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General Mills Announces Winner of Curves Foods Contest
MINNEAPOLIS-(Business Wire)-January 30, 2008 - General Mills today announced Laura Wilson of Irving, Texas is the winner of the Curves Foods Real Change, Real Women contest, a national search for the most inspirational weight management story among American women. Wilson's story stood out from more than 700 applicants, winning her the chance to appear on the Curves cereal box, along with $5,000, a year-long membership to Curves fitness clubs and a 12-month supply of Curves Cereal and Snacks.
"We're delighted to share Laura's motivational story with the world," said Rohan Thakur, marketing manager for Curves Cereal at General Mills. "We hope that her story can make a difference in the way women feel and in their approach to overall health."
Wilson won voters over with her determination and honesty about her weight management experience. An inspiration to many, Wilson stopped the years of yo-yo dieting and instead made a lifestyle change by incorporating sensible eating habits and exercise to successfully maintain a healthy weight. Now a member of the Curves community, Laura can continue her journey of weight management and help to inspire others beginning their own.
Wilson notes that weight management is hard, "I typically don't have that get-up-and-go attitude, so I plan my meals ahead of time and use exercise to relieve stress." She has made weight maintenance a part of her life and when she needs an extra bit of encouragement, Wilson looks at old pictures and remembers that "I'm doing this for myself."
Spokesperson for the contest, Daytime Emmy Award-winning actress and Days of Our Lives star Judi Evans, who publicly struggled with weight management for years following the birth of her son, congratulated Wilson on her contest win, "Your story will touch so many and inspire them as well. Embrace this moment and treasure it!"
Evans, who traveled across the country with Curves Foods to meet real women making real changes, encourages women to keep the momentum going toward their own weight management goals and emphasizes the importance of pushing through the tough times, "if you hit a bump in the road, remember that it is just a bump, not the end of the road".
Curves Foods developed the Real Change, Real Women contest and interactive Web site, www.CurvesFoods.com, to build a community where women can embrace long-term weight-management together. U.S. residents nationwide voted on the story that most inspired them to maintain a healthy weight. In addition to Wilson's recognition, four first prizes of $1,000 each will be awarded to runner-ups. Each of the first prize winners will receive a 6-month membership to a Curves fitness center:
— Tamar Dyson - Elk Grove, Calif.
— Casey Lohman - Lee's Summit, Mo.
— Katherine Mendez - Palm Springs, Calif.
— Linda Snow - Everett, Pa.
About Curves Foods
Curves Cereal and Curves Chewy Granola Bars from General Mills, as part of a healthy lifestyle, are designed to help women take weight off and keep it off. The products offer a wide variety of nutritional benefits, like fiber to help curb hunger and whole grain to help manage weight. The new Curves line of weight-management foods consists of:
— Curves Cereal: -0- *T — Whole Grain Crunch — Honey Crunch *T
— Curves Chewy Granola Bars: -0- *T — Chocolate Peanut — Strawberries + Cream *T
Both Curves cereals are 190 calories or less per serving and provide at least 1/3 of the daily recommended 48 grams of whole grain. Studies show women who eat a diet rich in whole grain tend to have healthier body weights and also gain less weight over time.
Curves bars, at 100 calories and five grams of fiber per bar, make it easy to increase daily fiber intake and can help women keep on track with their weight-management goals. Curves bars are also a good source of calcium, a nutrient that falls short in most women's diets.
About General Mills
General Mills, with annual net sales of $12.5 billion, is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of consumer foods products. Based in Minneapolis, Minn., General Mills' mission is to innovate to make people's lives healthier, easier and richer around the world. Its global brand portfolio includes Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Haagen-Dazs, Old El Paso and more. It also has more than 100 U.S. consumer brands, more than 30 of which generate annual retail sales in excess of $100 million. General Mills also is a leading supplier of baking and other food products to the foodservice and commercial baking industries. For more information about General Mills, please visit www.generalmills.com.
About Curves International
Curves offers a 30-minute workout that combines strength training and sustained cardiovascular activity through safe and effective hydraulic resistance. Curves also offers a weight management program based on a groundbreaking, scientifically proven method to raise metabolic rate and end the need for perpetual dieting. Founders Gary and Diane Heavin are considered the innovators of the express fitness phenomenon that has made exercise available to more than 4 million women, many of whom are in the gym for the first time. With more than 10,000 locations in 50 countries, Curves is the world's largest fitness franchise and the ninth largest of all franchise companies in the world. For more information, please visit: www.curves.com.
