Back to Curves

Back to School and Back to Curves!

We hope you had a great summer and are ready to workout!

There are many new happenings at Curves, including new hours, new activities, and new decor.

New Hours
Monday & Wednesday: 6:45 a.m.-2:00 p.m. & 4:00-8:00 p.m.
Tuesday & Thursday: 6:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m. & 4:00-8:00 p.m.
Friday: 6:45 a.m.-2:00 p.m. & 4:00-7:00 p.m.
Saturday: 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
1st & 3rd Sundays: 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (2nd & 4th at Expo Curves by Montgomery Mall)
As always, remember to arrive 30 minutes prior to closing.

New Activities
*"Yoga for Creaky Bones"
Starts: Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Time: 2:45-3:45 p.m.
How long: 5-weeks
Cost: $60 due the first day
Sign-up at Curves Bethesda!
*A new challenge soon to be announced
*More to be announced!

New Decor
*A new circuit
*A new bathroom look thanks to Kathy

So join us at Curves Bethesda to see everything that's happening!

Libby's Black Bean Salsa

Thanks to Curves Bethesda member Libby E. for sharing this!

Libby's Black Bean Salsa:

(Serves 8)

(Picture Credit: www.dietreceipes.com)

2 cans of black beans

1 can of corn (drained)

1/2 red onion (chopped)

1 red pepper (chopped)

3 cloves of garlic (minced)

1/2 cup of parsley (chopped)

1/2 cup of cilantro (chopped)

1 1/2 tsp. of cumin

1/3 cup of lime juice

1/4 cup of olive oil

1/2 tsp. of salt

1 tsp. of pepper

Mix together

Serve with tortillas or tortilla chips

Keeps in the refrigerator for 1 week

Nutritional value of one serving of salsa only

(an 8th of the total amount/approx. values):

Calories: 91

Fat: 7

Sodium:22.5

Carbohydrates: 12.5

Fiber: 1

Protein: 2

WW Value: 2

September News

August 21, 2009

Dear Members,

Thank you all for your support during our ‘tumultuous’ month of July. Your words of encouragement and enthusiasm when the decision was made to keep our Curves open were most appreciated. And, the wonderful happy faces and joyous celebration at our party on August 12^th made all the efforts to keep our Curves open worthwhile! (If you haven’t yet seen those marvelous photographs from the party taken by member Marcy Forrest, please ask the staff to show these to you on the CurvesSmart computer.)

Many of you wrote suggestions for making our Curves more vibrant for which the staff and I are grateful. You clearly want our Curves to succeed, and many of your suggestions are going to be implemented this fall. Some of these are:

*Longer Hours – as you have already read in my previous letter, we will be open from 6:45am to 2pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; and 6:45am to 12noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The evening hours will be 4pm to 8pm, except on Fridays when we close at 7pm. Saturdays will remain the same: 8am to 1pm. AND, the big news is that we will be open the first and third Sundays each month. Curves Expo near Montgomery Mall will alternate Sundays with us, so they will be open 2^nd and 4^th Sundays. Those of you who wish to work out on Sundays can do so here in Bethesda and also at Curves Expo. Sunday hours will be from 10am to 1pm. We will keep these hours until December, and re-evaluate at that time whether to continue this schedule or make some changes.

*Classes – once a month we will offer the following classes: Stretch class taught by Elvi Moore; Refresh Your Work-outs taught by Kathy McGuire; Abs Workout taught by Morgan Hogarth (she is getting her personal training certification shortly). AND, a free monthly weight management class. A schedule of these classes will be posted on the bulletin board soon.

*Machines – Our resident ‘engineer’ Kathy and her assistant, Morgan have made a commitment to service the machines every six weeks. You may have already noticed that the machines are tighter and giving you a better work-out since Kathy and Morgan have serviced them. Additionally, new hydraulics are on order for the glute squat and hip abductor/adductor machines.

*Chair Massage – We are going to experiment with having a massage therapist come once a week for a couple of hours to give ten minute upper back massages. There will be a nominal fee for this, and you will have to sign up. More on this later when we confirm the day of the week and hours as well as fees with the therapist.

*Art and Crafts Fair – We have so many artists among our members that we think it would be great to schedule a Fair at our Curves (or out on the Plaza if we can get permission from the landlord) sometime in early November in time for holiday gift buying. So, start thinking about what you would like to show and sell! We might even consider giving a percentage of the sales to a charity.

*PARTY! - Because we had so much fun at the party on August 12^th, it was decided that we should have another one in December around the holiday season. We will schedule one weeks ahead of time so we can all mark the date on our calendars.

There is obviously lots to be done to get our membership up this fall. While we are working on a number of promotional projects, we all know that the best source of new members is from current members. We need your buddy referrals!!! Please give us names and telephone numbers of your friends who would benefit from the Curves work-out and we will do the rest. We will contact them and invite them to come for a free week. Any member who brings in a friend who signs up, will receive a t-shirt; a member who brings in two friends who sign up will receive a free month!

Again, thank you for your support, and most of all, your friendship and good cheer. Let’s make OUR Curves Bethesda an exciting place to be!

Elvi Moore, Owner, Curves Bethesda

Healthy Recipe of the Week: Balsamic Berry Parfait

Courtesy of: The Washington Post Online

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/recipes/2009/06/03/balsamic-berry-parfait/

The elements of this dessert look great as a tall, layered parfait, which should be assembled just before serving.

MAKE AHEAD: The ricotta cream can be prepared and refrigerated up to 2 days in advance. The sliced fruit can be prepared a few hours in advance.

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:
*1 cup part-skim ricotta
*Finely grated zest of 1 lemon (loosely packed tablespoon)
*1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
*1 pound freshly washed berries yielding 3 cups; stemmed and cut as appropriate
*1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
*Leaves from 2 stems of basil, chopped (2 tablespoons loosely packed)

Directions:

Combine the ricotta, lemon zest and sugar in a medium bowl; mix well. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Combine the berries and balsamic vinegar in a medium bowl, tossing to coat evenly. Let them sit for 15 minutes, then add the basil and toss to incorporate.

Have four glass dishes or parfait glasses ready. Working with one-quarter of the fruit and 1/4 cup of the ricotta mixture, assemble the first parfait by creating a layer of berries, then adding a heaping tablespoon of the ricotta mixture, another layer of berries, another heaping tablespoon of the ricotta mixture and another layer of berries. Top with a spoonful of the ricotta mixture; garnish with some of the reserved berries.

Fill the remaining 3 portions, following the same order of layers and using all the remaining ingredients. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts (per serving):
Calories: 154
Total Fat: 5g
Saturated Fat: 3g
Cholesterol: 19mg
Sodium: 78mg
Total Carbs: 20g
Dietary Fiber: 3g
Sugar: 13g
Protein: 8g

NEW 6-WEEK CHALLENGE: BECOME A CURVACEOUS CUTIE

Are you ready to get fitter, leaner, and healthier this summer?

The goals of this challenge are:
~Workout 3 times a week*
~Lower your BMI (or maintain your BMI if 25 or lower)
~Pick one more goal:
*Drink 6 glasses of water a day (8 if you’re able)
*Keep a food diary
*Walk, bike, swim, use home equipment twice a week
*No wine on weekdays
*Limit soda intake (or do not drink any soda)
*Limit desserts
*Workout at Curves 4 times a week
*Weigh yourself everyday

STARTS: June 15, 2009 (make sure to weigh-in prior to the challenge)
ENDS: July 31, 2009 (make sure to weigh-in your third day this week)

*If you go out of town and there are no Curves in your area, discuss with your friendly Curves staff member other alternatives.

And here is your goody for reading this blog: Tell your friendly Curves staff member (starting the week of the 15th) the phrase, summer fit, and you will get a free pass if you happen to miss one day of working out.

Summer Special!

Save $100 AND
Get one month free!*
Join Curves Chevy Chase/Bethesda
And receive this summer special!

6831 Wisconsin Avenue
Bethesda, MD 10815
(301) 215-7959
www.bethesdacurves.com
FREE PARKING!
Located in the same building as Trader Joe’s
*Based on a 12-month contract

Supporting Our Community: A Wider Circle is Having a Concert

Curves Bethesda is always wanting to lend a helping hand and now is no different. A charity that the ladies of Curves Bethesda frequently supports is holding a concert on Monday night.

Please join A Wider Circle next Monday for this once in a lifetime opportunity. The Apple Miner Colony, a 20 member band from across the country, made up mostly of students and graduates of the College of Santa Fe and NM Colleges, and featuring BCC-HS Alum Ellen Brand ( '06) on the viola, will be performing live at our Center for Community Service ( 9159C Brookville Rd., Silver Spring 20910). They are in the midst of a 5-week, 6000-mile tour of the U.S. Their travels and performances are being filmed and will be featured in the documentary Home is Wherever You Are. Playfully referred to as “orchestral folk”, the band boasts an impressive arsenal of instruments including clarinets, flutes, mandolins, trumpets, drums, violin, cello, musical saw, trombone, electric and acoustic guitars, an ethereal chorus, stand up bass, and a boundless amount of passionate creativity. With the Apple Miner Colony there are no delusions of grandeur. The last show of the tour will also be the band's last show ever, and, for many, the beginning of completely new chapters in their lives.
Doors will open at 7 pm. The concert will start at 7:30 pm with a performance by Everyone Only. It's free but donations are welcome. Light refreshments will be available. Those of you who have already been to a concert at AWC know that there is all kinds of fun seating available so come early to pick the best couch, chair, bench, cushion, mattress, or step to sit on.

Please contact Pam Feinstein (301-332-7859) or the office (301-608-3504) if you have any questions or need directions. Free onsite parking is available.
Also watch for another note coming out soon about the Big Train Picnic and Game Saturday, June 6th!