"I joined Curves in February 2009 at the recommendation of Sam who is a personal friend of many years. I have always struggled with my weight and attended various slimming clubs over the years. However, even though each time I was very successful in losing several stone, it always crept back. Having been diagnosed with diabetes a couple of years ago, controlling my weight became even more important but I never felt comfortable attending gyms with the "perfect bodies" dressed in skin tight lycra.

When Curves Reading West opened, Sam suggested it would be ideal for me and I am so glad she persuaded me to go along. From the first visit, I have been welcomed into the Curves family. All the staff are fantastic and incredibly supportive in helping everyone achieve their goals. The 30 minutes passes so quickly and I always feel better after my circuit, particularly since the introduction of CurvesSmart where I can actually see how many calories I have burned up and which muscle groups are working best. I had to take a few weeks off following a hip operation in August and can honestly say I really missed attending. Up to that point I had lost 31 pounds and about 20 inches and felt extremely emotional, as well as ecstatic, to be Star of the Month, and qualify to be Miss August on the Curves 2010 calendar.

It doesn't matter what age, size or shape you are, Curves suits all ladies and I would encourage anyone to just give it a try!

Curves has certainly changed my life this year - thanks to all the team who have helped me so far and although I still have a way to go, I feel more confident that the weight and inches lost so far will stay away this time!"

"In January 2009 I joined my first ever gym, Curves. I’ve had lots of fun made new friends, all ages, all sizes in a ‘man free zone’, so tummies are held in place just because we can. All this and I am much healthier and fitter, everyday things are much easier. Sandy and her team are great at giving lots of help and encouragement which has helped me to lose weight as bonus.

Thanks Curves"

Ida was our Star of the Month for september 2009 and features in our 2010 Calendar.

Hi.  My name is Erica Clark.  I’m married with two sons.

I’ve always had a weight problem and was on the large side as a child.  I even had to buy a new wedding dress the day before my wedding as the dress  I had bought was too tight!  Luckily, I am average height and it didn’t need any alterations.

I have tried numerous diets – Cabbage Soup diet, Hard Boiled Egg diet, Grapefruit diet.  You name it and I’ve probably tried it.  I weighed 17 stone after the birth of my first son and looked hideous on a video.

I decided it was time to seriously try to lose weight.    I successfully lost several stone but then fell pregnant again.  Approximately a year after the birth of my second son I knuckled down and lost weight.  I reached my target of 9 stone 13 pounds and managed to maintain this weight for several years.

However, my life hit a rough patch and eating sensibly and exercising was the last thing on my mind.  My weight had increased again to just over 14 stone.  I decided that 2009 was going to be a better year.   I saw that Curves was going to open in Reading West.  Easy for me to get there and plenty of parking.   It was the beginning of February that I decided to join.

I have never joined a gym before and was quite wary of what Curves would involve.  Nervously I entered the building and what a warm welcome awaited me.   Curves is a 30 minute workout for women only which is fantastic.  Three times a week is recommended but I try to attend as much as possible as I really enjoy it.  The owner Sandy is full of enthusiasm and her team are always there to help and encourage me.  Since the beginning of February I have managed to lose over 2 stone.

Thank you Curves for helping me back on the straight and narrow.