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What made you decide to do something
about your weight? What was your turning
point?
To be frank, when I first
joined Curves I exercised erratically and did
not pay much attention to my diet. In 2004, I
was chronically fatigued and as a result, my
thinking was fuzzy and decision-making was
difficult. I was also discouraged by repeated
“yo-yo” dieting, where I would loose weight and
then gain it back almost immediately.
It
was my dream to pursue training as an herbalist
and I recognized that if I was ever to have the
energy, alertness and drive to accomplish that
goal, I would have to get serious about my
lifestyle and my health. The time for excuses
was past! I took a closer look at what Curves
had to offer both in its fitness program and in
its diet plan. Balance is something that is very
important in herbal medicine and I decided to
devote my energies to the Curves program because
it offered the right balance between changing my
lifestyle and losing weight in way that was
gradual, sustainable and healthy.
What was really special or unique
about the Curves program? Why do you think it
worked when others did not?
Curves
works for me because the 30 minute format allows
me to devote part of my lunch hour to exercise
while still having enough time to eat a
healthful meal at a more leisurely pace. With
other programs, my entire lunch time was taken
up at the gym and I’d rush back to work and wolf
down some food at my desk. In addition, the
staff at Curves South Regina is very supportive
and the overall atmosphere is accepting - even
when I was not happy with my body image, I never
felt embarrassed to work out in the company of
the staff and my fellow members. There is also
an aspect of social responsibility that I admire
in Curves, the staff often participates in
worthwhile charitable fundraising marathons, and
the organization supports local groups such as
the food bank and the Canadian Blood
Service.
A balance between diet and
exercise were central to my transformation, and
I followed the Curves Member Guide faithfully.
It soon became apparent that a high protein diet
works best for me, and as my energy level rose,
so did the degree of commitment I devoted to
exercise. My erratic attendance settled to 3-4
times a week, and now I really work when I
exercise. It’s true; you get out what you put
in! On the whole, I continue to follow phase III
of the Curves diet. It allows me to maintain a
healthy weight by eating real food in a balanced
and varied diet that suits my personal food
preferences without feeling deprived. No more
“yo-yo” dieting.
How has eating the
Curves way helped you change your lifestyle and
lose weight? What do you like about it?
I believe that dedicating myself to
a more healthful lifestyle in 2004 lead to the
personal successes that followed. In 2005 I
graduated as a Consulting Herbalist, and by 2006
I had lost 30 pounds and my body was much
stronger and more flexible. In 2006 when my
husband and I traveled to Slovakia for our
youngest son’s wedding, thanks to Curves, not
only was I able to wear a sleek full length silk
dress to the ceremony, I was able to keep up
with the youngsters in exploring the beautiful
city of Bratislava, including handling with ease
the steep climb to that city’s historic
castle.
What were some of the
challenges in losing weight and how did you meet
them?
My biggest challenge to losing
weight was to acknowledge to myself that things
were out of control and that I needed help.
After making the decision to commit fully to the
Curves fitness program, the next biggest hurdle
was to stay on track. Thankfully, the great
staff at Curves, and some wonderful support from
friends provided the encouragement I needed to
get going and to stay going. After three years
at Curves, I have lost a total of 34 pounds,
46.50 inches, and 29.30 body fat pounds, and I
feel fabulous.
What’s the difference
in how you used to feel at your old weight, and
how you feel now? What do you love about your
lighter self?
It is true that losing
weight has had a big impact on my life, but the
impact of the “new me” goes beyond that to
lasting lifestyle changes. For example, I’m not
the only family member who has been helped by
Curves – as a result of my enthusiasm my husband
is also now dedicated to his own fitness regime.
I love my new stronger and healthier body, and I
feel good about the fact that I was able to set
and achieve realistic goals for myself. I
honestly believe that the Curves fitness program
gave me the support and the practical tools I
needed to succeed.
Any tips or advice
for your fellow Curves members?
My
advice to fellow Curves members is simple – keep
with the program! |
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| Age: |
60 |
| Height: |
5'2.5 |
| Before: |
158 lbs |
| After: |
124 lbs
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| Donna's
Tips |
| Simple
– keep with the program!
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