Yvonne Halpenny, aged 30, from Red Barns Road was awarded joint runner up at the Curves Curvette of the Year 2010 on January 20.

The Louth County Hospital nurse embarked on a weight loss programme because she wanted to regain her self-confidence, lose her baby weight, increase her energy levels and feel like her pre-baby self again.

A member of Curves Dundalk, Yvonne is "delighted" to have been selected as joint runner up in the national Curves competition.

"I just feel that Curves has helped me to change my life and all it takes is 30 minutes three times a week. I know I can maintain my results and now I love the workout," said Yvonne.

Curves International Marketing Director Michael Foley said: "There were some really moving stories from our members and it has been a tough decision to narrow it to the five finalists and even more challenging to pick just one winner."

Yvonne decided to join Curves with a friend shortly after she had her youngest child. She went every day for the first couple of weeks and later cut back to three days per week.

Yvonne weighed 10 and a half stone when she joined and her goal was to get back to her original weight of 9 stone and to reach that target before she went back to work.

Yvonne, who is 5ft3", maintained her Curves' fitness routine after she reached her goal and lost a further stone and half in weight.