Tracey Toltl didn’t like the woman who stared back at her from the mirror each day, so much so that she eventually stopped looking. Her mother struggled with diabetes, high blood pressure, and more, and Tracey knew she was headed in the same direction unless she took control of her health. That, and Curves’ TV commercial, motivated her to join. Before long, she was happy to see herself not only reflected in the mirror but also in the eyes of others.

Katie Altmeyer’s nickname is Katie Scarlett. “My uncle says I have spunk, gumption, and a bit o’ the devil, just like Scarlett O’Hara,” explains the 44-year-old hairstylist. He’s right. And oh, did she need it. In five years, Katie lost her father, home, business, mother, and health. Then a ruptured appendix almost killed her. Determined to stay alive for her kids, she moved back to her hometown and joined Curves. “I made the decision to get healthy,” she says. When her marriage folded, Curves remained her haven. Today she’s healthier, 115 pounds lighter, remarried, and back in business. Her dream? Her own hair salon. The name? Katie Scarlett.