the best workout.

The program consists of two rounds of the circuit, which includes the 12 hydraulic resistance machines that alternate between recovery stations. The station consists of a springboard on which a person will continue to do some sort of freestanding aerobic activity (i.e. running in place, jumping jacks, etc). The first round is considered the warm up round, while speed and intensity are substantially increased on the second, only to slow down again towards the end. This gives your body a proper warm up and cool down as you begin and end the workout.

At thirty-second intervals, an automated voice instructs you when to proceed to the next station. Furthermore, every eight minutes, the voice will remind you to take a ten-second heart rate check. The Curve Coach will explain the posted heart rate chart in which you are to reference. It’s quite simple: Find your age in the column on the left, and move across to find your target heart rate. The columns are divided into a red first category, denoting 50 percent, which consists of people with special health concerns such as high blood pressure, asthma, pregnancy, etc. The second column, which is yellow, denotes 60 percent, which is where the majority of people fall under. The remaining columns are for those who are more physically fit.

“Working out at your target heart rate guarantees that you’re getting the optimal cardiovascular benefit at a safe yet effective level,” explained Najlaa Abdullah, a Curves Coach. As the physical conditioning of the person improves, she will have to work even harder to raise her heart rate to its target level, she added.

“The intensity of a double positive strength-training machine easily elevates and sustains your target heart rate,” says Dalia Farsi, General Manager of Curves. The circuit ensures a full body workout through the placement of machines and recovery stations: You move from an upper body strength machine to a recovery station to a lower body strength machine and so on. Thus, it provides both strength and cardiovascular training simultaneously.

“A woman can burn up to 500 calories with our 30-minute workout. It works every major muscle group and gives you results that last,” Farsi explained. You also get the total support of Curve trainers who are present to motivate you through each step and keep you at your targeted heart rate.

At the end of the circuit training — when muscles are still warm — there is the stretching station for static stretching. “Stretching is extremely important,” said Abdullah. “It helps to maintain the range of motion and integrity of the joints.”

The instructors are more than happy to explain the specific Curves stretches. “Curves is perfect for every type of woman: From 18 to 80, from overweight to the physically fit,” explained Abdullah. Other than loosing those “shawarma” thighs, the benefits include a stronger heart, toner muscles and flexible joints.

Another cool benefit of Curves is that you never have to worry that you’ll turn into a female Arnold Schwarzenegger — the hydraulic machines won’t let you gain too much muscle. First off, most women do not have the testosterone levels necessary to gain a lot of muscle and their preset genetic potential allows only for a set amount of muscularity. For strength-training newbies, you may gain one to two kilos of muscle rather quickly, but will stop once you reach your potential for muscle gain. As you continue to burn body fat, your muscles will become more firmed and toned, looking leaner and smaller.

“It’s too late now, I’ll never make it to Spin class” or “Body Pump just never seems to be at a convenient time for me” are no longer legitimate excuses (if there ever really were in the first place). The best part of Curves has been saved for last: You need not rush to a class or worry about your workout time fitting into your busy schedule ever again! Because when you show up, your workout begins. Just jump in anywhere there is a station open and move in the same direction as everyone else!

Just check it out! Curves is providing free consultations for women interested in the program. “Curves is not just about losing weight. It’s about educating people on a healthy lifestyle,” said Farsi. ( arabnews.com )