It really depends what you are looking for or what you like doing. I've heard mixed reviews about curves. Personally I think it's too expensive and not that great a work out. Are you wanting to lose weight? Or just get toned and healthy? I've recently started water fit classes. I'm quite overweight and out of shape and have back problems. Once I got over my fear of wearing a bathing suit, I started going and find it an amazing workout and great for all fitness levels. I've had friends join walking or running clinics and those are great and social too. I'm not a fan of the gym, simply because it's so expensive and can be really busy. I feel if you get some weights, an exercise ball, a mat and good shoes you've got it made. Enjoy the outdoors, do exercise at home.

Go to the gym and just start by doing things that will keep your interest and then work toward areas of the body you want to work on do not go to just lose weight. Its more to just feel and be healthy.

I go to the gym (youfit) and I love it!

I ride there on a bicycle (about 4 miles), then do 10 mins. warm-up on the ARC trainer (kind of a stand-up bike), then concentrate on the arms and legs.

My back handles exercises that push weight AWAY from the body better than my back handles exercises that pull weight TOWARD the body. With the exception of arm curls, I try to avoid such exercises. They hurt my back. Pushing away from the body, especially bench-pressing, laying on my back and pushing up with free-weights, is great for my back, pushes my back muscles into their appropriate position, even give me a sort of chiropractic back-crack, cracking the spine into its normal position.

I typically do 3 sets of 10-15 reps of:

Bench-Press
Leg Raise
Arm Curl
Leg Lower
Pec Press (similar to bench-press but sitting up and using rack weights)

You ladies typically like to tone the thighs and glutes. As shanaban said, it's about what you want to do: Shrink or tone?

If shrink, bicycling works great for me. My glutes are firm and rock-hard after a 10-mile bike-ride. If tone, resistance-training, pushing weight is the way.

Of course, diet plays a HUGE part in losing weight. And remember, it's not as much about losing WEIGHT (you'll actually GAIN weight when you build muscle); it's about losing FAT.

So don't pay so much attention to the scale as pay attention to how you do how you look and feel (strong, energetic and healthy).

Oh, and I always FOLLOW a work-out with 15-20 mins. on the ARC trainer, then bike-ride the 4 miles back home to my place.

The "cool-down" period AFTER a workout is so important in turbo-charging the metabolism to burn fat and calories. Then when you eat a small, sensible meal after, your highly-metabolically-charged-from-the-workout body burns the food right up.

I then follow the small meal with a good night of sleep, and, next day, on a "rest day", I look and feel tip-top!

So a short period of cardio before pushing weight, then a longer period of cardio after pushing weight.

there are actually some pretty good weight loss and fitness support groups here on DS. i am in one personally.

i just really started to crack down hard too. like, really hard with my food. today i have had protein shakes, oatmeal, a banana, raisins and raw broccoli and carrots. oh, i guess i did have a granola bar. i havent totally decided what will be done for dinner yet.

make small goals for yourself first.

my first goal is to get back down to 135 lbs. once i hit that i will start adding weight-training back into my routine.

my second goal is to get to 130 by june 30th (my anniversary).

my third goal is to be able to bench press 90 lbs.

my fourth goal is vague, but i just want to be in good enough shape by my 30th bday next year that i feel comfortable laying down on the tattoo chair to get my hips tattooed! i finally got my hubs permission, but i am just not in good enough shape to sport it right now?

Way to go Des I want to see what you got when you are done. : )

I have been taking baby steps to weightloss for a while. I went on a 3 mile walk today. I probably ate more than I should I had cheerios, a hard boiled egg, an apple, a salad and a turkey sandwich and I drank TONS of water. Like 8 cups. I think I had a total of 950 calories but I feel tired and have a headache so idk.

I think it really depends on which diet you try. I know one in particular that you eat small meals all day long. You switch out fruit, protein, and vegetables and I know that there was some big results. Plus you get to eat all day like every three and 1/2 hours. Main thing is to just not over do it and set small goals for yourself.

I agree that the gym is the best. It feels a little bit social being there working out with others. Also, water exercise is great.
As for the diet, make sure you're doing something that you really can live with long term and be happy. I've heard great things about Weight Watchers. For me, a big part of weight management is knowing which foods are my weakness and flat out avoiding those. I have to keep tempting foods out of my reach, out of sight, and rarely by those things at the grocery. I DON'T eat a "dessert" every day. There are healthy snacks that I enjoy as much and I don't have to feel guilty. And all those great, fattening dessert recipes shared on Facebook, don't even bother. Why create more temptation for yourself?
I hope you find an exercise program that works for you. Some people like the comfort and convenience of working out at home with stretch bands and all that. Personally, I do so much better going to the gym. So just find what makes you happy!

Make sure you are doing a balanced diet. If you are drinking tons of water, be sure to get more potassium into you.
There are app and websites out there that can help you plan the right diet/exercise that will fit into your life. I think one is called calorie count.

I don't think you should be thinking about the gym with your pelvic problems right now. Discuss it with your doctor when you get that taken care of.
And gyms are costly. Curves, a bit of a fad. And structured. It's low impact, timed, repetitive and structured..
Machine, then do an activity in a circle, machine, circle and so on. All while being in a circle and looking at others doing the same thing.


You have to sign contracts with many gyms. Curves included. Read the fine print on any of them before you join. Many are hard to get released from.

Walking, swimming, biking, hiking can all be great forms of exercise that don't cost very much and you don't have to be married to it forever.

MsViv I think you're right I shouldnt be doing too much because the pain in my stomach but I think a lifestyle change would be good for me. My stepdad bought me these amazing running shones because he saw that I liked them and he went out and got them so im going to be doing hiking and walkingv and slowly working my way up to running. Running is harder for me because I have a breathing problem and its kinda scary

Your breakfast sounds pretty good to me! Allow an hour after breakfast before exercising to digest.

If you're going to eat a lot, the earliest meal of the day should be the biggest meal per day. Gives the body some calories to start its daily activities. Then eat small meals, often, the rest of the day. They keep the metabolism moving.

You'll actually lose more weight eating 5 small meals a day than eating one large meal and then nothing the rest of the day!

I am a gym instructor at Silhouettes, Golds Gym and Inside-Out Fitness

Silhouettes which is like a Curves is awesome for women who do not want to feel intimidated. They offer group fitness classes with all different levels of intensity. Its a great starting point, then you can move onto larger gyms with more options once you are comfortable.

I am at the gym 5-6 days a week, if not instructing, I am working out. I first started with Zumba then moved up from there.

Lost 80 lbs and never looked back :)

DaniRae: All I've got to say is--WOW!!!