Tewksbury's Cheryl Forbes says she loves doing abdominal exercises - something she might have thought crazy just a few months ago.

Forbes was one of two local residents chosen for "extreme makeover" giveaways by several Andover businesses. In August, the mother of two, began working with a personal trainer.

"I love doing abs now. It's funny, because I used to hate doing abs. Now I'm addicted to our ab workout that we do," she said. "It's so nice I found my stomach again.

"It was hard to carve out the time (to exercise) at first, but it's been great to do something for myself. I'm going to miss is when it's over," she said.

Forbes, 36, and fellow makeover winner Cherish Brunet, 31, an Andover mother of three, will "unveil" their new looks at a Dec. 7 party at Glory Restaurant.

The two have become good friends during the makeover, said Forbes.

"It's been wonderful," she said. "Before the makeover, we were both members of the Mother Connection, but didn't really know each other. We've become friends, going through the muck together and talking about everything. Cherish will definitely be a friend after this is over. I couldn't ask for more and am thrilled to go through this together with her."

The makeovers are the brainchild of a group of owners of local businesses, including Indra Salon, Fitness Together in Andover and Tewksbury dentist Nitish Nahata. By the end of the makeover process, the pair will have received treatments valued at close to $10,000.

During their personal training and beauty treatments, Forbes and Brunet have been posting journal entries on a web log, at ftandover.com.