Testimonials

Member of the Month - Esther Ryan

My name is Esther Ryan (64 yrs old) and has been overweight since I was a teenager. I always said the best thing about being fat is you didn't have to worry about getting there. I tried to lose weight all my life but just couldn't. After getting married and having children I gained even more. My husband always said he loved me the way I was and after he died I gained even more. In January 2005, I inquired into a health study on overweight women over 60 on how diet and exercise affected weight loss. To my surprise I was too overweight to do the study; I was 5 feet and 185 lbs. How is that for a wake up call!! My daughter is a Curves member and encouraged me to join. In March of 2005 I walked into Curves-Forest Hills and joined. When they ask me what my goal was I laughed and said 155. The reason I laughed was because that was my wedding day weight. In September I did the Curves 6 week solution, and was astounded by the amount of food I had to eat in a week (it was more than I ate in a whole month) I cried almost everyday but through the support of Nicole and the curves staff I made it through. If someone would have told me that I would lose this weight I would have laughed. For the past 50 years I have been telling myself to get used to being fat. As of May 2006 I now weigh 153 lbs and my fat pants (size 22w) are being donated to charity. I am replacing them with a 14P. My new goal is to get below my teen weight. Today thanks to God, Nicole and Curves I am a happier woman who can roll around the floor with my grandchildren.

Thank you
Esther Ryan
64 yrs old
Wilkinsburg Pa

Alicia Andrews

Like most women, I always put work and other people ahead of myself. In August 2004, I realized that I needed to make my health and wellness a priority, otherwise, I was on my way to developing some serious health problems. I was 24 years old and obese. I knew I needed to make a lifestyle change, but I had already tried innumerable diets and been a member of several gyms. Nothing seemed to work, but I had been hearing a lot about Curves, a women.s workout facility which boasted a 30 minute workout, three times per week. I thought, .Could Curves help me?

I decided to take the plunge and visit the Forest Hills Curves one day after work. I weighed in at 185 pounds. Initially, my motivation was pretty superficial: I had approximately one year to get in shape for my younger sister's wedding. I knew that being a maid of honor meant I would be in a lot of pictures and I wanted to look and feel fabulous for the big day. I was pretty skeptical at first, how could a 30 minute workout three times a week help me lose weight and become a healthier woman? I quickly became a believer in the Curves philosophy.

I started working out three days a week, but noticed limited results. Aware of my disappointment, Curves Owner Nicole Gianfrancesco suggested that I try the Curves Challenge (now known as the "Six Week Solution"), a six-week weight loss program that consisted of weekly classes where I learned how to lose weight and keep it off for good. In addition to the classes, I was given the Curves Member Guide which clearly identified what foods I needed to eat and when. The Challenge helped boost my metabolism and introduced me to a new and healthier way of eating. At the end of the six weeks, I had lost over 10 pounds. I was losing weight and inches! After the Challenge, I felt more confident that I could achieve my weight loss goals. I was seeing results and it felt great!

To date, I have lost 37 pounds and 49+ inches. I have lowered my cholesterol, I am a much happier and healthier woman, and I continue to enjoy working out at Curves. The Curves staff and other members continue to help me achieve my goals and encourage me to do my best on a daily basis. Joining Curves was the best decision I have ever made and I cannot thank them enough for their support and encouragement.

Alicia Andrews, 26 years old
Pittsburgh, PA