A Total Transformation—Times Two!

Photography by Michael Polito

Our makeover winners, Kelley Sanders and Lisa Battaglia-Ross, have spent five months in the hands of the region’s most talented health and beauty professionals. They’ve worked on their bodies, diets and mindsets at Mount Kisco’s Sawmill Club. They’ve had their smiles, complexions, and hair transformed by the best in the business. And now, dressed in fashionable finery and adorned with glittering jewelery, they’re ready for their grand unveiling!

Kelley Sanders
By following the workout plan designed by Andrew Guida and then implemented by three awesome master trainers—Mervyn Tugendhaft, Doug Sedlmair, and Bente Gerber—I have shed unwanted pounds and achieved the fitness goals we set. Each trainer’s routine was unique, with their different approaches and styles combining to form a well-rounded program. I am grateful to each one of them. As the mother of four young children, life can be hectic and challenging. By working with life coach Heidi Michaels and nutritionist Amy Peck, I was able to devise strategies and goals not only for myself, but also for my family. Heidi encouraged me to set both short and long-term goals. By the same token, Amy’s guidance as a nutritionist has been invaluable. She helped me make better meal choices and kept me on track. I have not felt limited by food or “on a diet,” but rather have become more educated in how to eat better.

In the last few months, I have turned back the clock on my skin. Under the care of a wonderful aesthetician, Jeanne from Dr. Palaia’s office, my skin has become smoother, more even-toned, and clear. I have enjoyed microdermabrasion treatments, which are painless and give the skin an immediate glow. Under her supervision, I had a light chemical peel, which I strongly recommend. Now I can maintain these results with the Obaji products recommended for my face.

Having healthy, natural looking hair is a huge confidence-booster and Vasken Demirjian and his team have given me that! My hair has been trimmed and shaped by a top stylist, Ayshen, who also shaped my eyebrows with threading. It’s amazing how even that tiny change made such a difference. The conditioning treatments and artistic coloring from Vasken give my hair shine; while the highlights and range of color and contrast add dimension and polish.

Dr. Kenneth Magid and his team offer the best dentistry options that I have found in Westchester. The technology, quality of professionals, and Dr. Magid himself are a wonderful resource! I am glad to have had the opportunity to benefit from his expertise, and I look forward to bringing my whole family to his practice.

Caption: Kelley’s gown by designer Stephen Yearick in taupe features embroidered, jewel-toned flowers with bugle bead detailing. Gold and crystal handbag by La Regale. Elephant’s Trunk, 111 Main St., Mount Kisco, 666-7666. Norman Covan 18K yellow gold diamond heart pendant, $4,400; Norman Covan 18K gold and diamond circle chain, $2,045; Penny Preville 18K yellow gold and diamond cuff bracelet, $10,989; Rebecca 18K yellow gold and diamond hoop earrings, $6,200. All from Landsberg Jewelers, 132 South Ridge Street, Rye Ridge Shopping Center, Rye Brook, 510-8920. Hair by Vasken Demirjian Salon, 12 City Pl., White Plains, 285-0800. Makeup by Shira Aaron, 522-9182 or 232-1442.

Lisa Battaglia-Ross
My WAG makeover has been the most inspiring experience. I realized that with a little effort and perseverance, a person can overcome any obstacle. Much time and energy was spent working out at the gym with my trainers Merv Tugendhaft, Bente Gerber, and Doug Sedlmair, who have been very supportive and encouraging throughout these five months. Thank you, Andrew Guida, for implementing such a great team and program! Amy Peck, my registered dietician, guided me as to how to eat and what to eat, and has enabled me to take her teachings and pass them down to family and friends. Heidi Michaels, my life coach, helped me change my way of thinking from a negative into a positive. With the help of each and every one of you from the Saw Mill Club, I have lost a total of 22 pounds and 20 inches! Thank you to Dr. Palaia’s office and Charlene, my amazing aesthetician. I was a sufferer of rosacea and her skill with microdermabrasions and chemical peels cleared my skin up completely. I look years younger! Vasken Demirjian, my colorist, changed me from a blonde into a redhead. Wow, what a positive difference! It has made my eyes stand out more and it really is a very natural red, which I will be keeping up! Hakan, the talented stylist from Vasken’s team, has changed my look with a more flattering and younger-looking hairstyle.

Wow, what can I say, Dr. Kenneth Magid and Dr. Sabrina Magid and his office staff, Sandy, Nicole, Tanita, and Joann have all helped me to no longer have a dental phobia and changed my smile forever! I had missing teeth and calcifications. The Drs. Magid have veneered my teeth and given me dental implants. I now have a complete set of teeth that are bright and white. I can be proud to smile. Thanks so much for giving that back to me.

Everyone I met along the way has been so helpful and knowledgeable. My attitude is positive and I know it will help me maintain the results of the past five months.

Caption: Lisa is wearing a hand-painted gray ombre silk chiffon dress and jacket by European designer Ania Zofia. Elephant’s Trunk. Gregg Ruth 18K white gold and diamond necklace, $83,354; Gregg Ruth 18K white gold and diamond earrings, $48,745 from Landsberg Jewelers, Rye Brook. Hair by Vasken Demirjian Salon, 12 City Pl., White Plains, 285-0800. Makeup by Shira Aaron, 522-9182 or 232-1442.

Dr. Kenneth S. Magid, DDS, Advanced Dentistry of Westchester
KELLEY: Improving Kelley’s smile really just required some subtle changes. I pride myself on never “over-treating” a patient by doing more than necessary to achieve their desire. We started with bleaching her teeth with a combination of Zoom Advanced bleaching and home bleaching to continue the process. Once her smile lightened up, we addressed the uneven wear of the teeth, which is common as people age, resulting in a somewhat ragged smile. This was easily corrected with “cosmetic contouring,” a simple, quick, painless procedure where the teeth are evened and reshaped to an attractive appearance. It is amazing what these simple changes can do. I discussed doing veneers on Kelley’s side teeth to widen her smile, but this was not something she was interested in. I think we’ve achieved an excellent, attractive smile.

LISA: For Lisa, the original challenge was not only the conditions we found in her mouth but also her fear of the dentist, which had kept her out of treatment for a long time. Listening to her concerns and treating her with the care we treat all of our patients began the process of winning her over. As we do with every cosmetic case, we showed Lisa the computer-imaged photo of what her final result would be. She loved it. Da Vinci Dental, with whom I did Extreme Makeover, then created a “wax-up” of Lisa’s smile from which we would make the temporary veneers and the initial guide for the final result. Doing cosmetic treatment this way means there are never unhappy surprises.

While this was going on, we addressed some of the other problems with her smile, which included a completely broken off and hopeless tooth on one side, the mottled uneven appearance of her teeth, and tiny teeth whose shape and proportion did not fit her face. We removed the hopeless tooth and placed an implant in the same visit, completely without discomfort during or after. That finally got Lisa to be confident and comfortable in treatment. My partner, Dr. Sabrina Magid, restored two of Lisa’s teeth that were severely decayed with tooth-colored composite fillings. Once we had sufficient time for the implant to integrate, we prepared her smile for the nine veneers and placed her in temporary veneers. Over the next two days we made minor changes to the temporary veneers until Lisa was completely happy with the result. A model of these temporaries then became the guide for the final veneers. Two weeks later, we bonded on the final veneers and implant crown. When Lisa saw the final result and compared it to the pictures of her smile before, she began to cry with happiness. The big hug I received and her feeling that the confidence in her smile was changing her life was all the reward I will ever need.

Vasken Demirjian, Owner, Vasken Demirjian Salon
KELLEY: Given the transformation she was about to go through, we had to look into the future and try to capture the final look. She needed a slight adjustment with both her color and haircut. Between the two however, the haircut would have had to make the biggest difference. Her hair was out of shape and style, not too mention dry and frizzy. Ayshen, one of our senior editorial artists, gave her a transitional style, knowing that the very first haircut would have to take into consideration Kelley’s face and body as they were, to be revised over the next several months as they changed. She took a few inches off her length, cleaned out all the dry ends, and gave her new, cohesive layers. This cut would allow Kelley to grow her hair throughout the makeover.

As for the color, all I needed to do was keep her hair healthy and shiny. Since the final result would be unveiled in the fall, it would have only been seasonally appropriate to give her deeper/golden low-lights with richer highlights. Once we had decided our ultimate vision for Kelley, the rest was just a matter of maintenance. As you can see in the final shots, we kept true to our vision. Kelley’s hair became a wonderful, complementary addition to her transformation. We also took the liberty of shaping her eyebrows through our threading technique, giving her face a polished look. She felt and looked beautiful. Now that’s what I call a makeover!

LISA: We wanted to give Lisa a completely new beginning and we started with her hair. It was a matter of choosing the right color and style. No doubt, her hair color would have to be the ultimate factor and the changes therefore more dramatic. She gave us a relatively free hand and I decided to take her from a blond to a ravishing red head. Right from the start, this was an immediately effective transformation, a perfect “before” and “after.”

To complement her color, we first had to establish an appropriate style. Hakan, a much sought-after senior stylist, anticipated Lisa’s hair color change by taking out all the extra weight, giving her a short, layered haircut that framed her face beautifully. It was magical. Immediately, her face opened up and her eyes seemed even bigger. She looked younger. Then came the color.

Her new haircut was an ideal canvas for coppery/red shades. I eliminated her yellow tones by pre-pigmenting her hair (much like priming a wall for paint) with rich, warm, coppery tones. After, I applied the final color choice. She transformed into a completely new person, right there and then. For the next few months, we had to enrich the color further and maintain the cut so it stayed edgy and sharp. The end result was indeed most rewarding. Her hair, unquestionably, became her instant, No. 1 accessory. Imagine changing one’s whole personality by changing one’s hair? That’s exactly what transpired with Lisa. What a success!
David Palaia, M.D., FACs
From the beginning of our journey together, both Lisa and Kelley have been great patients. They have kept on top of the prescribed regime to improve the health and appearance of their skin with consistency and dedication. With our on-site medi-spa, I was able to collaborate with our aestheticians to oversee their care.

KELLEY: Kelley was treated by Jeanne McGuigan. She started out with enlarged pores, fine lines, and uneven skin color. Jeanne treated her with weekly microdermabrasions and light skin peels. At home, Kelley used the Nu-Derm System by Obagi along with Retin-A. I like this line because it treats all three types of skin cells. It stimulates the natural exfoliation of keratinocytes to improve texture, the overproduction of melanin to improve skin color, while increasing collagen and elasticity. She also used Elastiderm eye treatment. The results are fabulous.

LISA: Lisa had different concerns. She has a condition called rosacea that is characterized by inflammation of the skin with fine, spider-like blood vessels giving her face a red, sensitive appearance. Special attention needs to be given when treating this. She was seen by Charlene Castiello. We decided to treat her with gentle microdermabrasions and very light peels specifically designed not to irritate her delicate condition while improving her skin’s texture. For home care, she was started on Rosaclear by Obagi. This system consists of three products designed to work together to reduce the papules and reduce inflammation while calming and moisturizing the tissue. She also had a great response and excellent results.

It has been a pleasure working with these women and I look forward to following their care and maintaining their results in the future.

Andrew Guida, Fitness Director, Saw Mill Club
The journey has come to an end for Kelley and Lisa at Saw Mill Club, but their path toward the healthy way of life continues. Kelley will maintain her healthy lifestyle at the club, while Lisa has decided to brave it on her own. I wish both ladies success and have no doubt they will continue their hard work and dedication toward behavior change and active lifestyles. They were a pleasure to work with, and made this process fun and exciting for all involved.

KELLEY: What can I say, WOW! I cannot begin to say what a pleasure it has been to know Kelley. Everything about her breeds success. She’s fun, she’s enthusiastic, and she dedicated herself to reaching her goals. Furthermore, her tale of the tape is absolutely impressive over a five-month span (see results table). I am 100 percent confident that she will take what she learned from the Dream Team and implement it on her own, which she has already done by taking the initiative over the last week to build her own exercise plan incorporating the suggestions and supervision of her trainers. I cannot imagine a smoother process with Kelley from the exercise point of view. Everything went to script, no bumps in the road, she did everything that was drawn up for her.

LISA: She had a rough start, right out of the blocks. She had injuries that she had to overcome and a sedentary lifestyle that comes with many psycho-social issues. However, despite the injuries, she was determined to fight through the discomfort and pain at times, even though her trainers told her that she needed to modify her exercise prescription in order to get the results she wanted over a five-month period. Getting Lisa to do her cardio in the beginning was a challenge, and we all knew that this pattern needed to be broken in order for her to succeed. I called a meeting of the Dream Team shortly after we realized that she was not following our recommendations. After this brainstorming meeting, we adjusted her exercise prescription; let’s just say the team used a little “Tough Love!” Lisa has an exhausting determination when she puts her mind to do something. I think her results are extremely impressive given all the impediments that she had with her injuries, lack of frequency with her cardio, taking care of her daughter, and holding a job. I believe that Lisa can continue to get results on her own if she stays focused. As long as she thinks marathon, not a sprint, I believe her lifestyle changes will be permanent and she will be well on her way to see even better results in the near future.

Amy Peck, MS, RD, CPT, Nutrition Therapist and Master Personal Trainer, Saw Mill Club
KELLEY: Kelley was amazing to work with, both in terms of her willingness to look honestly at her food behavior patterns, and her enthusiastic and cheerful approach to hard work. I’m thrilled she got back the body she had as an athletic young woman before kids. She laughs about all the people who ask her, “Did you cut out breads—how many carbs do you eat each day?” They are always shocked when she replies, “No diet for me! I eat bread and pasta and ice cream and wine!” No hunger, no deprivation—these are not long-term solutions for Kelley, or for anyone!

Instead, what Kelley did was start to view the weight she had gained as a symptom of stress, which needed to be addressed before the weight could come off. She had gotten in the bad habit of using food to de-stress during the late afternoon hours when she felt overwhelmed by the demands of four small children needing dinner with no meal planned. The solution involved learning to think ahead about meals, to shop from a list, to cook new and healthier dishes, and to take care of her own nutritional needs. Kelley learned to eat protein-based meals and snacks throughout the day to avoid swings in blood sugar and to fuel her strenuous workouts. I hope Kelley keeps trying to add more fruits and vegetables and also begins to monitor her weight weekly so she can self-correct easily.

LISA: Lisa was a hoot to work with—spunky and funny and a real straight shooter. I never had to guess at what she was thinking, and we usually ended up laughing as she agreed to some of my suggestions (whole grain breads) and flat out refused others (food diaries). Lisa started out as a caffeine junky with an appetite for pasta with butter and cheese, cookies, and creamy salad dressings. Five months later, she ended up 22 pounds lighter and 20 inches smaller, and has become a dedicated healthy eater who has transformed not only her own eating, but that of her daughter and parents as well. Lisa was a classic feast-or-famine eater,
who went long stretches fueled only on coffee loaded with high fat creamer and sugar, and then she would overindulge at frequent restaurant meals. During our sessions she learned to eat more often, to include some protein at every meal or snack, to watch her portion size— especially at restaurants—to avoid liquid calories from soda and juice, and to grocery shop carefully. It was really fun to watch Lisa’s transformation into a confident, beautiful, smart, and health-conscious woman, and I’m sure she will continue working toward her ultimate weight goal.

Mervyn Tugendhaft, Assistant Fitness Director, Saw Mill Club
It all started with a dream for Kelley and Lisa that needed to be converted into goals.

Then we set the goals into action with our knowledge and their passion—strength training three times a week with myself, Doug, and Bente, cardio three times a week, nutrition guidance with Amy and guidance with life coach Heidi. Last, they needed to overcome all their obstacles—their injuries, challenges, and temptations—by tapping into their willpower and determination.

I am very proud of what they have accomplished in such a short period of time. Both are a success story. They both worked very hard to make their wellness and behavior adjustment. They truly went through a transformation, and they were able to change their direction, not only in a physical, but also in a mental way. It was a pleasure training both of them!

Heidi Michaels, Certified Life and Performance Coach, Saw Mill Club
KELLEY: Kelley has transformed herself inside and out in front of our eyes. She radiates with a positive attitude, newfound confidence, and a real sense of accomplishment. When Kelley and I began working together in June, she wrote down three goals for herself: To be more organized and efficient; to achieve the fitness goals she set for the makeover; and to be less stressed and more focused.

Kelley has achieved all three and has enjoyed the journey along the way. Taking the time to see where she needed more organization, acting on it, then committing to new actions were a key to her success. Through the process she was aware of how becoming more organized helped her feel less stressed and thus more present in her life. Whether that meant being able to fully focus on her workouts, her eating plan, or her family, the effect was positive.

Moving forward, Kelley has developed a plan to help her continue with her health and fitness goals. In addition, she has learned that in order to achieve her goals she needed to allow herself to receive guidance and support. Congratulations, Kelley. You are a remarkable woman!

LISA: Lisa’s journey through this makeover process has brought out the bright side of Lisa. Not only did she transform her body, she has transformed her outlook and her life. She beams with pride in achieving her weight loss goal and her general goals of feeling and looking good.

Looking back at Lisa’s journey, I’m reminded of how she was intimidated at just coming to the gym. As Lisa and I sat together at the gym for our last session, numerous people passed who praised Lisa for her accomplishments. She has not only made many friends, but she radiates confidence with a smile and friendly hellos. Her new positive attitude has contributed to her increased self-confidence. Lisa, as a single mother, enjoys having newfound energy to play with her daughter and time with friends.

Lisa has emerged from this makeover like a beautiful, colorful butterfly flying about with energy, happiness, and lightness. Congratulations, Lisa! Share your colorful self with your family and friends and continue to share the smile on your face with everyone around you.

Captions: Top to bottom: Kelley: Giuseppe Zanotti Boots, AG Jeans Premiere Skinny Straight Jeans, Sibel Sarel Shirt, a Rag & Bone Chamber Waistcoat, Beirn Handbag. All from Tru Grace, 419 Main St., Armonk, 273-9600. Mattioli triple circle earrings in 18K rose and chocolate gold, $1,745; Mattioli ring in 18K rose gold, $2,170, from Landsberg Jewelers, Rye Brook. Hair by Vasken Demirjian Salon, 12 City Pl., White Plains, 285-0800. Makeup by Shira Aaron, 522-9182 or 232-1442; Lisa: White Chocolate Leather Jacket, 382 Camisole, Blank Jeans, Gwyneth Boots. All from Tru Grace, Armonk. Gurhan bracelet in sterling silver and 18K gold beads, $1,500; Gurhan hoop earrings in white and black sterling silver with 14K gold, $625; Gurhan dome ring in blackened silver and 18K gold, $550, from Landsberg Jewelers, Rye Brook. Hair by Vasken Demirjian Salon, 12 City Pl., White Plains, 285-0800. Makeup by Shira Aaron, 522-9182 or 232-1442.

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Tale of the Tape

Both women transformed their bodies during the course of our makeover, but Kelley’s results are especially impressive! Here’s how they fared in the five months since they started their programs in mid-May at the Saw Mill Club.

(Editor’s note: We have less complete data for Lisa than for Kelley because Lisa did not make herself available for a full “before” and “after” fitness evaluation.)

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The WAG Makeover Sponsors

Saw Mill Club
77 Kensico Dr., Mount Kisco; 241-0797
www.sawmillclub.com

Dr. Kenneth Magid; Advanced Dentistry of Westchester
163 Halstead Ave., Harrison; 835-0542
www.ADofW.com

Vasken Demirjian
12 city Place & Trump, White Plains; 285-0800
www.vaskendemirjian.com

Dr. David Palaia
400 East Main St., 2nd Flr., North Bdg., Mount Kisco; 242-7610
www.plasticsurgeryweb.com

Elephant’s Trunk
111 Main St., Mount Kisco; 666-7666
www.elephantstrunk.com

Landsberg Jewelers
132 South Ridge St., Rye Brook; 510-8920
landsbergjewelers.com

Oasis Day Spa
50 Livingstone Ave., Dobbs Ferry; 409-1900
oasiswestchester.com

TruGrace
419 Main St., Armonk; 273-9600