It's getting easier for Patricia Robbins to run around the gym at Razor Sharp. She is starting to feel comfortable when she smiles at people. But most importantly, Robbins is no longer weeping when she talks about her life.

Instead, the domestic abuse survivor and recipient of the Racine Dream Team's fourth annual makeover is starting to enjoy life.

"This is one of the best things that's ever happened to me," Robbins said. "It feels like I've won the lottery. This whole process has been so amazing."

The most satisfactory part of the transformation for Robbins has been the emotional freedom she's been given. "It was such a burden before," she said. "This is life-changing."

Life coach credit

Robbins said she owes the changes that have taken place within her to life coach Pamela Grant, one of several professionals on the Racine Dream Team.

"I really enjoy my sessions with Pam," she said. "There's a lot of things I didn't know how to work out before."

Now, Robbins said she is much less emotional about her past. It has really started to become her history instead of defining her present.

"I'm trying to move forward," Robbins said. "I'm not depressed. I'm not thinking that someone is going to get me. I'm feeling so much better about myself. I feel so enlightened. (Grant) has helped me make it part of my past. It's not like before, where I would dwell on it. She's helped me overcome that. I couldn't have done that without her help."

Robbins said Grant has given her the tools to manage stress in her everyday life. "I'm walking away with the tools to deal with it," she said.

This 49-year-old's newfound self-confidence also stems from the physical changes she has gone through since being chosen as the makeover recipient in June.

Dr. Kim Kind-Bauer, the founding member of the Dream Team, has done wonders for Robbins' smile.

"She's amazing," Robbins said. "Her and her staff are just great. It's amazing what she's done."

Big rewards

Kind-Bauer said this year's makeover with Robbins has been particularly rewarding. She said she has watched Robbins, a very fragile woman in the beginning of the makeover, become stronger.

"Before she didn't feel like smiling," Kind-Bauer said. "Now that she's more healthy emotionally, an inner peace is starting to develop. She's able to release some joy. The earlier appointments were quite tearful. Now she's just happy. She's just amazed at how something so good can come out of something so bad."

And Robbins now has a smile to smile about.

Kind-Bauer said Robbins came to her with unhealthy teeth. During the makeover she has given her non-surgical gum treatments, fillings and done extractions. More recently, they've begun the cosmetic crown treatments. Temporary veneers and crowns were put on weeks ago. Permanent crown restoration on her upper front teeth will be finished before the end of the makeover, thanks to Popp Dental Lab of Racine, which is donating all of the lab work, including the crowns.

"Even the temporary restoration looked beautiful," Kind-Bauer said.

Overall, Robbins just has a healthy mouth again, she said. "There's been an obvious effort to turn a leaf in regards to her dental health," Kind-Bauer said. "She said in the beginning that she tried to cover her smile. She never felt comfortable. She never showed her teeth. Now, it's something she can be proud of.

"We're all very excited to see the final results."

Go figure

And her smile isn't the only positive physical change that Robbins has gained through the makeover.

"I can see I'm getting a better figure back," she said. "I can see these changes happening."

Robbins is working out twice a week with personal trainer Ernie Zuberbuehler at Razor Sharp. She also goes to the gym on her own several days a week.

"I'm losing weight," she said. "I'm losing fat. I'm starting to tone up. It's getting easier to run around the gym."

Zuberbuehler also has her lifting weights, and she said she feels stronger.

"I feel so much better after I go and exercise," Robbins said.

She said a few weeks ago she went home from work and biked 15 miles. "Later in the evening I could have gone back for another round," she said.

Food plan

Robbins also meets with nutritionist Suzanne Williamson of Razor Sharp once a week. "She's given me recipes and ideas," Robbins said. "I can eat a lot of variety. I'm making a lot better food choices. It's not even like a diet. I think I could keep up with this the rest of my life."

The healthy eating plan has a side benefit, Robbins said. She's actually saving money at the grocery store.

"I'm saving money because I'm not buying processed foods," Robbins said.

In the last days of the makeover, which will officially end in late August, Robbins will go through other exciting changes.

"I've got a hair appointment coming up," she said. "I'd like to try something different, but I'm kind of scared to go short. My hair has been this way for years and years."

Robbins has had ultra-long hair for most of her life. By the end of the makeover, she will have received a complete style makeover from Aspire Salon and Spa, Headlines Design Studio and Day Spa and J&N Ultra Tan.

Although she's a little nervous about her hair, Robbins said she's ready for the change. She's not only prepared to go through with it, she's excited about seeing herself as a new woman at the end of the month.

"I hope they continue this program," she said. "I'm so appreciative of everybody I get to work with. I couldn't ask for a better team."

Racine's Dream Team

The Journal Times will be following Racine Dream Team makeover winner Patricia Robbins throughout the 12-week program. We will document her successes and struggles, both emotional and physical, as she continues to pursue a fresh start for herself.

The makeover is a project started four years ago by a group of Racine professionals who wanted to transform the life of someone in the community, while also showcasing what services their businesses offered.

This year the makeover is being sponsored by Kind Dentistry, Razor Sharp Fitness, Eye Centers of Racine and Kenosha, Aspire Salon and Spa, Headlines Design Studio and Day Spa, life coach Pamela Grant, J&N Ultra Tan, Photography by Raylene, Charcoal Grill and Rotisserie and Image Management.

For more information on the makeover program, visit their Web site at http://www.RacineDreamTeam.com