[McLynnan]

I'm grateful to hear your description of Curves. A new one is opening near me in a few weeks and I'd been curious about what type of program it is. Do they work with you individually for a custom program, or does everybody do the same thing?

[Inspectorette]

It's not individualized, it's almost like a synchronized program. There are 18 "stations", set up in a circle, and you change "stations" every 35-45 seconds. The stations alternate between resistance machines that are geared for specific parts of the body - leg curls, squat, obliques, bicep-tricep, ab-back, etc., and the jogging pads, which they call "recovery stations". Approximately every 7-8 minutes, there's a 10-second heart rate check. They do work with you the first time you go in order to instruct you on the proper movements for the machines.

It takes about 35 minutes to go three times around the circuit, and it really goes by fast. You definitely don't get bored. Then you do some cool-down stretching, and that's it. There are no showers, no pools,or anything fancy. The one I go to is set up in a small strip mall about a mile from my home.

What I like is that there are very, very few 20-year old hardbodies (love 'em, but they make me feel old and frumpy). Thare are some women who are really heavy, who are also on the Curves diet program. I haven't gotten into that yet (although I should lose 20 pounds), just don't have the motivation yet.

I do feel like I've toned up quite a bit though, the love handles seems to be tightening up, the back of the upper arm (bat wings) are starting to melt away.

I think all Curves for Women offer a free one-time trial run through the circuit, and I would definitely recommend giving it a try to see if you like it.