Jilly Elvy Powell, 57, St Ives

CURVES – could I benefit from this exercise concept? 

“That was my first thought when I came across the smiling face at the Curves  information table in my local shopping centre.  My concern was my history of a low boredom factor, given that I had spent many hundreds of dollars at gyms over several decades and had given up after a few months”!

“When I read the information, I immediately made an appointment to join, as I was particularly impressed by 4 points”:

1 The 30minute circuit as against more than an hour at other gyms I had tried
2 Curves works on strength, resistance and aerobic aspects of exercise and finishes with stretching
3 The mantra of “no men, no makeup, no mirrors”
4 Monthly payments rather than a year in advance

“I joined in June ’06, just as our St Ives club opened as I was looking for a more formal exercise routine to add to my daily walk.  Being in the age bracket where bone density is an issue, and being a grandmother of small children where strength and energy are necessary, those were my goals”.

“Right from the start, Curves was fun and I found it easy to be consistent with my visits, trying to do 4 workouts each week.  I certainly lost many centimetres, several kilos and firmed up quite a bit during the first year.  Mostly I felt quite motivated, but when that waned a little, I started to set myself short-term goals (like upgrading my advanced workouts or achieving 100 visits every 6 months or visualising which muscles I was working on with each different machine) to lift my motivation again”.

“My bone density has significantly improved and I have no problem dealing with my little grandies either!  From time to time I make an extra effort with weight management and the centimetres lost continue to increase at each measure, so I’m certainly happy and satisfied with my results”.

“The greatest reward is the wonderful women I’ve met, who are fellow members and especially our gorgeous trainers who are cheerful, enthusiastic and encouraging every day.  It’s impossible to be bored when surrounded by so many others with similar goals!  For me, Curves is the best form of exercise I’ve ever tried and I can see myself remaining a member for many decades to come”.

Shelley, St Ives, 40+

“I joined Curves as I knew I needed to get fitter and lose weight, I hated how I looked and felt and visited 5 gyms before deciding on Curves.

Curves has made such a huge difference in my life, I have dropped more than 50 cm's, down 2 dress sizes, I have more energy and achieve more in my day.

I love coming to Curves, fellow members and staff are really great people and I see women who motivate me.  I look up at the '200' wall and visualise my name being there.

I have also participated in the Curves 6 Week Solution and the weight is dropping off!  Just wait for the next photo”!

Paula Cooney, 58, St Ives,
Earlier this year I decided enough was enough and made a quality decision to reclaim the body that the clothes in my wardrobe had been bought for and that I enjoyed living in! 

The extra kilos had snuck on gradually over 2 or 3 years……all it took was a lack of exercise (for very good reason of course – I was just too busy!), coffee and cake with friends (well we girls need to keep in touch!),  a glass of wine with dinner every night….(but don’t the Italians do that?)……..yada yada we all know how it happens……

So it was in May 2008 that I went to work to rediscover the ‘real me’.

I started out by walking 2-3 km every morning and lost a couple of kilos in the first 3 weeks. Then I got stuck. After a month of no weight loss while walking five or six times a week, I decided drastic measures were called for and went to join my local Curves. I had never been to Curves before. I loved the fast walk-in walk-out style of work out……..I knew I could integrate it into my life.

I started at Curves, St Ives on the 13th June determined to push myself really hard and immediately began to lose weight again. I walked 2-3km in the early morning (1/2 hour) and also went to Curves 4 or 5 times a week. I meant business and I think my body was in shock......... I worked those machines as hard as I could and that was when I really began to see serious results. I was elated! I was building muscle, losing weight and body fat and feeling great……and the dog was very happy to be getting a good walk nearly every day!

A month after joining Curves I went to the US for 5 weeks to visit my daughters in San Francisco and LA. I was in San Francisco for a month and walked from my daughter’s house to the Millbrae Curves 3 times a week while I was there.

It was amazing being able to just walk into another Curves on the other side of the world, feel completely at home and be able to do my usual workout on all the same machines. The ladies at Millbrae were so friendly and warm and Judy and the girls made me feel like family from the very first visit.

When I went to LA to visit my other daughter there was also a Curves 2 or 3 km from her house in Studio City. I was astonished to see just how ‘global’ we are!
I arrived back in Australia on the 16th August and got straight back into my routine. I had decided I wanted to walk the Milford Track in NZ in 2009 and that motivated me. I increased my walks to 6 or 7 km five or six days a week and went to Curves 3 or 4 times a week as well. Brenda and the girls were always so encouraging as my weight and body fat keep coming down and my muscle and stamina increased.

Around the end of September I stalled again and decided more drastic measures were needed! I went on the Curves 6 weeks solution program and was amazed to lose 5% body fat and drop another couple of kg.
So now I’m nearly there. It’s been lots of hard work………but very rewarding.
After 5 months of walking, 68 curves workouts and 6 weeks of the curves solution I’m 10 kg lighter (8kg since joining curves) and have dropped a total of 49 cm from my measurements.

I am now within a kg or 2 of my goal, feel great, sleep well, have loads of energy, am physically fit and can fit all my clothes again!
Joining Curves was the key for me. I know I would not have achieved this result without it.
Curves Weight Management