Success Story: Success with a Six-Pack, Part II

Shari Friedman Reads ABSolution, Swears off White Carbs, and Finally Finds Her Six-Pack Abs

—By Sue Mosebar

Imagine working out like a maniac and eating a "pretty healthy" diet but never seeing the results you want. The results you think you should achieve. Basically seeing your body as a perpetual "before picture."

How would you feel?

Well, that's how Shari Friedman described her life "before."

Understandably, she was frustrated. Very frustrated. She had been working out for a long time. She even had a personal trainer. She just couldn't figure out what she was doing wrong. She didn't eat Burger King or McDonald's—she avoided most junk food. It wasn't even a temptation. Yet she would look at pictures of some fitness models like Monica Brant and think, "That's what I want to look like!" But she didn't. And, despite her best efforts, she wasn't even able to get close.

That all changed the day she picked up ABSolution.

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Ever since, ABSolution has been her foundation for everything. "It's so basic. It's the building block. The essence of all you need. When I read Shawn's book, it didn't tell me anything I didn't already know or that my trainer didn't already tell me. But the way Shawn put it... it just inspired me.

"I realized that some of the foods I love are the 'white' carbohydrate foods. After I read his book and his section on 'Navigating Past the Whites,' I said, 'From this day on, I'm giving up the white carbs. That's it. I'm giving up my pasta. I'm trading in my white rice for brown rice. I'm trading in my white potatoes for sweet potatoes.' As soon as I did that, I started getting leaner, getting more definition, and getting more of the results I wanted."

Remarkably, within one month of simply giving up the white carbs (like white rice, refined sugar, white breads, and white pastas), Shari lost five pounds of fat.

You might think it was difficult for her to give up her beloved white carbs. Not so. "My progress inspired me to continue to eat like that. And after I'd given up on those white carbs, my body stopped craving those foods. So I'm over it. Once in a while, I'll allow myself a cheat meal, and my cheat meal will be just one slice of pizza. But that's it.

"Now I can't go back. I see the way other people eat, and I'm just shocked. I feel better eating healthier, and even though I don't eat all the simple carbs I used to, and maybe because I don't, I have just a ton of energy."

Finding Role Models

Shari also discovered the importance of role models. "I wanted to transform my figure to look like my role models. Looking at photos of Gabby Reese, for example, I realized that a woman can be athletic and still be feminine. Or Monica Brant—she's very muscular, yet she's beautiful and feminine.

"They didn't look like what other women think about when they think about muscle. I know so many women who are afraid they're going to look like a man if they train with weights. Women like Gabby Reese and Monica Brant prove that women can have muscles and still be beautiful and feminine."

Obstacles Overcome

When asked if she overcame any obstacles, Shari says no. Once she put her mind to it, she just did it. Seemingly effortlessly.

"I'm already a highly motivated person. I love working out. I always worked out really hard," explains Shari. "And I had basically good eating habits. I wasn't a junk food eater. I don't have a sweet tooth. It's just that my love for Italian food—especially the white pasta and the white Italian bread—was killing me. That, and I wasn't getting a sufficient amount of protein. Making sure I got one gram of protein per pound of bodyweight was key."

Shari doesn't even mention that she has thyroid disease, which makes it even harder for her body to want to let go of fat.

Instead, she says, "The only real challenge was researching any supplement I was interested in taking to make sure it didn't interfere with my thyroid medication. But I managed to come up with a combination of items that are safe that don't interact with my medication."

Her supplements include essential fatty acids, such as flaxseed oil and CLA; minerals like chromium and L-carnitine; plenty of protein and amino acids; B-Complex to help her keep her energy levels up; and green tea for immune system support and increased fat burning; a good quality multivitamin; Vitamin A because it's a good antioxidant and good for muscle recovery; and finally, Lean System 7 with 7-Keto. And to ensure she's always properly hydrated, Shari drinks a gallon of water every day.

Aiming High for a Sexy, Six-Pack Midsection

Shari admits she sets the bar high for herself. When she first decided to go for a six-pack, she wondered if it was even possible. But as she kept getting closer and closer to her goal, she started believing, "I can do this, I can really do this!"

"I gave myself a goal that I did not think I was going to reach," says Shari. "But I did that because I'm competitive by nature. I like the challenge. I like to challenge myself to do everything I can to try to reach that. That keeps me going. And sure enough, I was able to accomplish that goal—to my own surprise."

When Shari began her program, she weighed 130 lbs with close to 30% bodyfat and was a size 10. After her program, she weighed 115 with about 17% bodyfat. And now, a year later, Shari's continued to improve. She now weighs 118 lbs with just 15% bodyfat (in the "off season"—her on-season bodyfat is 12%). Shari's a perfect size four. Pretty impressive results, especially considering she's 40 years old and has thyroid disease.

Shari's success has led to her competing in local figure competitions and fairing exceptionally well. She even kept an online journal of her contest prep on the Bulletin Board to let the members learn what it is like to prepare for a competition. In it, she shared the emotional roller coaster you ride, her training, and her dieting, along with all her thoughts and emotions on a daily basis. (It's like an online reality show!)

Because Shari was so inspiring, she even became a moderator for the Real SOLUTIONS Bulletin Board in March of 2004. Shari explains, "I really love it and have made so many friends through the Board. I am now a certified ISSA Trainer and train clients online as well as in person. It feels so good to be helping so many people, and it is something I am very passionate about. I plan on taking two more ISSA Certifications during 2005 to help me grow as a trainer and as a moderator on the Real SOLUTIONS Bulletin Board."

Shari used to feel frustrated. But how does she feel now? "I'm proud of myself. I look better now than I ever have in my life. I don't look like someone who's 40. People look at me and think I'm in my 20's.

"Just eating properly, exercising, taking care of yourself is the fountain of youth. I really, truly believe that. That, of course, and drinking lots of water."

It's obviously when talking with Shari that her energy levels are up. And she has a lot of confidence. She explains, "I have just an inner pride. My whole attitude and outlook are just completely different because I look good. I feel good. People seem to really respond to the change in my look. I'm getting a lot of attention from men. Younger men! Like 10 years younger than me. It's kind of nice," she laughs.

"A lot of people now are starting to ask me questions. I've become like their 'guru.' I've been passing out the information to whoever wants it, and now I'm seriously considering getting into the fitness industry fulltime because it's something I have such a passion for. It's something I believe in. And I want to be able to help others."

Shari's Advice for Others Just Starting Out

"The first thing I suggest is reading Shawn's book ABSolution. Then write down everything you have eaten in the last week or start a food journal today and keep track of what you eat for a week. Look at what you're eating. Look at what you know is healthy and what you know is not, and change your eating habits. And don't forget to get in the habit of eating six small meals a day!"

Shari concludes: "Eating correctly is key. You can exercise all you want. In fact, I did. I exercised like a maniac. I even overtrained myself. But diet—eating smart—is key to true, lasting success."

Like Shari Did...
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