Since 1992 Curves has been empowering women to work out, eat healthy, and feel great about themselves. Gary Heavin together with his wife Diane opened the first Curves in Harlingen, Texas 14 years ago and have been growing like crazy ever since. Curves is founded on a simple concept of 30 minute fitness combined with strength training, weight loss guidance, and an environment that's designed specifically for a woman's needs. Just three years after it's founding Curves became a franchise, boasting 1,000 locations within 36 months and 9,000+ locations around the country after just 10 years. Entrepreneur Magazine consistently rates Curves as one of the best new franchises, while the Guiness Book of World Records ranks them as the "world's largest fitness center franchise." Much of Curves success is founded on a fundamental principle of any good business, word of mouth advertising. Loyal members make sure that friends, family members, and coworkers know about the innovative approach to fitness that Curves has become so well known for.

Curves believes that women can help other women get motivated to reach their fitness goals. They offer six week of small classes that can help you learn how to lose weight (and more importantly keep it off). Curves helps you jump start your metabolism by changing your eating patterns and strength training (which helps you build calorie burning muscle). By eating five small meals a day you'll find yourself with less irresistible cravings throughout the day â€" another approach to keeping that metabolism moving. Curves has two different diet plans, one that focuses on high protein and one that works with higher amounts of carbs, and neither diet makes any foods off limits. By consuming a wide variety of food products you're actually getting all of the different nutrients your body needs.

If you think that all of this sounds too good to be true-don't worry, scientists at Baylor University have done plenty of research that proves the Curves system works. The majority of women using Curves lose weight, boost their metabolism, lose body fat, gain muscle, and enjoy a healthy self image and improved confidence.