All posts by Shari Marks

This SoCal Mom of 6 (former NYer) lost nearly 50lbs after trying everything out there, & has learned a healthy mindset, healthy habits & lifestyle to keep it off. She's been helping others ever since do the same with a Johns Hopkins clinically approved program recommended by over 20,000 Doctors since 1980.

Welcome to my new website!

Welcome all! I am so glad that you found me on the web. I have been posting my recipes and insights on my FaceBook page since I started coaching, and have been enjoying the tremendous feedback since! I’m stepping up my game to a webpage because I know that it can be challenging to quickly find recipes on that page, and I’d really like to help you get that recipe in YOUR belly! Quickly!

My recipes are geared towards complete and utter enjoyment of your food while you’re on a healthy eating plan. Because I didn’t know until recently HOW MUCH food you can really enjoy (a ton!) when you’re making it right. And you can eat a lot of delicious food while not being hungry, and quickly lose weight at the same time!

I made a life decision in December 2015, that I was going to finally drop 30 lbs (after gaining 20 lbs over the past year and a half) and reach a healthy BMI for my age, height and weight.

I had actually “bumped into” my plan in around August 2015, when I saw the amazing woman who would one day be my coach shrink before my very eyes on FaceBook. I was unhappy with my weight, and yet I was not ready to pony up the time and financial resources I thought it would take for the benefit of my own health. I am a full-time working mother, who worked a few jobs on the side, and did not feel I had the mental space to do a “serious diet” and take care of myself. I would do it on my own, I said. And I did lose a whopping 3 lbs on my own from August through December 2015. And then I said, “Enough is enough. I am unhappy with this excess weight literally weighing me down. I will do whatever it takes to take it off.” After another week of hemming and hawing, I bought my first monthly order of Take Shape for Life. My only regret – that I didn’t do it sooner!

I referred to it as a diet to my coach. She said, “I prefer to call it a healthy lifestyle. A diet is something temporary that you go on and off.”

I thought to myself, “Yeah. Whatever. I just want to do this to lose 20 lbs.”

I’ll admit, I followed the program to the letter when I began. It wasn’t hard. Rip a packet, make it, eat it. Sometimes you don’t even have to make it! Repeat that 5 times a day, every 2-3 hours. I was more focused on what I should be eating than what I shouldn’t be eating. Because I didn’t have to make any choices anymore. Brain-dead. The missing component to every “diet” plan I had ever followed in the past: weight watchers (I think I’ve spent enough money there to put someone’s kid through college), South Beach, Atkins, the Pasta Diet (yes, it exists!), etc.

I only had to prepare one “Lean & Green” meal a day, which consists of one protein serving (5, 6, or 7 oz depending on the type) and 1.5 cups of vegetables. I was able to just focus on one meal a day, and if I wanted to mail it in that day and just have microwaved grilled chicken and steam fresh vegetables, I’m good.

And the weight just melted off. Like I have never seen it go before. You see – I have PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome). The weight just does NOT come off when you have that condition. One week I lost 3 lbs in the middle of my weight loss journey. I expressed shock to my coach, “I can’t believe it!” She was very nonchalant about it and said, “Why not?”

More importantly, I felt like a million bucks on the program. Previously, I was NOT a morning person, but had to get up at 6 am for work, so I was a proud, chronic coffee drinker. Within a few weeks I noticed that I just stopped drinking so much coffee. I didn’t need it. AND I was able to wake up in the morning without wanting to die. Which is HUGE.

I quickly realized this investment in myself was worth it. I learned the plan in and out. I started getting creative in the kitchen to make the plan work for me (AND my family!) LONG TERM. And I became determined to spread the word to others about this amazing program and how it transforms lives.

Optimal health is worth it. You’re worth it. I’m glad you’re here 🙂 I’m happy to share my knowledge with the world. Because all my clients are continued sources of continued inspiration to me now that I am maintaining my weight. My plan did change, but I still have a healthy lifestyle PLAN.

Please contact me if you’d like help on YOUR journey to Optimal Health.

Coach Gin (Ginnine Fried)
Certified Health Coach
Website: coachgin.tsfl.com
Email: gininthekitchen@gmail.com