Rosemary Conley
Encyclopedia
Rosemary Conley, CBE is an English
businesswoman, author and broadcaster on exercise and health. She is the founder and president of Rosemary Conley Diet And Fitness Clubs, a franchise
-based organisation that is, alongside Slimming World
and Weight Watchers
, one of the "big three" weight loss organisations in the UK. She has released several exercise videos and books.
and Goddards Secretarial College. After leaving school she studied for an RSA in Exercise to Music. After losing weight herself, Conley began by running evening classes for local women looking to lose weight in 1972, under the name the Slimming & Good Grooming Club. She built up a number of slimming clubs which she later sold to IPC for £50,000, working for the company to oversee the expansion of the club network. After suffering from gallstones, she adopted a low-fat diet as an alternative to surgery, and the resulting fat-loss inspired her to promote the diet to others. She became nationally famous in 1988 via her book The Hip & Thigh Diet, which went on to sell over two million copies. The Rosemary Conley approach is characterised by a low-fat diet regime, but what distinguishes the organisation from its competitors is that classes also offer a 45 minute aerobic workout with a trained instructor. Thus it provides a fitness club for people wanting an alternative to gym membership rather than simply another club for dieters, although there are similar product endorsements of foods and kitchen equipment. Conley's personal fortune expanded as the Rosemary Conley Diet & Fitness Club franchise expanded to 180 clubs by 2004, with 80,000 members. In 1998, the cost of starting a Rosemary Conley franchise was £12,000.
Conley has had dozens of books published as well as many videos.
In 2001, Conley became the first woman to be granted the Freedom of the City of Leicester. She was awarded a CBE
in 2004.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
businesswoman, author and broadcaster on exercise and health. She is the founder and president of Rosemary Conley Diet And Fitness Clubs, a franchise
Franchising
Franchising is the practice of using another firm's successful business model. The word 'franchise' is of anglo-French derivation - from franc- meaning free, and is used both as a noun and as a verb....
-based organisation that is, alongside Slimming World
Slimming World
Slimming World a UK-based weight loss organisation. It holds groups around the UK, led by consultants, who are self employed. According to the company, over the past 40 years more than five million slimmers have attended its groups....
and Weight Watchers
Weight Watchers
Weight Watchers is an international company that offers various dieting products and services to assist weight loss and maintenance. Founded in 1963 by Brooklyn homemaker Jean Nidetch, it operates in about 30 countries around the world, generally under names that are local translations of “Weight...
, one of the "big three" weight loss organisations in the UK. She has released several exercise videos and books.
Biography
Rosemary Conley was born in 1946. She was educated at Bushloe High SchoolBushloe High School
Bushloe High School is a middle school in South Wigston in Leicestershire .-Admissions:...
and Goddards Secretarial College. After leaving school she studied for an RSA in Exercise to Music. After losing weight herself, Conley began by running evening classes for local women looking to lose weight in 1972, under the name the Slimming & Good Grooming Club. She built up a number of slimming clubs which she later sold to IPC for £50,000, working for the company to oversee the expansion of the club network. After suffering from gallstones, she adopted a low-fat diet as an alternative to surgery, and the resulting fat-loss inspired her to promote the diet to others. She became nationally famous in 1988 via her book The Hip & Thigh Diet, which went on to sell over two million copies. The Rosemary Conley approach is characterised by a low-fat diet regime, but what distinguishes the organisation from its competitors is that classes also offer a 45 minute aerobic workout with a trained instructor. Thus it provides a fitness club for people wanting an alternative to gym membership rather than simply another club for dieters, although there are similar product endorsements of foods and kitchen equipment. Conley's personal fortune expanded as the Rosemary Conley Diet & Fitness Club franchise expanded to 180 clubs by 2004, with 80,000 members. In 1998, the cost of starting a Rosemary Conley franchise was £12,000.
Conley has had dozens of books published as well as many videos.
In 2001, Conley became the first woman to be granted the Freedom of the City of Leicester. She was awarded a CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
in 2004.