I will try and answer all of your qxs here.
For Wifty (Rebecca): at the YMCA, I went in 3-4 (or more) times per week and did 30 mins cardio on the tradmill, and twice around a traditional weight circuit. I also swam 1-2 miles every two days in the summertime and occassionally took a yoga class.
Now, here's what I do at Curves:
The Curves circuit is set up in a circle. There are 8-10 machines alternating with "recovery stations". They play music at 140 bmp, which gets you moving. You spend 30 seconds at each machine/station and go around the circle 3 times. You end your session with some flexibility excercises and rehydration at the water cooler. You get a workout that is equivalent to 1 1/2 hours in only 30 minutes. A conservative estimate says that you burn 500 calories per session.
It is recommended that you only go three times a week but it is not harmful to go more often if you want to. However, it is important that you give yourself time to rest to give your muscles a chance to build new tissue.
Speaking of muscle, Curves is not a place to gain significant muscle mass. The workout will help you lose weight and give you muscle tone. If you want significant muscles, my trainer says you can increase your workout but I have heard other trainers discourage this. Most women don't want big muscles anyway.
The program incorporates cardio/aroebic excersise and strength training plus flexibility.
The machines are not traditional weight machines. They are low-impact hydraulic resistance machines. They are actually gentler on your body than traditional weights. The difference is that you do the reps fast, instead of slow. I was leary of this at first, having come from the traditional gym where you are taught to do each rep slowly and carefully.
On hyrdraulic resistance, the faster you go, the more resistance you create. There are no weights to adjust, either. And it is really hard to do more than you can and therefore injure yourself. I experience a very smooth workout and very little or no pain afterwards. In fact, the only time I have had any pain was when I overdid it on the recovery stations (more on that in a minute) When I was going to the YMCA I was ultra careful to protect against injuries yet I experienced more pain and discomfort than I do at Curves.
Basically, you start on a machine and do the reps---as many as you can in 30 seconds, then a voiceover tells you to move to the next station which is a recovery station. This is where you let your body recuperate for 30 seconds. You should move around a little bit on the recovery station, but you are not supposed to be doing anything strenuous there. Sometimes, I just wiggle or dance or do some flexibility excersises. The only reason to move at all on recovery stations is to keep your heartrate up.
Speaking of heartrate, you do heartrate checks 3 times per session. The voiceover tells you exactly when and how to do it, plus a trainer should be standing by to make sure you are not doing too much or too little.
Talking with other members/trainers while on the circuit is encouraged. Not only can you form bonds and motivate each other, but it lets you know how hard you are working (if you can't talk, you're heartrate is too high). Some centers even play games as you go around the circle which makes it go super fast. They also give incentives and prizes for reaching goals, etc.
There is a diet program (low carb) available (they give you a book with details) but no one will force you to follow that plan if you aren't into it. They also offer vitamins and supplements if you need them (but no one tries to "Sell" you anything). I hear that some Curves even have juicebars and other fun things.
You get weighed and measured once a month. They also measure your BMI so you can't help but see your results.
The cost for me to go is 29.00 a month (I paid 41/mo at the Y). My employer paid for a year up front (Tip: check and see if your employer offers this benefit--many companies offer it but don't advertise it) Each center is different but I hear the cost is generally in that range. There is a joining fee, but they often run specials to waive that fee. I have never heard of a Curves that won't let you try it free for a week, either.
Well, I hope that helps. I am getting measured again in 10 days so I will let you know how that goes!
Oh and here's another link to the Curves message group:
http://groups.msn.com/CurvesCommunity/
Finally Losing Weight with PCOS!
WTG!!!! 
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