|
|
|
 |
| June Mi Chu Wan 
June completed her 2,000th Curves workout on 29th July
and is the first person in Europe to achieve this amazing
feat.
June said “I enjoy coming to Curves although you may have
realised that by now. I love the atmosphere and feel very
comfortable here. My main reason for working out is to keep
fit and healthy and the half hour workout fits nicely into
my day.
I’ve seen many members come and go over the years only to
see so many of them return again. It’s lovely to see the
ladies looking after their health in this relaxed environment.
I would feel intimidated in a conventional gym but have
really found the right place for me at Curves. Thank you
to the staff and lovely members.” |
Lisa Lennon
Busy mum Lisa loses 3 stone and 29 inches
Curves member Lisa Lennon joined in May 2009. Lisa told us ‘I work full time in the food industry. I have 2 small children, a long commute etc. In other words, I had a million excuses why I couldn’t lose weight and get fit. After a health scare I realised I needed to do something. Half hour workouts at Curves have eliminated my excuses. The atmosphere at Curves makes a real difference - knowing you are in a supportive environment but they will also give you a push if you need it.
Combining healthy eating with Curves has meant that I am now 3 stone lighter, 29 inches slimmer plus I’m fitter than I have ever been. I know that with the support of the Curves ladies I am achieving my targets and becoming the healthy fit person that I really want to be.’
|
Paula and Erin
Mum and daughter lose 6 stone and 80 inches
When Paula started exercising at a local Curves 4 years ago, she had no idea that she would soon be working there. Shortly after she joined as a member and after realising how much she loved the friendly atmosphere and the way Curves was strengthening women, Paula took up the offer of a job realising she could also help women achieve their goals in fitness and weight loss.
She brought along her daughter Erin, who at almost 15 stone and 18 years old, was seriously overweight. Together, thanks to each other’s encouragement they have shed a combined weight of 6 stone and over 80 inches! Paula has since become a Curves owner and Erin is hoping to follow in her footsteps by pursuing a career with Curves. It really has changed both of their lives.
|
Trudi Lawrence
Miss January 2011
Trudi loses 17 pounds and 17 inches!
Trudi Lawrence joined Curves in June 2010 and says:-
“I’d heard many good things about Curves. I was over 11 stone and decided to get fitter and lose a few pounds. I soon realised that Curves is very different to other Gyms. The atmosphere, the friendly supportive staff and other members all played a part in making me want to attend regularly.
Imagine my surprise and delight at my October weigh and measure - I had lost 10.75lbs and 5.5 inches. This was then followed by another great result at the November weigh in when I lost an additional 7 pounds and 11.75 inches. Curves have enabled me to feel really good about myself, both physically and mentally. Dedication and commitment at Curves really does pay off.”
|
Lysa Schwartz
Miss December 2010
Lysa loses over five stone!
Lysa Schwartz joined Curves in December 2008 because she knew she had to lose weight and get fitter.
Lysa said “I’ve kept coming to Curves because everyone is so friendly and supportive. The 30-minute sessions gave me the discipline and proof that I could make a commitment to my health. When I started to work on reducing my weight, the staff were right there encouraging me and reminding me of the importance of toning the body while losing weight. The more I lost, the more energy I had and the more determined I became.
So here I am, 2 years later at the end of 2010 and having lost 79 pounds and 74 inches! It’s changed my life and I feel great. I will have to work hard to keep the weight off but I feel confident with the support of Curves.”
|
Erin Tynan
member Erin Tynan lost over 4 stone and 50 inches!
‘I was 18 years old, dress size 18 and almost 15 stone. I didn’t enjoy physical activity, I hated sports and had extremely low self esteem.
Clothes shopping with friends left me feeling embarrassed and ashamed. Through regular exercise at Curves and a healthy diet, I have lost over 60 pounds and 50 inches. I now wear a size 10 and feel proud of my body. The knowledge that I am healthy and strong leaves me feeling so proud. Curves has been my saviour.
The manageable circuit and friendly atmosphere with members from 18 to 80 has given me a new lease of life! Women who lack confidence, have low self-esteem or a general aversion to exercise should give Curves a try. It was the best thing I ever did.’
|
Lynne Surman
Miss March 2010
Aldershot
Miss March is Lynne Surman. Lynne joined in March last year and has lost an incredible 19 inches and 42 pounds. Here’s Lynne’s amazing story.
March 2009, I was overweight, asthmatic, unfit and fast approaching 57.
I was taking various vitamin supplements and thinking (well hoping) that they were doing me good. I really wasn’t happy with my size and therefore made the decision to take control of my life. I visited my doctor who suggested that I needed to exercise and diet but also highlighted the fact that I needed to change my lifestyle. In other words, not just to eat less but to actually do something different.
So I started by joining Slimming World and was horrified at my starting weight – I’m only 5 foot nothing tall and was nearly as round as I was high. Diet alone was not enough, especially as I love chocolate; so when a friend (already a Curves member) gave me a free week trial pass, I went along and have not looked back since – I loved it! I can even put up with the one or two pieces of equipment that I am not too fond of as it’s only 30 seconds on a station.
I look forward to coming to Curves and attend most evenings after work. I still get home by 6pm and find that it really doesn’t encroach on my time.
I usually meet up with the same ‘after workers’ and end up having a good chat in the stretching area, thus making it a good social time also. I recently took part in the Steps Under The Stars walk for the hospice and had a great time.
Being weighed and measured each month is such an incentive; the girls are helpful and encouraging plus my new weekly personal workouts make me work that little bit harder.
New routines are usually a 5-minute fad with me but not Curves. Rather than being a chore, it is ‘me time’ to exercise at a pace I can cope with and in an environment which I enjoy. And I love the results – I am more toned, slimmer and a whole lot fitter.
So here I am, Miss March 2010, nearly 3 stone lighter and 19 inches smaller. I can go into normal clothes shops, steer clear of the ‘fat lady’ shop and I have so much more energy. Fast approaching 58 and very very happy.
|
Helen Dee
Miss November 09
Farnborough
Calendar Girl Helen Dee joined Curves in January 2003 and told us:-
‘Getting fit and losing weight were my New Year resolutions (again!) in 2003. I decided that I would really do something about it that time. Having looked around all the other gyms, I was delighted to find Curves which is so welcoming and also for women only. Having done very little proper exercise, I was overweight and out of condition but I found the circuit easy to use and enjoyable. Curves fitted in so easily that it soon became, and remains, a part of my everyday life. I can call in on my way home from work and still be home by 7 o’clock in time for dinner. Although I have gained some weight recently (which I am fighting to lose again) I am still 14 pounds and 18 inches less than when I first joined.’
|
Norah and Karen Prior
Miss January 2010
Camberley
Miss January 2009 was awarded to mother and daughter, Norah and Karen Prior. Norah told us:-
My first introduction to Curves was in September 2008. I happened to mention to a friend (who was a member) that I really needed to do more exercise. To my surprise, I really enjoyed Curves (unlike my previous experiences of gyms). Everyone is so friendly, especially the staff. Time goes by so quickly as the atmosphere created by the music and the chatting makes you forget that you are actually exercising. As I enter retirement, I hope to use Curves more often.
Karen told us:- I joined Curves at the beginning of 2009 after mum told me how friendly everybody is and how the club has a great atmosphere. Since then, we have been attending regularly and really enjoy it. A 30-minute workout in a great atmosphere is nice to fit into our day. We both find that coming together helps us to motivate each other. Curves has helped both of us to tone up and get into good shape. This is important as we will be going to Las Vegas next year for my wedding. We are both excited about feeling and looking good on the big day thanks to Curves.
|
Sarah Stokes
Miss December 09
Camberley
Miss December 2009 has been awarded to one of our early birds, Sarah Stokes.
I joined curves in spring 07 to get fitter after an operation. I went along with my sister and loved it from the start. We both joined and I manage to get there 2 or 3 times a week. I had to take a break in September 08 to have another operation and came back in spring 09. Unfortunately, having not been very active and eating more than my fair share of chocolate, I had put some weight on. It got to the point when I decided I really needed to get control and start losing it!
All the staff are very supportive and I’ve managed to lose weight and inches each month. The little things like having my name put onto the next weight loss board give me a real sense of achievement. The thing I like most about curves is that it’s such a relaxed place to exercise. You can chat to anyone and have a laugh and before you know it you've done your 2 circuits!
I like to go to Curves in the morning after my children have left for school. It’s a great way to start the day. I have more energy for the day and I’m less likely to head for the chocolate!
To date I’ve lost over 16 pounds and I feel so much fitter and healthier for it.
|
Lesley Deeley
Miss November 09
Camberley
Former Curves Calendar Girl Lesley Deeley lost an impressive 16 inches and 11 pounds. Lesley said ‘I saw a Curves leaflet and was very interested but the opening times did not fit in conveniently with my work and I therefore left it. I really like the concept of being able to turn up any time of the day and the fact that it only takes 30 minutes to complete a workout.
Ironically, I was made redundant a few weeks later after a company takeover. With plenty of time on my hands, I remembered Curves and found that the Blackwater club is located close to home.
I have been impressed with the way in which the gym is run, how friendly everybody is and how all the staff make members feel like individuals by remembering our names and encouraging us through our workouts, weigh-ins and measurings. I have personally achieved great weight and inch loss results plus my overall fitness has improved dramatically. Little did I know that 4 months later I was going to be presented with a certificate for being top loser for the month of June! I was really chuffed to be asked to be a Calendar Girl.
|
 Lyn's
story
“I am so glad that I persevered – thank you curves and thank you to all the girls who work out at the club”.
I’m 45 years old and joined Curves after trying and giving up on a conventional gym.I wanted to get into shape after a friend asked me to be maid of honour at her wedding. I had a dress fitting and was told that a size 24 would fit with a little alteration. I didn’t want to be that size so I joined the Curves diet club. Unfortunately, my mother died of lung cancer half way through the course. That knocked the stuffing out of me and I was away from Curves for several months. I was going to quit but the staff were very good to me and gave so much support that I decided to give it another go. I am really glad that I did. When I went for my second dress fitting six months later, it had to be taken in by six inches on the hips and waist and 2 inches on the bust!! I was so happy that I cried. I couldn’t wait to tell Kirsten and the staff as well as the members. I am now toning up nicely and enjoying every minute of it. The best news of all is that my partner proposed to me recently and we are getting married in September. I am so glad that I persevered – thank you curves and thank you to all the girls who work out at the club. |
Sarah's Story
“ I felt like a thin person trapped inside a fat body but didn’t know where to turn. Now I’m hooked and want to thank Curves for changing my life.”.
Sarah Chenery is 28 years old and lives in Aldershot with her partner Nigel and their 2 cats. She is an Account Manager for a cosmetics company and has worked in the industry for 6 years. This is Sarah’s story.
 The cosmetic industry is very ‘appearance’ orientated and, having always been overweight, I felt very self conscious. Myself and 2 work colleagues decided to change our lifestyles and lose weight, each one using a different diet and exercise routine.
A friend had told me about Curves. It sounded too good to be true but I decided that I would give it a try. In addition to the challenge with my 2 work colleagues to loose the most weight, I wanted to tone up and improve my fitness levels. I hated the idea of looking at pictures of myself in years to come and thinking ‘I wish I had done something about it earlier’!
I certainly won the challenge with my work colleagues. In 7 months, I lost 28.5 pounds, 22 inches and 8.5 % body fat. I dropped from a size 18 dress size to a size 12. My friends, customers and work mates were amazed at the change. Barely a day goes by without someone commenting on how good I look.
My previous experience of gyms had been sessions that take too long, boredom and feeling intimidated. That’s largely why Curves works for me – it’s full of ‘real’ women, a workout takes only 30 minutes and it’s both fun and inspirational. Regularly working out at Curves has increased my metabolism which means that I now have to eat more to avoid feeling constantly hungry! I also have a lot more energy, am more flexible and rarely get out of breath. I also find Curves to be a great stress-buster after a hard day at work. 30 minutes of ‘taking it out on the machines’ leaves me feeling totally relaxed and also helps me to sleep better at night. My monthly print out shows me exactly how much weight, how many inches and how much body fat I’ve lost. It’s very inspiring to be able to see and track my achievements. Keeping my reports on my fridge with a picture of my old self helps prevent me slipping back into old habits.
An unexpected benefit of Curves has been a chance to spend more ‘social time’ with my mother. We work out together occasionally and it’s a great chance for us to catch up on the latest news and events.
Before Curves, I wouldn’t have dreamed of so much improvement in such a short time. I felt like a thin person trapped inside a fat body but didn’t know where to turn. Now I’m hooked and want to thank Curves for changing my life. |
 Laine’s story
“ I've never felt comfortable with gyms and was therefore delighted to find that Curves was a women's gy..”
Laine Shepherd is a 30 year old mother of two and lives in Farnham. Laine has been attending the Aldershot branch of Curves since November 2004 and was featured in the 6th June 2005 edition of Woman's Own. Laine says, 'I lost four and a half stone last year, dropping from a size 18 to a size 10, so I'm keen to try things I didn't have the confidence to try before. I was particularly keen to join a gym in order to keep the weight off. I've never felt comfortable with gyms and was therefore delighted to find that Curves was a women's gym. Working out on a regular basis has helped to increase my metabolism as well as firm and tone my body. Having lost so much weight, I now realise the importance of getting fit and boosting my metabolic rate. Increasing my metabolism means that I can have occasional treats although I am still very strict with myself. My increased energy levels have allowed me to become very active and I am now able to fit a lot more into a day. Getting into shape has also had a major effect on my personal confidence. |
Carol's story
 “I can get into size 12 trousers which I haven’t been able to do for a long time. Curves is great for me.”
Carol Travena is a busy mother with 2 children. She lives in Aldershot and commutes daily to London for her full time job. This is Carols story.
As a mother of two children aged 10 and 12, and with a full time job which necessitates a commute to London, spare time is very hard to come by. On my wedding day, nearly 18 years ago, I weighed in at 9 stone. I was happy with my weight as I am 5ft 2inches tall. Things changed after the birth of my son - I made the mistake of not losing the gained pregnancy weight before falling pregnant for the second time! After the birth of my daughter my weight never went below 10stone 7lbs and so began the constant battle to try and lose weight and get fit.
To be fair, up until September 2003, I didn’t take controlling my diet and exercising seriously. I could come up with a hundred and one excuses as to why I was overweight. I mean I've had two caesarean sections so my stomach muscles will never go back so what’s the point in trying! I tried going to the gym but found it far too easy not to go when my train was delayed or my sister couldn’t go. I also disliked the pressure from the instructors to attend three times a week and then expecting me to spend at least an hour in an enclosed space with people who would stare at me and wonder what on earth I was doing there. I then tried exercise classes. Unfortunately, attendance became difficult because the times didn’t suit me and the classes were so big that I could blend into the background and not actually put in the effort to get results. I also discovered that spending all day at work and then taking three evenings a week to get fit made me feel guilty about spending even less time with my children.
In September 2003 my size 16 trousers were becoming decidedly uncomfortable to wear. I was both horrified and determined that I would not be going into a size 18 - enough was enough and I needed to look seriously at my diet. This worked reasonably well and by the New Year I had lost half a stone without sacrificing too much and without resorting to exercise. It was in the New Year as my 40th birthday approached that my younger sister, Vanessa, mentioned that she had joined a club called Curves which just happened to be near the railway station (on my way home), was a bit like circuit training, was designed for women and only took half an hour from start to finish. I had already started to lose some weight and really didn’t want to be flabby in my forties. So, with nothing to lose, I took up her invitation to try Curves.
I joined Curves on the day before my 40th birthday and had my first workout a week later on 30th January. Although I don’t always manage to attend for 3 sessions a week, I am amazed at my level of dedication. My sister and I usually go Tuesday and Thursday evenings plus Saturday morning and, if for some reason one of us can’t make it, we either rearrange our days or go by ourselves – something I would never have done before. There is no guilt about leaving the children because it only takes half an hour and as Curves is open until 8.00pm, I can make it even if my train is delayed. The women at Curves are all shapes, sizes and ages – not at all like the lycra clad crowd from the gym. My husband is astonished that I actually reorganise things to fit my Curves sessions in and is amazed at the difference in both my figure and my confidence – as he says “I’ve got my old Carol back”. Within the first 7 months, I managed to lose 17.5 inches and my total weight loss was just over a stone. I can get into size 12 trousers which I haven’t been able to do for a long time. Curves is great for me and I am determined to keep going, stay fit and keep the weight off.
|
 Janets's story
“Within 12 months of joining Curves in Aldershot Janet had dropped from a size 24 dress to a size 14 and lost 4 stone, 44.5 inches and 8.1% body fat.”
Janet Sim had been overweight most of her life. Her weight soared after having children. She suffered physical ill health along with aches and pains in her stressed joints. She also felt depressed. Janet decided to do something for herself and within 12 months of joining Curves in Aldershot had dropped from a size 24 dress to a size 14 and lost 4 stone, 44.5 inches and 8.1% body fat. She now has a level of self-esteem and confidence that she has never experienced. Today, she’s an optimist who tells her friends at Curves ‘keep the motivation going and you can succeed too.
|
|
|
