Written by – LORI NUDY

HOLA!
Our Debra did not have time to write a blog this week between getting massages, facials, hair treatments, loofahs, paraffins, fango, reflexology, tennis lessons, aquatics, eating, training and sunning herself. So, since my hand muscles are the only muscles that do NOT ache, I decided to write it for her!

We are in PARADISE! My first day here was quite an adjustment – everyone here is much older than me (except for my 22 yr old “boyfriend drivers” who take me around the spa in a golf cart, he-he) and the spa cuisine provides 1200 calories per day that consists of about 90% of foods that I do not care for. Once I got over the shock of the food selection, I began to relax because I had no other option. We have been on hikes every morning, aerobics classes, aquatic classes, salsa classes, working in the gym and most importantly, DOING THE CURVYGIRL WORKOUT! And YES, I am STILL alive!

Ok, now it is time to be serious – DEBRA MAZDA is a very, very special soul. Not only has she changed my LIFE, but being on this trip with her has extended that feeling to a whole other level. On her own vacation, she has literally taken me by the hand and pulled me up mountains on our hikes. After the hikes, she drags me straight to the gym and puts me on a machine and then trains me with weights. So in short, we complete 3 hours of exercise before 10am each day. This has been more than an emotional and physical experience for me - so a lot of tears (along with a lot of pounds I hope) have been shed this week.

At my weak and weepy moments, Debra has continued to motivate me and push me beyond any and all limits I thought existed. Today on our hike, Debra and her awesome friend Angela placed me in the middle of them and each took a hand of mine to pull me to the end. I can barely walk but I bet I sure will look great! The best part is that after you endure all that pain and put in all that work, you get spa treatments each day and we sit in the hot tub to relax those achy muscles.

The CURVYGIRL word has spread – everyone here has met Debra and are all so excited to hear about this – she taught the CurvyGirl class twice this week and they LOVED IT! She is like a celebrity here. It is hilarious. And I am her testimonial and spokesperson. The women all see and hear her training and motivating me and they are so inspired. They are asking for CurvyGirl to be all over the country. She even trained a group of us on weights today after the hike. A woman told me today after the hike that I motivated her to keep going when she saw me run past her. ME – I motivated someone? And I ran some of it? That was an amazing feeling.

Debra got to see a bunch of her friends who she has not seen in a while and it is really touching to see how much they all love her. They are all so excited for her and have been giving her all kinds of ideas throughout the week on how to promote herself. She has praised Emily (CurvyGirl VP of Marketing) and Richard (CurvyGirl VP of Operations) to all of them and listened to their good intentions.

I have been eating the spa food all week – I have had wonderful grilled shrimp, chicken dishes, turkey, beef, lots of fruit and salad, and I have not snacked at all. We went into town yesterday to do a little shopping and after we walked down a big hill, Deb said we would take a cab back to the spa because she didn’t want to walk back up the hill. Well if any of you know Debra, you know that I was hiking up that hill in the beating sun in a cute outfit and was drenched. She was along the side of me putting motivation in my ears to get me up that hill. And leave it to our star, she found the only gym in town and went in to inquire about classes - as if we haven’t had enough exercise at our spa.

So many women who are younger than Debra here have all said they don’t know where she gets her energy. We have been moving NONSTOP since Monday – It has been a blast and I am honored to be here with her.

Who needs Bob and Jillian and a ranch when you can be in “Mexico with Mazda?”

Que tengan feliz semana (have a great week)!

Adios,
“LEANER & LOSING” – LORI

While Debra is away join Mary Krause and Carol Scarpato this Saturday at 9:00 AM for a 4 mile power walk.   

Location: FDR Park located on the corner of Broad and Pattison Avenue. (Meet at tennis courts facing Pattison Avenue)

- Pre-register for the CurvyGirl Broad Street Run Walking Challenge scheduled on Saturday May 4, 2008
- Wear walking sneakers
- Bring anyone you want

See you this Saturday!

The CurvyGirl Staff

As some of you know I am taking a much needed vacation. I am going to a Spa in Mexico until March 3rd with friends that I have known for over 10 years.

There is a large group of us and I am really looking forward to seeing them and sharing a week of pampering and fun in the sun. The spa where I am vacationing is in the mountains of central Mexico. Although there is no beach, the spa does have 3 gorgeous pools, hot tubs and all the amenities necessary for me to have a relaxing getaway.

This vacation comes at the best time for me. Since launching CURVYGIRL ENTERPRISES for the past year I sometimes felt a lot of stress. There is so much to do to get a company off the ground. I am still learning about marketing, management, and even the legal issues connected to a startup company. There have been many sleepless nights, many times I’ve felt anxious and have cried over some of my decisions. But after watching my favorite TV personality, Donny Deutsch (the host of The Big Idea), and listening to his guests who are facing similar challenges while starting businesses of their own, I would say I am probably way ahead of the game.

I feel a sense of accomplishment for how far this company has come. I now realize how important it is to have a great website where CurvyGirls can be part of a community. FOS Commerce, which built and maintains our site, has done a great job. I have gotten to know other women entrepreneurs. I’m very fortunate to have these savvy women to guide and support me in this venture. I love what I do and am very passionate about taking my mission to women everywhere. Although I feel challenged at times on the business side of this work, I know I am doing what I was meant to do and loving every minute of it. I took a big leap to create CurvyGirl and it’s beginning to look like it will pay off for me. Although most people will probably think I mean a financial payoff, what I actually mean is the opportunity to influence larger numbers of women to CREATE POSITIVE CHANGE, EAT HEALTHY, MOVE AND FEEL TERRIFIC. If the money comes it will be icing on the cake. Thanks to all of you who have been supporters of my vision. Talk to you when I get back!

Debra

Join Debra Mazda this Saturday at 9:00 AM for a 4 mile power walk.   

Location: FDR Park located on the corner of Broad and Pattison Avenue. (Meet at tennis courts facing Pattison Avenue)

- Pre-register for the CurvyGirl Broad Street Run Walking Challenge scheduled on Saturday May 4, 2008
- Wear walking sneakers
- Bring anyone you want

See you this Saturday!

Debra

Hi CurvyGirls: Since this part of winter can be a challenging time for all of us to keep our spirits up, I thought I’d start sharing some weekly quotations with you to inspire us as we wait for spring.  I’m calling them CurvyGirl Motivational Messages.  There will be words of wisdom from great women – and a few men – to help us stay focused and moving toward our goals.  I hope you’ll feel free to let me know about any great sayings you have used in your own life.  Here is the first of many to come:

“The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers”.

- M. Scott Peck, Author, Clergyman, Psychologist