Transitioning from Low- to High-Intensity Workouts

Have you hit a weight-loss plateau? Are you getting bored with your same old, same old workout routine? Maybe you simply find yourself craving a challenge. “These are all good opportunities to make a change in your routine and do a harder workout,” says Macie Lea, Manager of Science and Kinesiology. “You should always be pushing yourself to your fullest potential when you workout, but sometimes you might need an extra little push, and a change in workout intensity can do just that.”

Step it up

If you’ve been following the traditional Curves plan—twice around the circuit, three days a week—you have many options to choose from to help raise the quality of your workouts.

Dance, box, or strengthen your way to greater fitness.

Turn up the heat by throwing your hips into a Dance class,* suggests Lea. Or add in a fourth weekly workout with Body Basics,* or the Boxing Class*. Each of these classes builds on the traditional Curves Circuit by incorporating strength exercises, dance steps, or boxing moves between each of the machines. Whatever your fitness level, you can find a program at Curves that works for you. Each of the classes will help you to get stronger, increase your flexibility and help prevent injury, setting the stage for a healthy, active future.

Reap the benefits

And what do you get for all that extra sweat? “If you’ve hit a weight-loss plateau, boosting the intensity of your workouts or of your overall week’s routine will help you jump off that plateau and begin to lose weight again or tone up faster,” points out Lea. “Mixing it up and/or raising the bar erases boredom, and it bestows important health benefits—stronger cardiovascular fitness, which translates to better heart health and greater endurance for all of life’s activities.

Plus, the challenge of a more intense workout and the accomplishment of meeting that level of intensity/challenge is something you’ll feel really good about. And who doesn’t enjoy a little boost in self-esteem every now and then?

The Curves women’s gym workout is convenient, combining strength training and cardio plus stretching – all in just 30 minutes – to strengthen your whole body. For more information about Curves and the full body workouts the Curves Circuit provides, visit ‘Why Curves’.

*At participating locations only.