ROBERTSDALE, Ala. - The Curves fitness program in Robertsdale has incurred a substantial loss. In most cases, this might be devastating, but the 200 pounds of fat lost by the 35 ladies participating in the program over the last five weeks has had quite the opposite effect.

They are all participating in a countywide challenge that began on Sept. 10 and continues until Oct. 29, when the winning team is selected. There are many Curves locations in Baldwin County participating in the challenge and the winner is based upon the percentage of weight lost by the group since their original weigh-in. Each person contributes $5, which when combined across the county, results in a large sum of winnings. The monies will go to the team out of the whole county that loses the most weight.

When asked about the groups dramatic weight-loss, Class Facilitator Tina Grider said, “We’ve really focused on nutrition, because for so many of us, unhealthy eating is our bad habit. We have been trying to stress to the women the importance of a well-balanced diet in combination with the right exercises. They have been successful in their efforts; that is how they’ve lost the weight.”

You can come up here and work out like everyone else, but the weight-loss is up to you, Grider said.

“It requires the discipline to continue a healthy lifestyle once you arrive home as well, through proper nutrition,” she said. Some ladies have been working out all along, just to find out that they have to intensify their workout (which raises the metabolism) and increase ‘good’ caloric intake to drop any weight. It’s very interesting the difference that good nutrition makes.”

Curves uses the U.S.D.A.’s new Food Pyramid, that emphasizes what we should eat, such as; whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy, and then good lean meat and beans.

“There are so many diets that encourage people to eat more meat or fewer carbohydrates,” Grider said, “whereas this provides an all-round healthy and more balanced guide to personal nutrition”.

If necessary Curves also has a higher carbohydrate plan, but most ladies today have carb issues and prefer to go with a higher protein approach, because protein builds muscle, Grider said.

“There are many ways to lose weight quickly, but so often it will come back. That’s why we stress healthier habits as part of the program.”

Anybody who’s ever dieted before knows that when you stop, that weight usually comes back, sometimes worse than before.

“That is why we are helping these ladies implement changes that they can live with forever. To see the weight loss is great, but to see the ladies making healthier lifestyle changes as well, is even better,” Grider said with a smile.

In addition, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Sign-up fees at Curves have been reduced this month only, from $149, down to $25 if the client has had a mamogram in the last year. This savings is a good encouragment for Robertsdale women to get their mamogram, as well as to continue healthy habits through diet and excercise.