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Joined: Fri Aug 24, 2007 1:00 am
Posts: 101
Location: Nearly There
Low-Carb Plan: Atkins-Protein Power-Me
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 Permanent Results Without Permanent Dieting:
the Curves for Women Weight Loss Method by Gary Heavin & Jane Manley 03-01-2003It finally happened. There is now "a Curves for Women" near me, too, so when my local radio station began handing out free trial memberships to the new fitness center in early January, I began calling in, until I succeeded in getting a free 2-week trial.
I hope you'll excuse me if I cheer as I tell you that Curves for Women, one of fastest-growing franchises in this country, has been ranked by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of "the best new franchises" in their annual survey, and is now listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the 'World's Largest Fitness Franchise'. Why am I cheering about this? Do I own stock? No! (I wish!)
I am cheering because Curves for Women is COMPLETELY pro-low carb! HURRAH!!!!! More ground is being gained by "our side" every day!
I like Gary Heavin's more moderate and down-to-earth approach to weight loss, and I believe this plan will work for many people - as far as weight loss goes, anyway. I am not sure about the long-term health aspects of this plan, because the data just isn't there.... but you can say that about LOTS of diet plans! The MOST important thing is finding something that actually works, for each individual, and because we are individuals, no 'one' plan will ever fit 'all'. I do believe this plan will prove to be a better fit for many people who may have have had trouble sticking to one of the more stringent controlled carb plans, such as Atkins and Protein Power.
This author provides two choices for diets, depending on your answers to a test designed to determine if you are more carbohydrate intolerant or calorie intolerant. One plan consists of simply counting carbs, and the other involves both carb AND calorie counting. Calorie counters are able to eat more carbs than straight carb counters, but make no mistake - both plans are decidedly low carb. Both plans rely on the inclusion of the Curves fitness workout, thirty minutes (make that an hour with stretching and cool downs and so on) three times per week. (I'll get to more on that in a minute.) The maintenance part of his plans include eating a lot of whatever you want once you reach your goal. This is the part that makes me question whether this is the healthiest course of action, because I am convinced after all the research I have done that eating lower carbs on a consistent basis and shunning refined carbs for life is important for overall long term good health and not just for weight control... I am intrigued with this author 's assertion, however, that you should plan to gain just a few pounds, on purpose, after reaching goal, then go back to the original diet until you reach goal again, then eat whatever you want, again, until you gain the same amount back, and lose it again, and so on.... The idea of this deliberate back and forth gain and lose cycle is to ultimately 'heal' your metabolism. He says that each time you do this, you will be able to eat 'whatever you want' for longer periods of time without gain, until eventually you arrive at a point when you never diet and yet are always slim. Sounds great!!! A reasonable eating plan that doesn't leave you starving, coupled with an enjoyable, easy workout routine in the friendly all-women Curves atmosphere - yes, I think this plan could really help most women who need to lose weight or get fit! And the people who have a hard time with the gain and lose cycle, will probably just stick with the low carb eating plan anyway.... after all, WE all know how addictive this way of eating becomes once it starts working, don't we?
I did just one week of the Curves workouts, because the one 'near me' is a half hour's drive away. If it were in my own town, I would have seriously considered buying a membership. I actually inquired yesterday as to the availability of buying a franchise for here in Gypsum, but population densities, or whatever criteria they base franchise locations on, do not permit another location in this county yet. I guess you're stuck with me on this website, then.... no "gym diva" title in my near future... (I believe membership rates vary by location, so you'll need to call and get those yourself if interested, sorry.)
Anyway - I think the Curves workouts are GREAT!! There are ten 'stations', set up in a large circle. Five machines and five ... motion stations, I guess you could call them.... pleasant upbeat music playing in the background .... you do thirty seconds on a machine (taking your time cues from a voice that speaks over the background music) then move to the next motion station and move in place however you wish... I just sort of danced.... then move on to the next machine for 30 seconds, and so on, with free movement between each machine. You go around the circle three times, and you're done, except for stretching. Every ten minutes, you are cued to stop moving and check your heart rate, to make sure you are not overdoing it. Because all the machines are resistance based, YOU control the intensity of the workout and should never really 'outgrow' the workout. Depending on how fast/hard you push, the resistance increases, and your workout gets harder. If you are just beginning to work out and are not in great shape, don't worry, you will still be able to complete the thirty minute workout without feeling like an idiot or a big failure. You won't need to learn a bunch of terms like gluteus or pectoral, you just need to pay some attention the first time you are shown the proper form for each machine and exercise, and then go for it. Curves has designed the machines to work every part of your body, making it both easy and fast for any woman, regardless of schedule, to fit a regular all over workout into their life. Because it is women only, the atmosphere is relaxed. There are no super models clad in Spandex preening for the male members, there are just other women who are also there to work out and get back to their busy lives. If you know in your heart that you are not exercising they way you should be, I strongly urge you to visit http://www.curvesinternational.com, find a Curves location near you, call them, and inquire about a free trial. It could just be the best thing you've done for yourself this year!
THE EDITION I REVIEWED IS OUTDATED, but was revised 12/2004: Buy Updated Book at Amazon
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Tell me ... what fits in your schedule better: Exercising and prepping food for an average of an hour a day, or being/feeling dead 24 hours per day?
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