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On The Road: Makeover recipient is already down a size and is excited about her journey to a healthy lifestyle
By Marci Laehr-Tenuta
Multiple workouts, dozens of appointments, a new skin care regime and a pant size later, Cheryl Dixon is feeling pretty good.
The working Racine grandmother who was chosen to receive the Racine Dream Team's 12-week makeover is still excited about the path she's on to a healthy and fit lifestyle.
"It really has helped me," said Dixon, 49. "It's got me motivated."
Over the last four weeks she has been working out with a personal trainer at Razor Sharp Fitness, had an evaluation by cosmetic dentist Dr. Kim Kind-Bauer, has been trained to follow a skin care routine by medical aesthetician Nicole Barra of plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Sweet's office, has been given nutritional advice and guidelines by Montel Melcher of Enhanced Nutrition and Fitness, and has been tested for possible surgical vision correction or cosmetic eye surgery at Eye Centers of Racine.
Dixon was chosen for the 12-week makeover in late March. All involved expect her to transform into a more healthy and fit version of herself, who likes who she is on the outside as much as the person she is inside.
Feeling more fit "It will be worth it in the end," Dixon said during an interview after a recent fitness session at Razor Sharp. "It's going very good. It's a lot of hard work. The workouts are a little more than I expected."
Dixon recalls one of her first workouts when Ed Van De Water, the personal trainer working with her, had her get on the ski machine. She was supposed to use the machine one minute, but couldn't make it. Just four weeks later, she's using the ski machine twice in her workout: once for six minutes and again for eight minutes.
"I'm doing much better than I did," Dixon said.
A few weeks ago at work, she had to deliver flowers throughout the building. She was running up and down stairs with vigor. Dixon said before the makeover, she would have used the elevator.
And she doesn't just feel better either, she's also looking great.
"I've dropped at least a size," Dixon said. "I've got a couple of sizes to go. I'll be able to fit into some of my old clothes."
VanDeWater said Dixon's exercise routine has consisted of cardio and cross-training workouts that keep her heart rate up and burn fat.
"Basically we're giving her a complete body workout," he said.
In addition to her twice-a-week training at Razor Sharp, Dixon has also been walking and doing cardio exercises on her own at home
every day.
"She's very motivated and will get very good results," VanDeWater said.
Dixon is adamant that she won't be putting back on the weight she's lost, and although it will be difficult, she is going to start eating healthy all the time.
"No more fast food," she said. "I'm just eating better. I'll be making healthy choices now. I check the labels. I'm drinking more water now."
While she was already starting to pay more attention to the types of things she was eating, Dixon got her first dose of nutritional training last week from Melcher, a nurse and nutritionist.
Surprisingly, one of the key issues Melcher and Dixon discussed was how much sleep Dixon was getting each night.
"If you're not getting enough sleep, you won't have the energy to get up, to want to eat, to exercise," Melcher said. "Sleep is so important. I was concerned because I know how she works."
Dixon works full-time and is on the go a lot. Melcher knew it was important to help her learn to make healthy choices that fit into her lifestyle.
"I'm working with her now, tracking her diet, and seeing how I can try to teach her to eat things that are quick and convenient, but also giving her enough nourishment," Melcher said.
In coming weeks, Melcher plans to go to Dixon's home, look through her cupboards and help her cook. "We're going to cook some meals together," she said.
She also started Dixon on morning and evening vitamins that are multi-vitamins and supplements all in one, and plans to evaluate some of the restaurants Dixon frequents to help her know what to choose from their menus.
"That's what incorporates a lifestyle change," Melcher said.
Beautiful beginnings Dixon has already noticed a difference in the way her face looks as well. For several weeks she has been using the Jan Marini skin care management systems after meeting with Barra, a medical aesthetician.
And that part of the makeover has just begun.
In addition to the skin care system, Barra will be treating Dixon with a chemical peel, which will exfoliate Dixon's skin and help the products she is using penetrate better. Barra said Dixon will also be treated with intense pulsed light, which helps get rid of redness, sunspots, freckles and other types of discoloration on the face.
"She will have more of an even skin tone, and it will have more of a long term effect," Barra said.
Sweet will be giving Dixon a full cosmetic evaluation this week.
As for her dental makeover, Dixon is also in the beginning stages of what Kind-Bauer hopes is a healthy and beautiful change.
Kind-Bauer said Dixon recently received a comprehensive dental evaluation at Kind Dentistry, and from that they developed a treatment plan to improve her dental health as well as significantly improve the appearance of her smile.
The dental makeover began last week.
"(Dixon) will be having some oral surgery and some crown and bridgework, which will result in an incredible transformation of her smile," Kind-Bauer said.
This makeover is like the start of a new journey for Dixon. She will be turning 50 in July, and wanted to head into the next phase of her life invigorated.
The last five years have been a struggle for Dixon.
Her marriage ended, she changed jobs to support herself, and has quit smoking.
She feels like she has gone through an internal makeover, and is hopeful that the Dream Team makeover will transform her external self to match.
"It's very exciting," Dixon said.
Perhaps the best part of the makeover has been the support she's gotten from everyone, she said.
The Dream Team members, her family and even neighbors who have stopped by to let her know they're cheering her on.
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