Hi Leanne and Kerry!
Leanne- I go everyday- but I don't do anything else either though. congrats on the weight sliding right off! (mine is too)
I lost another 6 lbs bringing me down to 179 but I don't want to post until I get weighed/ measured the 23rd.
I actually came to this thread again because I got an entry form today to be "Curves Sweetheart" you had to do the curves diet program and be an active member of the curves workout.
anyways- I'm not good with words so I'm hoping to get a little inspiration here- it's hard to put it in words what I get out of curves. It says "In a short essay, tell how the curves workout and permanent results without permanent dieting have helped you lose weight and keep it off! In addition tell us how your quality of life has improved"
I don't want to sound too cheesy- but it's simple- curves really does give you "the power to amaze yourself". I had never exercised formally (played soccer but never gone to a "gym") or dieted and didn't really believe that I could change myself. I was just going to go to see if it would work- basically to prove them wrong. All their success stories and all, I actually thought- no one can help me, even curves! "Those are skinny people already- not real women!" (on the posters) I didn't get too far with that
because in the first month alone I lost 17.75 inches! "alright it's a fluke, I'll keep going..." and I'm still there 6 months later. it's the support of the women every day, the "borrowed willpower", seeing the change in them and them seeing the change in me. It's growing (or shrinking
) together; the conversations with women who are there for the same reasons you are; the family that believes in you even when you don't believe in yourself; the family that, when you hit a stumbling block that would normally stop you, picks you up, encourages you, and shows you a way around it.
The "diet class" was the same thing- women encouraging each other, which we don't do often enough nowadays. I'm sure I'm not the only woman that has had a negative thought about another woman. "those pants don't do anything for her!".... from the first Tuesday night get together that went out the window. I am honestly happy, encouraged, inspired, by all the women at curves and especially the ones that participated in the program with me during the six week challenge.
So those factors have helped me lose weight, and continue to lose, but what's encouraging me to keep it off, or to keep going? again it's the women- my Curves family. Just as these very women encourage and inspire me, they pass an imaginary torch along and now it's my job to encourage and inspire others who may have hit their personal stumbling block and need to be picked up or need to borrow some willpower for a while.
How does that sound? I don't know how to answer the how has your quality of life improved part.... suggestions? please?
Congrats!
)
Of course we've been engaged for 11 months already of a 13 month engagement and I bought (my dad bought) my wedding dress 16 days after getting engaged and we reserved the chapel and reception hall that same weekend so I've had 8 months probably of not really doing anything. Our invitations only took us one evening to do- that included folding them and putting them all together and addressing them. we made centerpieces one evening too. It's all coming together and I'm so excited! 
