http://www.thebeautyshow.com/makeover

I am sitting in a kids camp right now. I am volunteering at a MISS Foundation Conference in Phoenix this weekend. These kids have all lost brothers or sisters. I lost my son four years ago, and almost lost my daughter the same month. That month, I lost much more than children. I used to feel like I had total control over my life. I felt that if I could set my mind to do something, then I could accomplish it. There was also a large stir up at my job location. Four areas were combined into one big school. My job duties changed, my office was taken away and I had a new boss. This was hard on me too because in my old job, I was pretty much in charge of a program. I had a large range of skills and my boss trusted me to handle the program without much of his interference. I had been in that position for over 6 years. When my job changed, my duties changed and many of the skills I used were taken away from me. In general, my life really changed. I realized that I had no control over my life, which really bothered me. I had immense amounts of anger and frustration. My daughter was in a car accident where she broke her legs, back, pelvis, ribs and had lost some function in a kidney. Her brain was bleeding and while in the hospital, she got double pneumonia. After being in the hospital for almost a month, she finally got sent to my home in a hospital bed. My son was living at his dad’s house but came over to watch a movie with his sister. He had to leave before dark to go home to feed his puppy. He was crossing the street and an 84 year old man ran the red light and hit him. He died at the scene. I had to function enough to nurse my daughter back to health but I was running on the emptiest tank possible. It all seems like a bad dream. I stayed home from work for almost 4 months.

When I returned to work, they moved me again to another office and split my duties. I tried to exercise but my energy level was much lower. I used to roll out of bed, throw on my exercise clothes and go jogging. I could run 10Ks. After all my traumas, I just seemed to have someone else’s body. It weighed me down like a piece of lead. The first few days after my son’s death, I couldn’t eat, then someone brought us a wonderful casserole which got me eating again. Unfortunately, food seem to be a calming force. I began to gain weight. Stress seems to take a toll on your skin and hair. I never used to get tangles in my hair, but now I pull muscles in my neck trying to comb out the tangles. My skin began to break out like a teen. I hated to shop for clothes. I could fit in maternity clothes best. My stomach seemed to hurt all the time. I went to doctors for that but after a colonoscopy, they found nothing physical wrong. I had muscle spasms, headaches and sleepless nights. After a year of this, I got put on Elavil to help me sleep. It works but that is a drug that has side effects of course. It makes my digestion more sluggish and depletes sex drive. I believe some of my weight gain is attributed to this drug. I went to chiropractors, acupuncturists and counselors seeking happiness, but they couldn’t imbed their joy of life into me.

When my job first changed, my former boss retired. On his exit, he gave the program secretary and myself gift certificates for a spa. I got on the email list of that spa and got a notice about this makeover show. I don’t know what truly inspired me to go audition, but I felt it was time to start caring for myself again. I have been going to meeting where all the parents have lost children. I see how this type of trauma can really change parents and many of them indicate how they have many physical and emotional problems. I know how they feel. One of the main reasons I decided to audition was to show newly bereaved parents that some time in the the future, we can start taking time for ourselves and start to care about our bodies again. So many parents say how they have no energy, can’t eat right or sleep.

My family doctor told me that he didn’t want to put me on drugs during that first year. I was mourning the death of my son and he didn’t want to mask that or delay the pain. He said it is expected to have sleepless nights, stomach aches and headaches. Just after 2-3 years, it was time for these symptoms to reduce. Mine were not reducing. Many other stressful things were still happening in my life. My daughter was having many problems and I was fearful for her life. My mother got sick with cancer and died last year. Work was changed again, with another new boss and different office. My life was still out of control. I want to get that feeling back where I have control. I want to be healthier and happier. I don’t want the behaviors of others to totally bring me down. I want power over my life as I felt I had before.

This makeover is not just external beauty. The team is working with me in every aspect. The team at Macrotherapy have a really good idea. They tested me with computer sensors to find where my weaknesses are. The exercise program is based on these weaknesses. The diet plan is designed specially to my needs. They reviewed lab reports and did a multiple list of additional test to come up with the diet just for me. They have massage therapists who know where to work. They were able to get rid of my headache in less than 30 minutes.

The exercises are more difficult that my previous routine because they developed the program of my needs. My former routine consisted of what I liked to do. So I got good at some exercises and I was very weak in other areas. They found that I was not using my core muscles. By doing exercises incorrectly or avoiding ones I just didn’t do well, it was not good for me as a whole. I avoided squats, pushups and the exercise ball. I never told them this but guess what, those are the exact exercises they are having me do. Marcotherapy saw that the areas I needed work are the areas I avoided in my old routine. I worked out every morning before this makeover began but they found muscles to work on that I didn’t know I had.

The diet is great. They found that I needed to lower the amount of carbohydrates than I was consuming. I used to buy fat free everything but they showed me how fat free things contained more sugars which also turned to fat. I can eat things with good fats, good proteins and low carbs. I have more energy and feel less bloated. I have lost six pounds!

What a busy week! The team at Macrotherapy developed my exercise program with computer diagnostics. I had worked out every morning before this show but they found muscles to work on that I didn't know I had. They found that I was not using my core muscles. I learned that doing exercises incorrectly or avoiding ones I didn't do well, was not good for me as a whole. I didn’t tell them but squats, pushups and the exercise ball were new additions to my program that I had avoided in my old routine. They have massage therapists who know where to work. They were able to get rid of my headache in less than 30 minutes.

After many tests, they developed a diet plan just for me. The diet is great. I needed fewer carbohydrates and more fat. I used to buy fat free everything but they showed me how fat free things contained more sugars which also turned to fat. I’m eating good fats, proteins and low carbohydrates. I have more energy, feel less bloated and have lost six pounds!

This week I also had permanent makeup put on by Sally Hayes. She used a topical gel to ease the pain on my eyelids and brows and injected my lips with Novocain. The eyeliner was somewhat uncomfortable. My lips were totally numb until the very end, when I felt some pain. The tattooing of my eye brows was the easiest but then she had to use wax which stung a bit. I was swollen and all the colors were darker than I wanted. Sally assured me that the swelling would go down and the colors would fade.

The next day I had my first appointment with Dr. Schwartz the dentist. Making over my smile is complex and Dr Schwartz is planning some major dental work for me (removal of 3 gold crowns, removal of a dark metal filling, whitening my teeth and applying veneers). He took x-rays, molds, impressions and began removing the old crowns. The following day he removed the last crown and replaced the filling. There was some filming done at his office and also Macrotherapy so I’m glad the swelling in my lips went down just as Sally had promised. Things ended up going well. Over all I am very pleased and happy with the process and changes. This makeover is not just about external beauty. The team is working with me in every aspect and that really helps.

This week I met with Dr. Tamir Mosharrafa to discuss what changes he’d be making. The plan was for me to have an eyebrow lift, upper and lower eyelid surgery, dermal filler for creases around my mouth, liposuction and a tummy tuck. When he examined me he was pleased that my lower abdominal muscles hadn’t been weakened by child birth. He said this would help me do well with the tummy tuck.

Due to my work schedule, Annie at Macrotherapy agreed for me to come in at 6:30 AM for my workouts. This has been great for me and I appreciate everyone’s understanding. I’ve been doing massage with Heidi who always seems to know where to work on me. I’m having a lot fun and getting a great start to my day.

On the 19th I saw Dr. Schwartz again. There was some filming done. The man from the lab was there to give me an idea of what the veneers would look like based on the molds that had been taken. This was good to get an idea of what they will actually look like.

This week I continued my visits to Macrotherapy with things progressing well. Wednesday I had some pre-surgical clearance tests, a chest x-ray and mammogram. I passed my clearance, so that was great.

Thursday and Friday I went to the conference I wrote about in my feature story. This was very therapeutic and helped me keep my mind off my cosmetic surgery scheduled with Dr. Tamir Mosharrafa for Monday. I was surprised to get a call form the anesthesiologist on the Sunday who did a phone interview with me about any previous surgeries or drug allergies I might have. It was comforting to know that everyone on the team is doing all they can to take care of me in the best possible way. Though I have some “live or die” fears about going under anesthesia, I had a talk with myself and came to this conclusion. Either I live and look better or die and get to see my son Michael who I lost a few years ago. It is odd the things we do to make ourselves feel better about our fears. I’m learning a lot about that through this makeover process. No matter what, I am determined to achieve what I have so long desired – to look better physically and feel better about myself.

I’m doing much better, feeling stronger and really wanting to resume my exercise program. We’re still waiting on post surgical clearance so it is hard to be patient. My eyes are getting a little better every day. Since I can’t take a full shower yet because I have to keep the suture lines dry, I’m taking sponges baths which are, to say the least, not very satisfying. I also have staples at my hair line due to the brow lift surgery and they are annoying but I’m putting up with these small irritants trying to place myself in the big picture of a new me. But a real shower sure would feel good right now.
I saw Dr. Tamir Mosharrafa on Wednesday and he continues to be pleased about how fast I’m healing.
This week has given me some down time to think about my life and how I can give back to other people who have been through loosing a child. I might be able to inspire other grieving parents to do better things for themselves. I’ve been a member of a group called the Compassionate Friends where everyone there has lost children. What I see as very important now is that when a newly bereaved parent walks through the door for the first time, they will see someone who has survived this terrible situation. Now, in my fourth year, I’m helping facilitate these meetings. I want parents to see me as someone they can be in the future. If I am unhealthy and overweight, then I’m not the role model I want to be. I want them to see that they can take care of themselves through the pain of their experience. I want to show by example that a good diet and an exercise program are important for all parents in this situation because the emotional stress can take a big toll on them physically. If they over eat like I did, then it is harder to have energy to cope. You become more depressed when you find your clothes don’t fit or you can’t jog a mile anymore. I used to roll out of bed at 5 am and jogged 3-5 miles every morning. I had energy and a positive outlook for my future. I felt great. The death of a child can destroy feeling great about anything. I want to inspire parents by showing them I am doing well now and give them hope. I want to look good and be positive. This makeover is a gift I was given and a special opportunity to show grieving parents that good things can happen again.

What a whirlwind week this has been! It was one of the hardest yet, mostly due to the extensive dental work Dr. Schwartz has been doing for me. More crown work and filling replacement was done. Thank goodness I had some relaxation and visualization tapes on my MPE player. I don’t think I could have made it through the appointments without it. I also visualize my favorite place in Hawaii when things get tough and that really helps. But the hardest part was the teeth whitening trays I did at home. It was painful and made my gums really hurt. I increased my pain and sleeping medications but that didn’t help much. The worst was on Friday afternoon but all the dentists I knew were gone so I relied on myself to get out my water pick and rinse and rinse my gums. That seemed to help the most and I could take less pain medication. It was hard to sleep and also I had been working all week too. I have more dental work this coming week but am trying not to think about it. I feel like if I got through the whitening trays the worst is behind me!

My vision has improved but is still not where it was before surgery. I have an appointment with my eye doctor on the 29th. But the good news is that I can see well enough to drive. So if I have to use reading glasses for my computer for a while longer that’s ok.

Also this week I saw Sally Hayes again for the second application of my permanent eye brow makeup. It was more painful this time. Probably because I had so many other pains in my face and jaws but I got through it too. With all of the hard things about the week out of the way, I do have some wonderful things to report. On Tuesday I went back to Dr. Tamir Mosharrafa for my check up. He thankfully removed the 15 or so staples in my hair line. Oh! What a relief! He took my belly button stitches out. All that is left in that area and my back where the liposuction was done are the stitches that dissolve on their own. All my drains are out (yeah) but must scab over so no baths or swimming yet. However, permission to shower was a dream come true. He’s having me put scar cream on my bikini incision line 3x a day.

I went to Macrotherapy on Thursday and Saturday. It was good to be back exercising a bit. I lost 10 pounds the week of surgery and have 10 more pounds to loose before I reach my goal weight. I’ve lost 3 inches off my hips and 2 inches off my waist. I’m down from a size 14, easily fitting into 12s that I had kept and can even wear some 10s. This makes me very happy!

But one of the things I’m most delighted about is that I’ve been give permission to go from lifting only 5 pounds to 10 pounds which means I can put my cat in my bike basket and off we go. I’ve also been sitting on a cushion pulling some weeds while my husband adjusts a huge umbrella to keep me out of the sun. So life is returning to some sense of normalcy. My greatest desire right now is to be fully healed.

Tuesday, I worked out with Annie at Macrotherapy. She added a few more exercises and I felt like I was getting stronger and more balanced on the exercise ball again. I did some pulley weights and squats.
The same day I saw Dr. Tamir Mosharrafa. He took more stitches out of my belly button, checked all the incisions, and said I was healing nicely. He said I could resume normal activities and expect some pain. I can continue to use eye ointment when my eyes are irritated. I asked which injection he put in my smile lines. He told me it was Perlane which I had read was a material normally made in your body. It gets absorbed over time and is not harmful. I think he had made a good choice. I was most interested to learn that the liposuction had removed 6 lbs of fat.

On my way back to work, I had to stop at the post office to mail a package. I told the lady at the desk about The Beauty Show makeover and how I was happy that the doctor gave the green light for normal activities which meant I could mail my 10 lb. plus package myself. Since they weren’t too busy, the postal clerk called another co-worker up the front to tell her about it. She wants me to come back to show her the final product! That was really cute. She didn’t even know me. Everyone is so happy for me and some ask if they can sign up. It is amazing how many women would just love to be in my shoes. The shared excitement helps me get through the pain. I did get myself into this and know it’s important to be brave and strong.

Also the previous traumatic events in my life help put the pain of procedures and recovery in prospective. This allows me cope with some of the harder moments when pain or stress gets me down. I know the pain of this makeover process will pass and the results will be worth it. I guess that’s what got me through Thursday. I sat in the dental chair from 9 am – 3:30 pm with no lunch and only a few bathroom breaks. I was glad I had eaten breakfast. I wore my wireless headphones and listened to my relaxation mp3. This helped me handle the drilling and overcome the gagging reflex. Doctor Schwartz kept me numb and totally pain free. The veneer prep to receive the temporaries seemed to take forever but he wanted things to be perfect the first time. He shaved my teeth down so the veneers would make my teeth look perfectly straight. I think he also used a whitening agent on my stubs to make them the whitest possible under the veneers (this might be why I had a lot of pain later). I saw that the mold trays were blue and the assistant and I joked back and forth about the temporaries being blue. When Dr. Schwartz finished, she handed me a mirror. The temporaries were the most beautiful white and perfect teeth I had ever imagined. He said they were actually one piece. It was amazing.

On the drive home the numbing meds wore off. I took the script Dr. Schwartz gave me directly to the pharmacy. There were people waiting around for their prescriptions but I told the pharmacist I was in terrible pain because I had 4 new crowns and 10 teeth prepped for veneers. I asked if he could put a rush on my prescription. I walked around the store for maybe 5 minutes before my name was called. I could have hugged him; he seemed to truly care about my pain. I told him and his assistant about The Beauty Show makeover with the usual reaction of great excitement for me. I took the maximum of pain and sleep meds that evening hoping I’d be ok Friday.

Friday is my busiest day at work. We bring in seminar speakers from all over the world. I’m in charge of their schedule, their hotel, their reimbursement paperwork, refreshments and audio visual. I do delegate to others, but overall, I’m responsible. So it’s essential to be on my toes. To my complete relief, I was pain free when I got up at 5 am. I worked out at the gym and ate a soft breakfast. Then it was time to dress. Guess what? I got to wear a pair of jeans I bought a little over a year ago with the hope I could zip them someday. I called these my Goal Jeans. I was so proud to zip them and still have room to breath. I am grateful to The Beauty Show. I’m actually reaching my goals!

But the week wasn’t over yet! Saturday I got up at 6 am, picked up bagels and juice and went to a work related; paint a house for charity function. The event went from 8 am to 3:30 pm. I didn’t rest all day. I told some of the people on my team about the Beauty Show and they were happy for me. I was thrilled to be strong enough to handle most of the tasks. The lady who owned the house was very thankful and a sweetheart to work for. We put her in a paint-a-thon t-shirt and asked her to come outside to pose for our group photo. I was plenty tired and sore but it was a rewarding day and the house looked great. One of her neighbors had brought her the application to fill out. She was very surprised when I called her to tell her that her home was selected. It seemed similar to my feelings when I was selected for this makeover. The lady thought the paint-a-thon was already done and over with. I thought the same thing when I was invited to lunch with the rest of the finalists. We are both lucky ladies.

I am also very happy with my diet. I’m losing weight and don’t feel hungry when I stick to the plan. I don’t miss potatoes, bread, rice and pastas. I love eggs, meat, cheese, milk, veggies, salads and fruits. I can eat omelets and drink milk so I’m satisfied and full after meals. I have energy and less stomach distress than when I had wheat in my diet. I wake up feeling better than I have in a long time!

I had another dental appointment this week for prep of my lower teeth for veneers and removal of another gold crown. I had the same painful experience as last week when the numbing medicine wore off. It was about 6 hours of agony with pain medication barely taking the edge off. But the good news is I did get through it.
I woke the next morning feeling good enough to keep my appointment with my eye doctor who says I have 20/20 vision again. Yeah! This was is great news and a big relief! I went through lasik surgery last year and did not want to loose the wonderful improvement to my vision. He said my discomfort is probably due to my recent eye surgeries causing a lot of dryness in my eyes. He gave me other eye drops and a different gel to apply at night.
After my eye appointment I went to macro therapy for my workout and had a great time with Annie. I jogged about ¾ mile lifted some weights and worked out with the pulleys. I continue to improve with my balance on the ball. I’ve really been enjoying working out this week and doing better and better. Except I still feel a pinch when I bend over too far forward. I have an appointment Monday with Dr. Tamir Mosharrafa and intend to ask him to look at this area and get his opinion.

On Monday I went to see Dr. Mosharrafa to film my follow up appointment. He said everything was healing nicely. I mentioned the pin prick I got when I bent over so he felt it through my skin and said it was a stitch from underneath. He said it would dissolve itself but it might take a few more weeks. Since this pain was affected my exercise program, he suggested that he take the stitch out. This involved a numbing injection and small incision. He used tweezers to find and remove the stitch and surgical glue to seal it. So it was back to sponge baths for 48 hours but definitely worth it! I have another follow up appointment in 3 weeks.

I went to Macrotherapy twice this week to exercise with Annie and have massages with Jason. The exercise went really well. We had to avoid a few things because of the new incision but I was able to do much better than before surgery on the lunges which surprised me. I am getting more strength plus losing the weight will make some of the exercises easier. I jogged about a half a mile!

After this appointment, I headed over to see Sally Hayes and had the second coat of permanent makeup applied to my lips and eyeliner. The numbing on my lips wore off immediately so I felt a lot of pain. Plus the eyelids have hurt each time for this procedure. Sally was very sweet to give me breaks every few seconds so I could tolerate the procedure. My permanent makeup should be complete now!

I started out my second session this week at Macrotherapy with a headache. Annie kept the workout easier and by the time Jason gave me the massage I was feeling better. I think it relieved some family tension and worry over my next appointment for my Fraxel facial therapy which I feared would be painful. I had read up on details about the laser treatment. The information recommended withholding aspirin and Advil because it can cause more swelling and minor pin prick bleeding.

Lisa William’s preformed the Fraxel and started by applying a numbing gel over my face. I had to wait about an hour to let it set in. I added another layer myself after about 15 minutes. The camera man was there and interviewed me while I was waiting to go in for the laser treatment. The treatment was not very painful except maybe on the upper lip. I was so relieved. The Machine had a blower and would blow up my nose making me gasp. That was my biggest complaint. My skin did turn red but it didn’t seem to swell. I had read if you take an antihistamine after the treatment, it would help so I took a child’s strength Benadryl. I never noticed swelling. I put ice packs on my face to ease the redness and burning. It felt like a sun burn. While I was still numb, Lisa had asked me if I wanted to have my Botox shots. I agreed and didn’t feel the needles at all. It was a good idea to do this while I was numb. The Botox won’t take affect for a few days or a week so I am anxious to see the crows feet go away around my eyes.

After I left the spa, I stopped to see Dr. Schwarz to get a few repairs to my temporary veneers. I had chipped off a piece of the temp when I was eating so he patched it and sanded down a rough area on the lowers. I was out of there quickly for a change. That sure made me happy!

Sunday - Nov 9th, I had lunch with Karen who was one of the women I met at the auditions. We’ve become friends. We did some shopping at the mall after lunch and she helped me pick out some new clothes. I’ve gone form a size 14 to a size 10! It was exciting to shop for the new, smaller me! I even fit into some size 8’s. In addition, Karen’s sister who underwent lipo last year gave me some size 10’s to hold me over until I see where I end up. I can’t believe I went down so many sizes in such a short period of time. I love lipo!

I’m still going to my 6:30 AM workout at Macrotherapy and doing much better with the exercise program. I feel stronger and more balanced; Annie is a great coach. After my exercise, Jason gave me a massage. What a great way to start the day!

On Thursday with prescription meds in hand my husband drove me to the dentist. I was determined to not have so much pain this time. I took my medicines before Dr. Schwartz began to put on my top veneers. The two front teeth were not as perfect as he would have liked so he put the temporaries back on those. Though my mouth was numb and I was much more relaxed it was another long afternoon in the chair. I took two pain killers and a sleeping pill before I left the office since I wasn’t driving. I felt some pain but it was much more manageable than the previous times. I ate a yogurt, went to bed, slept very well and woke up on Friday pain free. I was relieved because I had a very busy day at work. My new veneers are beautiful and feel great.

I was notified of my final makeover schedule for appointments and film shoots. It’s hard to believe we are winding down to the final Reveal party on the 13th of Dec. I can’t wait for my hair appointment week after next because the gray is showing now. I’ve heard very good things about Stephanie Blaze, my hair stylist. I have total confidence in her and I am open to any color or length she feels is best for me.

This was an interesting week for me which I spent in the Washington D.C. area with my husband who was attending a conference. I had to be consistent and creative about exercising because I’m planning to do a 6k run with the folks at Macrotherapy Thanksgiving morning. I wanted to build up as much strength as possible this week.

The first part of the week’s exercise was easy because the condo where we were staying at had a gym room. I lifted weights and played around on all the equipment. We toured some of the museums in D.C. on foot in the cold, blowing snow which was probably not the best idea. My teeth started hurting. I think they were sensitive to the cold due to the temporary veneers not being as protective as the permanent ones will be. But once I figured out the problem, avoided the cold and wrapped my face when I did have to go out the pain got better.

My sister in law who we stayed with in VA the last few days we were there was really sweet and understanding about my diet. I’m still making good food choices, managing to stay on my food plan even in the context of vacation! I am very proud of myself for this. She also had an exercise stretch band so I was able to use that and ride her stationary bike to keep building myself up.

Once we got back home I have continued prepping for the 6k. I can run a couple of miles now and thankfully Annie said we didn’t have to run the whole 6k which was a relief. I feel confident that I can do it in a walk / run fashion.

I’m really looking forward to this coming week. I have 3 of my 4 final film shoots scheduled. And Tuesday I’ll get my permanent veneers which will hopefully be my last dental appointment. What a long and painful process that has been. But I still think it’s been worth it when I catch a glimpse of my smile in the mirror which only gives me more reason to smile!

On Monday Jason at Macrotherapy retested me on the computer. The graphs contain lines that represent different muscle groups that are supposed to overlap showing my body working evenly together. The first time I took this computerized test, none of my muscle groups were in synch, but now the retest shows marked improvement. We filmed my progress with my exercise. My strength has improved and I can do a more difficult regime. Best of all I don’t fall off the ball anymore! I was filmed riding my bike and then jogging around the area. Annie gave me pointers for better form on both. I told Annie I was enjoying my veggies, fruit, cheese, meat and eggs so the plan is to stay with this diet. Omitting heavy carbs has improved my digestion and reduced my headaches. I’ve lost inches and dropped dress sizes so I know its working!

This week, Stephanie Blaze, my makeover hair stylist and I began by talking about color. In the process she held many colors of hair swatches up to my face and arm, carefully choosing colors that would match my skin tone and eyes. She decided on a blend of natural blondes and browns telling me some past apparel colors and makeup won’t look good with my new hair. She considered the shape of my face, length of forehead and neck for the best style. My cut limits frizz and can be blown straight or dry naturally for curls. Stephanie blew it straight the first time so she could see how it looked that way. I really love my new "do."

I saw Dr. Tamir Mosharrafa’s for a recheck. He’s pleased and wants me continue massaging the incision and belly button to reduce scarring. Later that same day I had more work with Dr. Schwartz and continued to struggle with pain and some reactions to medications while he was trying to complete my veneers. It has been a rocky road but I should be all done with the veneers by next Thursday. My teeth are still very sensitive to any cool air, even indoors, but it helps to wrap my face with a warm scarf. I did get some strange looks at work but know that in due time I will be dazzling them with my new beautiful smile.

On Thanksgiving morning I grabbed my husband and we went to our neighborhood gym. I jogged a few miles, lifted weights and worked out on the exercise ball. I had worn a face mask to protect my teeth while breathing the cool air which caused me to sweat profusely so I couldn’t avoid washing my hair. Now it was time to see the curls. I used a cream that Stephanie had given me and to my surprise the usual frizz was nicely curled. Later that afternoon we joined friends for a Thanksgiving dinner. With an hour and a half in the gym that morning there was little guilt over the delicious, big dinner.

Friday I went to Trendy Tag Boutique as part of the makeover to meet with Angela and Sumer. We picked out things to try on and I spent hours at it. I had such a great time - much more fun to slip into size 10’s than to squeeze into 14’s with fat still hanging over the edges! I picked out a dress for the Reveal Party so things are rolling along. My week was full and exciting. Though I’m worn out and my mouth is still sore I feel good about my accomplishments.

I saw Annie at Macrotherapy twice this week to workout. She has been increasing the weights on my exercises and having me do more than one set now. I feel much stronger and not as sore.

Dr. Schwartz had me come in to check on my gums. They were sore and inflamed after the bottom veneers were put in. He prescribed antibiotics and a special mouth rinse. He said if the gum area doesn’t heal he would make arrangements for a graft. I don’t want to have to go through that so I have been picturing pink healthy gums and it seems to be working.

One of the more special events during this makeover was the Botox party hosted by Lisa Williams at Ultra Smooth Skin. I was allowed to invite a few friends including my backup person from the Beauty Show tryouts. A rep from the company that makes Botox was there to answer questions. Lisa helped my friends decide the best place to have their injections. She had food and drinks for us and we enjoyed spending the evening together.

I spent Friday night at my cousins’ home in Scottsdale. This would take an hour off the trip to my 7:00 am morning fashion shoot at Trendy Tags Boutique. Dinner was made when I arrived and my cousins were so excited to see me. I had been emailing them updates of my makeover and they really wanted to see me in person. My cousin apologized for staring at me all evening. She was so excited for me and thought I looked great.

Saturday was one of the busiest days so far! I arrived at Trendy Tags Boutique at 7 am for my fashion shoot. We got started right away trying on different outfits. Angela showed me that I could look good in dresses, jeans, skirts and even leggings. I had a blast trying on such a variety of styles and colors. I could even zip the size 8’s! After that I went to Macrotherapy. Jason and Annie commented on how good my new hairdo looked. Annie had me work with a Pilates machine. It was a new challenge for me to balance and use different muscles. After a good workout, Jason gave me one of his deep massages working all the knots out of my muscles and rubbed the soreness out of my feet from the morning in high heels. Next I went to see Vanessa at Ultra Smooth to have laser hair removal from my armpits and bikini lines. It sure is nice to know I will not have to shave those areas ever again. There is minimal pain with that procedure and I am out of there in less than 30 minutes. I ran into Stephanie Blaze, my hair stylist who showed my hair to her client and filled her in about The Beauty Show. We set another appointment on Thursday to put something in my hair to bring out the shine. I am looking forward to seeing Stephanie again. Her hair procedures are very relaxing because there is no pain involved! And at the end of all this I went grocery shopping, got gasoline and made it home just in time to cook dinner for my guests who arrived a short time later! What a day!

I felt really good that day. I’d slept well and my back didn’t hurt anymore. Fortunately, I didn’t need to think about what to wear to the Reveal production party because a dress would be there for me. But I did have to leave my house in something. The dress I wanted to wear was too big so I pinned it and wore boots. The long drive to Dr. Schwartz’ house where the Reveal was being held gave me time to reflect on what an incredible journey this has been!

As soon as I entered the front door, I was whisked upstairs and not allowed to be seen, just like a bride on her wedding day. Sally, my makeup artist, greeted me and soon Stephanie arrived to do my hair. At some point, Josh, the cameramen came up and we were ready to begin. They decided to do my hair first. Stephanie showed on film how my hair could be worn curly or straight. She used a curling iron to put in some bounce and explained a lot of tricks to make my hair look great. I was a little anxious about the dress I’d be wearing but when Angela arrived I was not disappointed! She’d done a great job picking out a slimming black dress with the added bonus of a new pair of black heels. They were a perfect fit and so adorable.

Some people tried to sneak upstairs to say hi but Maria Camille herded them back down. She made a lot of phone calls to assure that everyone and everything was organized. I got a first hand chance to see how challenging a reality TV show can be. Lisa, the other makeover winner arrived with her husband and her hair team. She looked really cute as a blonde. We hadn’t seen each other in a long time so we couldn’t help staring – how different we both look!

Descending the stairs in the unfamiliar heels had me worried. I don’t wear skinny heels – ever! My biggest fears were that I would trip, fall or not look the least bit graceful. Stephanie used to work for a modeling agency so she gave me and Lisa a crash course in how to walk. I was a little frustrated that this wasn’t done earlier, but I knew I had to just try my best. Josh, our cameraman explained the plan. I was to walk half way down the stairs and then stop so he could switch places with the other cameraman. After that I was to go down to the bottom, stop again and then go to the fireplace.

All of the sudden it was time! Everyone crowded around below as I walked slowly half way down. They all started to applaud and some even whistled. I felt embarrassed but also happy and joyful that they thought I looked so good. It felt odd that all the fuss was about me. Then when I walked further down the applauding got louder. I wanted to giggle and laugh because they went way overboard. I smiled really big which was a relief because I had worried I’d be too shy. It was fun and I didn’t have to fake happiness. I’d done that a lot since my son died. Going through the motions just to fit in or make my friends and family comfortable. This was sincere joy. Before long Lisa came down and evoked the same excitement from those gathered.

The panel discussion among the professionals was next. Since the room where they gathered had no door I was able to hear most of what was said. It was a bit disconcerting. I felt a little like a spy and that I shouldn’t have been listening. But to my relief no one felt that choosing me had been a mistake or that I was too difficult to deal with. I guess I still have some confidence building to do!

Eventually, I was called into the panel room to face all their questions which really put me on the spot. I had no idea what to expect. I didn’t want to make anyone feel left out or criticized. I did express my opinion about the hardest and easiest parts of the makeover. The dental was definitely the hardest where I had the most pain and the longest visits. I suggested that maybe more visits with less time in each would have been less stressful. Replacing one crown at a time is hard enough but replacing five gold crowns and many mercury fillings plus putting in the top and bottom veneers was a lot of work in a short period of time. Dr Swartz agreed, if he had had more time, he could have spread things out. In contrast, I told them that Stephanie’s haircut and style was the least painful and most relaxing.

I tried to mention why each person’s part was important to me. I said how much I loved the permanent makeup, laser hair removal and all my facial treatments. Not only did these aspects make me look good, they are time savers! The eye surgery made me look years younger which every woman wants. Having had the tummy tuck and lipo makes it fun to try on new clothes because my body is in better proportion. I also think I have a better idea how to pick out clothes and what looks good on me. The individualized diet and exercise plan has made so much sense to me. I have more energy, feel better and have lost inches. I learned that trying what is popular is just a waste of time. But most importantly, I had just a few more words about my new smile. I told Dr. Schwartz that, now, I have a new problem. I don’t like to smile in photos taken with other people because I make them look bad. But seriously, no matter how hard won, out of the whole makeover experience, my new smile was the most transformative and permanent change. I will still have to work at everything else, my hair, wardrobe, new body, skin and wrinkles. But the smile looks wonderful when I wake up in the morning and when I go to bed at night. It brightens my look no matter how I feel or what bad hair day I might be having!

I want to thank everyone one who worked with me in the process of this makeover, including my sweet husband, Steve. He was both nurse and counselor. I could not have done this without his help and support. I will always be grateful for the valuable time, talent and products I received from the professionals – what a gift! I feel more confident about taking control of my life. We are only given one chance on this earth so I plan on making everyday count.

Picture: After Makeover of Barb Hoffman

Barb shares thoughts about winning makeover -