By Marci Laehr Tenuta
Journal Times | Posted: Monday, September 8, 2008 12:00 am
Like a butterfly emerging from her cocoon, Patricia Robinson stepped out of the limousine to reveal what a 12-week makeover from the Racine Dream Team had done to her.
Her blue eyes shone and she smiled.
A group of family, friends and dream team participants gathered in the parking lot of the Charcoal Grill and Rotisserie Aug. 28 for the makeover reveal applauded and cheered as she stepped out. Robbins - a 49-year-old domestic abuse survivor - looked like a new woman, and it was obvious she felt like one too.
"I'm so proud of her," said her sister Judy Gage. "It took a lot for her to sign up."
But winning the makeover gave Robbins the motivation she needed to start a new life for herself, Gage said. "It's so amazing. It's been a big healing process. She's hopeful for a big future."
Losing to gain
Robbins, who couldn't stop smiling at the recent reveal party, has lost so much since June. She's dropped 9 pounds and several inches off her waist. She lost many inches of her previously waist-length hair. Robbins has also lost the urge to hide her teeth, and a lot of the emotional baggage she was still carrying around with her day after day.
Elegant in black pants and a black blouse, strappy black heels and sparkling jewelry, she barely resembled the woman who applied for the makeover a few months ago. Her hair was cut and styled. Her makeup was done. She was laughing.
"It's wonderful," said her sister Carol Reynolds. "You can see the big difference in her."
That was the idea.
For their fourth annual makeover, the Racine Dream Team decided to offer a makeover to a survivor of domestic abuse.
"We wanted to give this individual an opportunity to try to erase the physical and emotional wounds from the past and begin a fresh start," said Dr. Kim Kind-Bauer, the founding member of the team.
She said the most rewarding aspect of the makeover this year has been the incredible changes in Robbins' spirit. "She went from a tearful, angry woman and blossomed into someone who is bubbling over with joy. We are very thankful to have been a part of this amazing journey," Kind-Bauer said.
The result of her effort
Robbins said the makeover has been an incredible experience.
"It's like I won the lottery," she said. "I've had the best team. They pampered me every step of the way."
But Robbins also had to work hard throughout the makeover to achieve the dramatic results. The group of professionals she worked with said she was dedicated to making a change in her life, and that made all the difference in her success.
"Patricia was religious, not only with our appointments, but also getting to the gym on her own time, as she worked out roughly five days a week," said Ernie Zuberbuehler, the personal trainer from Razor Sharp Fitness who worked with Robbins throughout the 12-week makeover. He credits her dedication for her success and her success for her increased confidence.
"This confidence is not without reason," he said. "She had experienced strength increases of roughly 40 to 60 percent. In addition, her muscular endurance and cardiorespirartory conditioning has vastly improved."
One of the goals with the fitness training was to get Robbins running, Zuberbuehler said. "During the last week of training she completed a half-mile jog, which truly is a milestone and an accomplishment that has empowered her beyond imagination," he said. "Every time she runs she just grins ear to ear, and tells me she can't believe she is actually doing this."
Suzanne Williamson, a registered nurse and wellness consultant at Razor Sharp, called Robbins the "perfect student."
Williamson taught Robbins a holistic weight management system that taught her about eating low glycemic index foods, behavior modification, stress reduction and supporting a healthy metabolism. During the makeover, Robbins lost nearly 9 pounds, 3.9 percent body fat and inches off her waist.
"She has more energy, improved sleep, clearer and brighter skin, and a general feeling of well being," Williamson said.
A new woman on the inside
Robbins didn't just work hard on making physical changes for the better during the makeover. She also worked with Pamela Grant, a life coach with Hope Renewed, to start making improvements to her emotional health.
Grant said she had Robbins look at 12 aspects of her life: nutrition, exercise, stress mastery, relaxation, finances, work, play, health care, empowerment, life purpose, self esteem and spirituality. She then had her identify the top three areas she wanted to work on.
Throughout the makeover, Grant and Robbins met for weekly sessions, and discussed Robbins' goals for her life. She said Grant gave her tools to cope with stress and the painful emotions she clung to for many years.
Together, they discussed Robbins' strengths and victories to build her confidence.
The result was Robbins has let her violent past be her past. She said she no longer dwells on it and allows it to define her present. She now has goals and ambitions for the future.
Letting go of the past and the need to hide also prompted Robbins to do something during the makeover that she hasn't done for many years: cut her hair.
A few weeks ago, a nervous but determined Robbins went to Aspire Salon and Spa to meet with the owner, Marianne Pelini.
"She was eager for any changes and open to my suggestions for updating her look," Pelini said. "She had very fine waist-length, one-length hair that had not had a real style in many years. I suggested she let me cut it shoulder length and give her a lot of long layers and also add some longer wispy bangs to frame her face and accentuate her beautiful blue eyes."
Pelini also colored Robbins' hair a rich, natural dark blonde and then added golden blonde highlights to warm up her skin tone.
"She loved it," Pelini said. "One of the greatest joys of my profession and my passion is doing dramatic makeovers on a woman and watching her self esteem emerge, and it was immediate with Patty."
Something to smile about
Perhaps one of the most notable changes in Robbins at the makeover reveal event was that she wasn't covering her mouth, or trying to hide her teeth. Instead, she beamed.
During the makeover, Robbins received a comprehensive dental evaluation and a full restorative treatment plan which included non-surgical gum treatment, dental extractions, tooth-colored fillings, cosmetic enamel contouring, whitening and cosmetic porcelain crowns.
"We saw a transformation from a very un-healthy mouth to a healthy and beautiful smile," Kind-Bauer said. "We all have been deeply touched by this transition in Patty."
The Racine Dream Team is comprised of several local professionals who began working together four years ago on the makeover program. They wanted to change someone's life, and also showcase their services and products.
Other Dream Team members and sponsors for this year's makeover included: the Eye Centers of Racine and Kenosha, which after a comprehensive consultation by Dr. Kanwar Singh, revealed only a minor need for reading glasses, which were provided to her; a manicure, pedicure and massage by Headlines Design Studio and Day Spa; Mystic tanning by J&N Ultra Tan; Diamond Cut Limousine; Photography by Raylene; and Charcoal Grill and Rotisserie and Image Management.