BY JENNIFER AMATO
Staff Writer
Above, gym member Thelma Comparato stretches out before her workout at the Curves of North Brunswick, which celebrates its fifth anniversary this month. Director Kristin Marchie (r) talks about the ways in which Curves of North Brunswick on Route 130 has been helping women gain physical and mental strength for five years. NORTH BRUNSWICK — To get into the best “shape” of their lives, Curves of North Brunswick has been offering women exercise and nutritional care for the past four years.
Located in Nino’s Plaza on Route 130, the fitness center for females has evolved over the past few years. Originally, owner Kristin Marchie decided to open the club after she was unable to exercise and gained 50 pounds over six years due to several knee operations. Today, the club offers more than just cardio exercises and weightlifting machines: it provides a social environment designed to strengthen women both socially and emotionally.
“Exercise is not optional for us anymore. … It is a miracle what exercise can do to impact the adverse effects of disease in any person,” she said
MIGUEL JUAREZ staff Since the opening of the gym in December 2002, the most noticeable difference is probably the change in operating hours. To accommodate working women, mothers of children and those who commute long distances, Marchie opens earlier, closes later and is available on the weekends. She even receives calls on Sundays about proper training for the upcoming week.
Another focus is responding to any requests and improving communication among all members. There is a suggestion box to cover any anonymous responses. “Curves Central” is a marker board that provides tips, quotes and news.
There is a newsletter created by Marchie herself to provide up-to-date nutritional information, weight-loss tips and exercise motivation. There are magazines and pamphlets designed to share more information, and a recipe of the week is printed for members.
In the very near future, she hopes to have three members elected to be a liaison between the client body and herself, an informal way to provide suggestions about what the women need for their exercise routine to remain fresh and effective. She would also like to create a collage of photos during members’ 100th through 500th workouts.
Marchie also holds several contests for her members to increase motivation. “Nothing to Lose” centered around weight maintenance during the holiday season, offering prizes to members who stayed within their goal from November to December. There is bingo, a dice game, birthday drawings and random trivia games.
“The huge unfailing difference between Curves and other gyms is everything in here is about empowerment,” she said.
Another bonus will be the offering of a free one-time weight membership class to all her members in January and a discount for mothers and daughters who decide to join together.
Marchie provides several courtesies to her members. The bathroom is stocked with Avon samples, blow dryers, and cosmetics. There are clean towels for everyone, and the machines are cleaned twice each day. She provides water to all of her members; whereas other gyms tend to have vending machines.
“Eighty percent of women who are dehydrated can’t distinguish between hunger and thirst,” she said. “I pay for water because I know properly hydrated women have better workouts, and they deserve it.”
In addition, she keeps the air conditioning at a lower temperature to provide for a better routine. She cited a study of Eskimos vs. Indonesians in which metabolism was more sluggish in a warmer climate.
The Curves workout program consists of a 24-minute circuit combining cardiovascular exercises with strength training movements. Marchie said that a half-hour total workout is ideal for women because that is what they are willing to do, so they do not become bored or tired or overworked, or make excuses that they can’t find the time.
The machines are powered by hydraulics so that members can proceed at their own pace. The faster a person manipulates the machine, the greater the resistance is, because the machine adjusts itself. Lively music plays as a recorded instructor announces when to switch workout stations.
The workout is based on being “FIT”: the Frequency of exercising three times a week, the Intensity of achieving a target heart rate, and the Time period of 20 minutes to sustain the target heart rate. Members stop and check their pulse every eight minutes to keep them on target.
The women are tracked on a monthly basis, recording their weight and measurements to see if the program is effective. If not, Marchie holds both the member and the club accountable and reevaluates why the plan may not be working. Marchie also offers a calling program where members who sign up can receive motivational phone calls to stay on top of their weight management.
“One of the things that makes us special is that we may not be the cheapest game in town but we’re the best because for members we try to reach women who may not want to exercise in a gym where the members are as young as their sons or grandsons, and they don’t want to wait around for a machine, or they’re afraid they don’t know how to use it,” the owner said.
Marchie also recently became certified in diabesity by the American Council on Exercise, focusing on the way diabetes and obesity relate to and contribute to each other. This year, training programs will focus on women’s issues concerning menopause, thyroid conditions and fibromyalgia. Her staff has been trained in defibrillator use since 2002, a measure that will become law this January.
“It’s time to exercise something other than our mind,” she said. “I say to North Brunswick, I’m here and I’m trying to provide quality service. Come in [because] there’s nothing like us.”