"Inspirational Success Story—Mark Harden"
No Weight-Training Experience Necessary!

- Interview by Sue Mosebar

Who: Mark Harden
Age: 41
Location: Huntsville, Alabama
Occupation: Logistics Manager
Goals: Lose bodyfat, build muscle, and finally see his abs.

Mark's story is very simple, really. At 41, he was an average American male, who's never been concerned about his health or the condition of his body. Just one of the guys. Workout? Why bother. Too much time and effort involved. In fact, Mark had never even set foot in a gym, so he didn't know the first thing about weight training and exercise.

That all changed, though, one day when he was surfing the web. He ran across a site called RealSOLUTIONSmag.com and on a whim signed up for the "7 Never-Before-Told-Secrets" emails. From that site, he learned about BestABS.com and LeanSystem7.com. "Learning about nutrition and training was a whole new experience for me, and it is one that will definitely have an impact on me for the rest of my life," explains Mark today.

It wasn't easy to get started, though. Mark wandered around the gym for the first time trying to figure out what to do and how to do it—and actually doing it among a number of huge, "experienced" weight-lifting guys made the experience that much more intimidating for him. "I didn't have a workout partner, and I knew I would be starting out with minimal weights. I felt very awkward—like a fish out of water—and was clumsy using the weights and equipment."

It didn't take long, however, before he starting getting the hang of it. It helped that he was taking so much in—getting as much information as he could. Once he learned about Shawn Phillips' ABSolution, he immediately picked up a copy, started reading, and felt much more confident hitting the gym.

Inspired by all he'd learned and the results in his own body, Mark decided he needed to share the wealth and started loaning out ABSolution to several friends and gym pals, who then became as encouraged and challenged as he was.

"I cannot say the challenge has been easy," Mark shares. "It's taken a commitment. Walking into the gym for the first time not knowing anything about weights or equipment was a challenge for me in itself. Saying I was feeling a little intimated is an understatement! But I did it!! At the beginning, I had practically zero muscle definition, and I'm amazed at the transformation I see in my arms, shoulders, chest, stomach, legs, and yes, even my ABS!!

"I'm just your ordinary middle-aged guy who never thought about or cared about the physical condition I was in and really didn't think I had the time and, more extensively, the will or information required to properly transform it. I set out on this journey and stuck with the roadmap Shawn laid out in ABSolution. No more, no less. It was a program I thought I could manage in relation to time and resources and hopefully one I would see results with in a reasonable amount of time," says Mark.

Mark stuck to the plan and obtained startling results! (Just check out his photos above.) Mark now exclaims, "I actually look forward to going to the gym several times a week and can't imagine life without it!"

As Mark continues to increase his knowledge about training, nutrition, and supplementation, he's increased his supplement use as well. He's found taking a basic antioxidant along with Lean System 7, Meta-CEL, and GlycerLean to be very beneficial to his transformation.

He's also learned how important proper nutrition, especially getting enough protein, is to building his best body. And it goes without saying how crucial correct form and technique are when developing a well-balanced body—more lessons he learned from ABSolution.

For Mark, it all started with ABSolution. This book challenged and encouraged him to start this lifelong fitness journey, pointing him in the right direction to get from one point to the another and to stay on course. His advice for others just beginning? "When people ask what I'm doing, I show them Shawn's book ABSolution or tell them about it and where to buy it. It's all there."

And how does he feel about his new lifestyle? "It has been encouraging for me to physically see a transformation in my body, but I guess more than anything else, I'm encouraged by how other men and women who believe they don't have the time, resources, ability, and most importantly, the will to begin a journey to transform their bodies have been inspired by me. It's exciting when other people like me, who believe they could never accomplish anything, are encouraged to do whatever it takes to get them where they need to be. Not just physically but emotionally and spiritually as well. No matter what is holding them back, it can be overcome!!"

WHAT'S YOUR SUCCESS STORY?

• Success@RealSolutionsMag.com

And remember, we don't care how "small" you think your success is! If you've started a new fitness Program that is helping you lose "just" a few pounds of fat—and this allows you to take a vacation to a sunny place where you can show off your physique—that's a HUGE success in our book! If your story is chosen as the "Success Story of the Month," you'll also be given your choice of great Real SOLUTIONS prizes!

So send us your entry right away! We can't wait to "see" and "share" your success!

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