Baltimore

Member Since October 2004

My Story
The year I turned 49 I was on top of the world. My oldest son announced his engagement. I took a good, long look at the weight I never lost after I delivered my third child, and I decided that was it. I attended nutritional counseling, joined a gym, and successfully lost 30 lbs, dropping from a tight size 14 to a loose size 6. I was on top of the world. Then my world changed. At 49, I developed what I like to call "total body fall apart."

In 2001, I had major abdominal surgery. Although I was well enough to enjoy the wedding, it took me a year to fully recover from the surgery. Then I had a little bad luck. Just when I returned to the gym in 2002, I needed shoulder surgery. It took a year for me to fully recover. Then I had a little bad luck. Just when I returned to the gym in 2003, I was diagnosed with a life-threatening, post-operative infection from my initial abdominal surgery. Somehow, during the 2001 surgery, the surgical mesh used to hold everything in place became infected. It took a year of pain and treatment before I had a repeat of the abdominal surgery to replace the infected surgical mesh. I never had a chance to return to the gym in 2004, when I had a little more bad luck. The infection persisted and it took a year of large doses of heavy-duty antibiotics, including 6 months on an IV, to finally be clear of the infection. I developed an inflammatory response to the antibiotics and spent 18 months on steroids. By then I developed gastrointestinal problems from the cure and the stress of the illness, and I was 15 pounds heavier due to the steroids. At the end of 2005, I saw a nutritionist who showed me how to alter my diet to relieve digestive distress.

Needless to say, I never went back to the gym. It was just too hard and intimidating. I knew that weight was not the only issue in being healthy and I understood the necessity of strength training to prevent bone loss. But I was lost until a friend recommended that I try Curves. I called Shifra Abramson, the owner/manager of the Curves near me. She was just delightful. She listened to my story and took me through the circuit. I was completely honest with her that I was using Curves to regain enough strength to return to the gym. She understood completely, and I joined month to month. It took a whole year for me to regain my strength. Then I realized that I was never going to back to the gym; I loved going to Curves. I worked out between four and six times a week, gradually loosing the extra pounds and inches. The women on my workout schedule have been incredibly supportive, and I can't say enough about the support and encouragement I have received from Shifra.

Then I had a little more bad luck. I developed osteoarthritis, triggered by the inflammatory response I had to the antibiotics. As a result, in 2007 I had surgery on both thumbs and one elbow. Shifra helped me adapt my workout each time I developed a new problem. Just when I was recovering from the last thumb surgery, I woke up one morning with very painful sciatica. In January of 2008, I tore my right hip labrum while having physical therapy for the sciatic. At first, I thought it would just heal up with time. But by the end of February, I could no longer work out. I tried everything: physical therapy, water therapy, using a cane at first, then a walker, and by Thanksgiving, I was in a wheelchair. I had developed osteonecrosis of the right hip from the extended use of steroids. So in January 2009 I had a total hip replacement.

I was not able to return to Curves until April 2009. By then I had not worked out for 14 months. When I came back, Shifra worked with me to reintroduce me to the workout routine as if I was a new member. She was ever patient and supportive. Now, after working out at Curves for 2 months, I have regained upper body strength, my right leg works almost as well as my left, and I am just about back to where I was before I hurt my hip. I need to be careful not to stress my hip, so I only go to Curves three times a week and I am not using the Curves Smart computerized workout. When I see my surgeon for my annual hip check, I hope I will be permitted to start using the Curves Smart workout again. Going to Curves has helped me keep trim and fit in mind as well as body. I love my Curves. During the summer of 2009 I will turn 58 and I feel on top of the world!

P.S. Now, at New Years 2010, my hip has completely healed and I am back doing the full Curves Smart workout. My total weight loss is 40 lbs. More importantly, I have regained my strength and flexibility along with my health. Thank you Shifra and Curves!

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