Smiles to go: With a little more than a month to go in her makeover, Cheryl Dixon can see differences in herself ... and so can others

By Marci Laehr-Tenuta

Friday, June 23, 2006 6:19 PM CDT

Cheryl Dixon has her smile back.

Just one month away from her 50th birthday and the revealing of her new healthier self, she's happy, looking good, and feeling great.

For the past two months Dixon has worked with the Racine Dream Team, a group of local professionals who are providing their products and services to Dixon in a 12-week complete makeover. She's been exercising with a personal trainer, undergoing facial and body treatments with a medical aesthetician, and being coached in proper nutrition.

A true smile Through all the positive changes she's seen in her appearance and health, Dixon said she is most excited about the dental work that Dr. Kim Kind-Bauer has done. For the first time in years, she's able to smile confidently again.

"I feel good about it," Dixon said. "(Kind-Bauer) can do miracles. I love my teeth."

Over the past two months Dixon has had extensive work done on her teeth, including root canals, crown and bridge work. After a recent appointment, the dramatic change in her smile is already evident, although Kind-Bauer's work isn't over yet.

"The dental aspect was huge," Kind-Bauer said. "Cheryl's had a lot of long dental appointments."

And there is more to come as temporary pieces are replaced by permanent pieces being custom made by Popp Dental Lab, which has donated a significant amount of that work to the makeover and Dixon.

Thus far, Kind-Bauer is happy with the results. She said healthy teeth make for a healthier self, and a more confident first impression.

"It has greatly improved (Dixon's) overall health," Kind-Bauer said. "If one part of the body isn't healthy, the whole body isn't healthy. It's all connected.

"It's also such a big improvement cosmetically," she said. "People do judge you by your smile."

Dixon said before the makeover, her teeth were in bad shape, and she rarely showed them off in a smile.

In her job at a local concierge service, Dixon needs to put on a happy face for clients all the time. "I always tried to cover my smile because I was self-conscious about the condition of my teeth."

Now, even her toddler grandson has noticed that Dixon isn't covering her teeth anymore, and is suddenly full of smiles.

"It feels really good," she said.

Dixon said the dental work was the main reason she applied for the makeover.

"Everything else has been a perk," she said.

The road to health Dixon was chosen from dozens of applicants for the Dream Team's 12-week makeover in late March. She applied because she wanted to start the next decade of her life invigorated.

Over the past five years, her life changed dramatically. After her marriage ended, Dixon quit smoking, took a new job and was recently promoted.

She said she had made herself over internally, and was hoping the Dream Team would help make her over externally.

They have.

Even Dixon's skin is glowing with health now, thanks to the skin care treatments she's received from medical aesthetician Nicole Barra of plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Sweet's office. In addition to giving Dixon a daily skin care line to use at home, Barra has also treated her with chemical facial peels and will being giving her a photo facial this week.

A photo facial is the use of pulsed light used to destroy any red or brown spots on the skin. "It will give her a more even skin tone," Barra said. "It's amazing what it can do."

Dixon also recently had laser treatments on her legs to rid them of visible veins.

At the Eye Centers of Racine and Kenosha, Dixon was evaluated for laser vision correction, but found not to be a candidate because of a stigmatism, said the surgical coordinator Lisa Jarstad. Instead, Dixon will be having blepharoplasty, a surgery that lifts the upper eye lids, done.

On the fitness front, Dixon continues to make strides in losing weight, building strength and toning her body. Over the past two months she's been working out twice a week with Razor Sharp personal trainer Ed VanDeWater, and walking on her own the other five days of the week.

"I didn't realize how out of shape I was," Dixon said. "I don't get tired as easily now."

But she still hopes to drop at least one more size before the makeover is finished. She said VanDeWater is starting to push her more now.

"We are trying to kick it up a notch," VanDeWater said. "Her strength has improved a lot. Now we're trying to push her to lose as much weight as she can."

He said he plans to have Dixon start a daily cardio exercise program instead of the walking. "I want her to do a little bit higher rate of exercise to get her heart rate up," he said.

VanDeWater said that often people reach a plateau in their weight after they've been doing a regular fitness program for a while. He wants to push Dixon just a little to improve her body composition.

The big test will be when the results of Dixon's first body mass index, taken by Montel Melcher of Enhanced Nutrition and Fitness, are compared with a body mass index when the makeover is finished. The test measures the percent of body fat and muscle mass on a person.

"That's really what you want to change," VanDeWater said.

Melcher has also had Dixon journaling her diet, taking vitamins and implementing healthier nutrition choices into her diet.

Overall, the makeover has Dixon changing the way she lives. "I have been so busy with my new job, the exercise, and all the appointments," she said. "I like this. I definitely will keep up with the healthy ways."

In coming weeks The final results of Dixon's makeover will be presented to the community and the numerous makeover sponsors in late July. In addition to the Dream Team members, Aspire Salon and Headlines Design Studio and Day Spa will be providing Dixon with a hairstyle, cut and color, manicure, pedicure and massage services.

Anything Goes Limousine Services will transport Dixon to her appointments before the reveal celebration, and to the party being hosted by the Charcoal Grill and Rotisseries.

Other sponsors who have donated their time and talents to the makeover include Romme Printing, Photography by Raylene, and Network Specialists of Racine, who designed, hosts and maintains the team Web site at http://www.racinedreamteam.com

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