You know that exercise can help you look and feel better. Did you also know that it can have a positive--and measurable--effect on your overall health and well-being?

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, regular physical activity, like the three-day-a-week Curves program, substantially reduces the risk of such diseases as coronary heart disease, stroke, colon cancer, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and high blood pressure. It also helps to control weight; contributes to health bones, muscles and joints; helps to relieve the pain of arthritis; and reduces the symptoms of anxiety and depression.

If, like many women, you are overwhelmed by traditional gyms and don't have a lot of time for exercise, Curves may be the answer for you. Curves provides a safe, efficient and effective workout for women of all ages and fitness levels, in an environment that's comfortable and welcoming. The Curves workout takes just 30 minutes, three times a week. And, as research has shown,* it works!

HOW CURVES WORKS

The Curves program includes all five components of exercise--warm up and cool down, cardio, strength training and stretching--and works every major muscle group while helping you keep your heart rate in your target training zone. Researchers from the Baylor University Exercise and Sports Nutrition Laboratory, led by Dr. Richard Kreider, Ph.D., found that during the Curves workout, women increased their heart rate enough to improve cardiovascular fitness and also improved their muscular strength.

The Curves resistance machines allow exercisers to push and pull fluid through hydraulic cylinders, reducing the potential for injury. Many of the machines work opposing muscle groups simultaneously, making the workout fast and efficient. The equipment's resistance also increases to meet the power you generate, so you'll always get out of it what you put into it.

In fact, Baylor researchers found that the least fit exercisers burned 164 to 238 calories during their 30 minute Curves workout, while the most fit burned as many as 522 calories. The adjustable intensity of the Curves program helps women stick with the workout to achieve real, ongoing weight loss, and improve fitness and overall health.

SUPPORTING RESEARCH

The 15 studies that have been conducted at Baylor to date have found that inactive and overweight women who followed the Curves program for 14 weeks were able to lose weight and keep it off. During the ten week dieting phase, study participants lost an average of 14 pounds. They also lost an average of two inches from their hips and three inches from their waists, while showing a 20- to 30-percent improvement in strength and a 15 percent increase in endurance. The program also had a positive effect on their overall health and well-being -- their cholesterol level, heart rate and blood pressure all improved.

In addition to physical health benefits, the Curves workout also improves women's self esteem. After 14 weeks of three Curves workouts a week, women in the Baylor study rated their "quality of life" higher than those who did not exercise.

DESIGNED FOR WOMEN

Unlike traditional gym equipment that needs to be adjusted for each person and is typically sized for men, Curves equipment was designed specifically for women. It's arranged in a circle so exercisers face one another. The workout is accompanied by upbeat music, a cue CD to alert members when to move to the next piece of exercise equipment and a qualified exercise coach to encourage exercisers and ensure proper form.

While studies have confirmed that group exercise increase the likelihood that people will make a habit out of exercise, Curves also adds a supportive dynamic. There's no competition because no one is performing the same exercise at the same time. Instead, Curves members work out in a fun, social environment that they report does not feel like exercise.

SUPERIOR CONVENIENCE

With more than 10,000 locations benefiting over 4 million women, Curves is the world's largest fitness franchise--so there's likely to be a location convenient to you. Planning a trip? With your Curves Travel Pass, available at your club, you have access to work out at any Curves in the world.

*The Exercise and Sports Nutrition Laboratory at Baylor University, led by Dr. Richard Kreider, Ph.D., FACSM, has conducted 15 studies examining the Curves program. The research is sponsored by an unrestricted research grant from Curves.