Like everyone in her family, paralegal Andrea Evans has long battled weight. But as an avid soccer player and skier, she fought back gamely until recently, when sports injuries took a devastating toll on her knees, leading to severe arthritis. Sidelined, Andrea became increasingly overweight and depressed. Her boss kindly insisted that Andrea check out Curves, where she was a member. How do you say no to your boss? Apparently, you don’t, if you know what’s good for you. For Andrea, it doesn’t get much better than Curves.

LIFE PRESERVER
"I met with my orthopedic surgeon and primary care doctor after recent knee surgery and the life-threatening complications from blood clots that followed. They both agreed that I might not have pulled through had I not been so healthy to start with. Thanks, Curves!"

THE HEART OF THE MATTER
"Both of my parents have high blood pressure, and my father has type 2 diabetes. Add to that my worry that I was going down the same path that my sister had traveled. She was about 50 pounds overweight when she died of a heart attack in her early 40s. So I have all the motivation I need to keep fit."

LOW IMPACT, HIGH REWARD
"Because Curves is low impact, it really works for me. In 30 minutes I can get the cardiovascular benefit without wearing out my knees. The staff helps me use the machines to make sure I put the least strain on my joints. They really look out for everyone."

RECRUITING DRIVE
"My boss got me to work out with her three days a week. We recruited another girl from our office to join us, and I’ve rounded up three girls from my old office, too. My mom and another sister now also go to Curves."

FEELING CONFIDENT
"Thanks to Curves, I’m less self-conscious. I never imagined I’d be back in a size 8! I went on a cruise recently and wore a bikini - something I never, ever thought I would do."