My Beauty Boot Camp

Preparing For BBC 2009 (Closed Door Sessions part 1)

BBC 2008 wrapped up officially not on the night we unveiled our official grand prize winner but rather last week when all three businesses re-convened to wrap up our thoughts on BBC1 and decide on a BBC2.

This was some weeks after we held a post boot camp de-brief session with all five of our campers. The purpose of the de-brief was two fold, to get our campers valuable no-holds barred feedback on their entire experience and to aid us in planning for a BBC 2009. What we learned that night was truly valuable and will absolutely assist us in streamlining our structures for BBC2.

The purpose of this writing is to reflect on our original intention to prove that when one commits to a professional program transformation will result.  Our five beauty boot camp candidates showcased the collaborative work of our three companies: Institut’ DERMed, Nolands Suttles Salon and The Gym Of Buckhead.  Our mission in creating beauty boot camp was to find five individuals that were ready for commitment and transformation. We screened 201 potential candidates using a process of fitness, skin and hair analysis and an intake questionnaire to qualify each candidate’s readiness to commit to the program. Then we set an 8 week deadline to prove our companies could deliver real results within that short time-frame. Today there can be no doubt that the collaboration is successful. The documentation captured in the form of before and after photos and written testimonies tells the story. 

Now to the overall concept of BBC: "Your passport to a new you".  From our campers perspective they committed to a life changing experience.  Did we change their lives? That's debatable. We changed their skin, we changed their hair, we changed their weight and their fitness level, we gave ourselves kudos for accomplishing our goals, but the underlying theme of the de-brief session was that without "us" they were now having difficulty carrying on with the foundations we had so earnestly put in place for them during the Beauty Boot Camp program. At de-brief our question to the group was simple, "where are you at now"? Of the five, some were managing to some degree to carry on with their regimen, others were not.

Why? All had their reasons for this, many of which were directed at us for not having a post program for them to carry on with. Our feelings initially were that we do have all the same programs we started out with, which they were of course welcome to take advantage of, it just wasn’t completely spelled out for them in a post program guide, nor was it obligatory to attend the gym, eat nutritious, or do home maintenance on their skin as BBC had been. 

In the ensuing conversation we discovered that the post BBC blues had set in.  Working out alone, or even at the gym, wasn't going to cut it when people had gotten used to personal training, if their skin was starting to revert back to prior conditions that was due to the lack of services...........not a lack of determination to continue with a home maintenance regimen, if hair was starting to get a little rough around the edges, hey what do you expect now that we don't have a personal stylist. That these were reasons 'not' to work out at all, or maintain skin or hair at all, would seem to indicate that the issue is actually one of personal perspective.  Our campers had been given the foundation but without a provided post program for them to follow they weren’t taking the initiative to build on the foundation either together as a group, or individually.

Having assessed their feedback we realized additional structures must be put in place for the Beauty Boot Campers of 2009. The attitudes and perspectives that people brought with them into BBC, their view of life, their reasons for how they ended up where they did on a personal level, their vow to change all that, didn't really appear to us from our debrief session to have changed. All of our campers came to us seeking help for the exterior issues they found themselves dealing with but the interior thought processes, feelings and perspective towards their lives seemed to a great degree to have remained intact. Now don't get us wrong, from their own feedback it would seem that there were immense roadblocks overcome for most of them, primarily the fact that they now recognized the roadblocks. But what we discovered was that while we have all the tools necessary to create personal transformation, or as one camper put it "a Hollywood celebrity".........it will be temporary unless life style coaching is added to the program. 

In essence it’s not enough to have 'proven solutions' that work only on the 'external you', but we also need to add 'proven solutions' for the 'internal you'.  As we plan for BBC2 in 2009 that's the missing piece of the pie that we hope to add. Changing lives by changing hair, skin and fitness remains our vision and mission, and while that goes a long way, the rest of the journey would not be complete without a guide to 'changing lives by changing attitudes'.

Additionally, setting the expectations, creating and sharing the lifestyle plan, complete and timely communication, and adding a member mentor during and post program will be value added benefits for our 2009 candidates.  In closing, we must emphasize that without our very brave 2008 campers, who were so willing to offer themselves up honestly and openly about all of their personal experiences and observations none of this would be possible. It would have been so easy for our 5 unique women to not care about the program once it was over and there was no longer anything in it for them. Instead all of them were very willing to assist us in improving on the program, and were encouraging us to continue on with this amazing platform to showcase our work and in so doing help our candidates become the best that they can be.

Rachel McCleave has won a Hair Color Makeover

Two Winners Every Week
Tue & Fri

Makeover with Todd Suttles, Noland Suttles SalonA complete makeover including cut, style, any color service and Makeup Lesson

.

Rachel, you must call 404.261.5199 within 72 hours to claim your gift.

NOT REGISTERED TO WIN OUR WEEKLY BLOG GIVE-A-WAYS?   CLICK HERE

Bulking Up or Fat Burning?

Is there such a thing as bulking up?

by Amy Neal, GOB Owner and Body Builder

So let's talk about "bulking up". Here is an example of a scenario played out in gyms across the country everyday. Two women have been working out for months, even years, and talking about why their bodies are the exact same shape as when they started. “I’ve been going to the gym forever, and I have not lost a pound!” Then somewhere along the way, the topic of bulking comes up. “If I just look at a weight, I put on muscle!” or “ The last time I worked with a trainer, within 2 months I put on so much muscle, all my pants were tight.”

What about the much feared bulking up? Is there such a thing? Yes, but it’s NOT from putting on too much muscles. Nor is it because your shoulders or your legs responded quickly to the “heavy” weight. (What would all those skinny men, with skinny legs, that lift and lift and still do not put on weight say about these claims?)

The fact is, bulking up does not happen to women unless there is no effort applied to fat burning. The idea is to lift heavy and get out of your comfort zone so that your body responds by breaking down the muscle and building you back up stronger and leaner. What people refer to as bulking up is describing the larger appearance that exists when the same amount of fat remains of top of the newly developed muscle. The ideal scenario is to burn fat, build muscle, lose inches and have sculpted muscle. This results in an overall smaller body. The concept is hard for women to grasp but the only way to get the fat off is to lift weights that challenge the muscles to grow and increase the body’s amount of lean body mass. Remember, a pound of muscle burns 50 + calories at rest every day; a pound of fat burns only 2-5 calories per day. This shows that the more lean muscle a person has, the more calories are burned at rest, even during sleep. In edition, the more lean muscle mass you have the more calories you will burn off during workouts.

So, if you find yourself having this conversation with your workout partner, stop! We can’t argue with the science. Continue to work hard, lift heavy weights, and you will jump start your metabolism. Beware of other factors that may be causing you to hold on to bodyfat, such as eating processed foods, going hours without food, or not eating enough protein and paradoxically, doing too much cardio/aerobic activity.

Dawn Alford Has Won

Two Winners Every Week
Tuesday & Friday

Health Assessment & Three Personal Training Sessions

Dawn Alford has won a health assessment and three personal training sessions at Gym of Buckhead. Dawn, you must call 404.261.5199 within 72 hours to claim your prize

To enter to win or read rules & regulations, click here
Be sure to keep checking back to see if you are chosen next

Visit Gym of Buckhead to learn about training and health assessments

Cellulite Tips

Cellulite Rx  Frequently Asked Questions

When should I  expect to see results?
You should start to notice an improvement in skin smoothness and firmness  in approximately 30 days with best results achieved at the end of 8 weeks  of once daily use.

After using CelluliteRx ™ for 8 weeks, how do I maintain my results?
To maintain your results, use CelluliteRx ™ products 2 to 3 times per week.

Why does  CelluliteRx ™ make my skin rosy to red where applied?
The product is formulated to increase circulation that stimulates tissue  drainage and fat burning. The flush will last approximately 15 to 30  minutes. You may also feel tingling and a mild itching and/or warmth  indicating that the ingredients are penetrating. These sensations are to be  expected and are normal. You are not experiencing an allergic reaction.

What are the  benefits of the wild yam extract in the CelluliteRx ™ formula?
Cellulite is a condition in females induced by the hormone estrogen.  Estrogen stimulates the formation of new adipocytes (fat cells) while  stimulating collagenase or the destruction of collagen. Natural wild yam  extract helps to remedy these estrogen related causes of cellulite in  women.

Click and view: Clinical Study & Testimonial

Mingle for a Cause

Gym of Buckhead along with Mingling in Atlanta will be hosting "Mingling for a Cause" on Thursday, July 24th at Amore in Midtown starting at 6 p.m. and going till late. A portion of the proceeds will be benefiting The 2 Day Breast Cancer Walk Charity. The sponsors include Gym of Buckhead, Mingling in Atlanta, Trinity Spa , Armada Magazine, Usa Entertainment, Thread House , and 6 Degrees Magazine. Tickets will be sold online prior to event and will cost $10. You may also purchase tickets at the door the night of the event for $15. Their will be several raffles throughout the evening with a chance to win gift certificates from Thread House, Trinity, and Gym of Buckhead.

Amore will be providing free appetizers and $5 martinis.

For entertainment we have live music from guitar/musician Adam Santillo and for the last half of the evening Atlanta's own D.J. Scottie Cannon will be thrilling us with his dazzling talents and music you can dance to. Belly Dancers will be mingling about as well. This is a great opportunity for you to come out and  MINGLE FOR A CAUSE.

If I want my hair to grow, why cut it?

It Is Easy to Grow Out Your Length If You Have a Plan
Todd Suttles, Noland Suttles Salon

The number one, most misunderstood fact of all hair cutting history is the belief that if you want your hair to grow, you should stop cutting it. And here is why: hair is a fiber, it unravels on the end. The best analogy I can use is that of a string. We all know when you cut a blunt end on the string and give it a short period of wear & tear, the end begins to unravel. When this happens with hair, we call it split ends. There is NOTHING that will repair, or prevent split ends. Split ends is just what hair does. If you purchased a product that promises to repair split ends, you have been had.

What you don't realize is that as the hair splits on the end, small microscopic pieces of it break off. I am sure you have seen a person that "won't cut her hair because she wants it to get longer". For years she has been not cutting, and it stays at the same length getting fuzzier as each year passes. It is breaking off the ends as quickly as it grows; net length accumulation is ZERO!

Q. Why does my hair feel lighter after a hair cut?    -It is not the weight of the hair that has been removed, it is the absence of tiny little tangles between hairs on the end caused by split ends getting stuck together.

Q. Why does my hair grow faster right after I get a haircut?   -It does not. What is actually happening is you have stopped the microscopic breakage of split ends and are accumulating length.

Q. So then, How DO I grow my hair longer?  -That requires three things: 1) never cut more than it has grown since the last cut. 2) cut frequently enough that the split ends are on the tip ends, not up into the hair shaft; 3) find a stylist who knows how to transition your style as best as possible while it grows all the while remembering and following the long term plan.

Crash Diet

Why not to “Crash Diet,” go for the “Quick Fix” or “Starve Yourself”

by Audrae Hughes, Certified Personal Trainer

How many of us have wanted to drop a quick 5, 10 or 20 lbs, in a few days?
Most of us have wanted to be ready for that beach trip, fit into that old tux or look great for a hot date or high school reunion. We figure, “I will cut out breakfast, have a shake for lunch, eat a small dinner, drink lots of water and diet coke to make it through until I look hot!” Great plan, right?
WRONG!

Anytime you lose weight by severely limiting your calories you are giving yourself a false sense of accomplishment…a false sense of success. In fact, you are actually setting yourself up for more weight loss difficulties in the future.  read more

Q. How do I get rid of my acne?

Healthy Skin 101

Q. How do I get rid of my acne?

Your first line of defense is knowledge. If you know and understand your skin you will be better equipped to fight acne.

Clogged pores are what cause blackheads. If you have oily skin and a tendency towards blackheads you won't be able to completely avoid them, but you can help yourself a lot in keeping your skin clear by following a good cleansing routine.

Using skin care products that have been created for treating blackheads is your best tactic. A simple Glycolic and or Salicylic Acid solution applied twice daily to control oil and prevent the accumulation of dead skin cells that create the blockage at the mouth of the pore opening is your first step on the road to prevention.

If you have a severe case of blackheads, don't think twice -- go to a professional and have your skin properly treated with a deep pore cleansing treatment. If you suffer from mild to severe acne, (blackheads, whiteheads, pimples and pustules) finding the right products and treatments may take some time and patience.

The comedone (small closed pore blackhead) is the first sign of inflammatory acne (papules, pustules and cysts). Untreated this condition could lead to a serious acne condition, so we recommend you get started on the road to prevention! Seeking the help and advice of a professional (whether it be a dermatologist or a clinically trained esthetician) is always a good thing to do. At Institut’ DERMed we are always available for a complimentary consultation and complete skin analysis to help educate you about your skins condition

Noland Suttles Salon and Locks of Love

  Locks of Love "is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. We meet a unique need for children by using donated hair to create the highest quality hair prosthetics.

  Most of the children helped by Locks of Love have lost their hair due to a medical condition called alopecia areata, which has no known cause or cure. The prostheses we provide help to restore their self-esteem and their confidence, enabling them to face the world and their peers".

Alberto of Noland Suttles Salon consults with Cindy before her cut to make sure she truly understands where her final length will be and also suggests several new styles for her once the hair is shorter. Cindy has spent over a year waiting for this today. I am reminded of the short story The Gift of the Maji by O. Henry as we cut her hair to be sent to Locks of Love. Who can tell how much love was given this day and to how many it may spread. Cindy gave of herself, literally today.

The requirements for donating hair to locks of love are:
-10 inches measured tip to tip is the minimum length needed for a hairpiece.
-Hair must be in a ponytail or braid before it is cut.
-Hair must be clean and completely dry before it is mailed in.
-Place the ponytail or braid inside of a plastic bag, and then inside of a padded envelope.
-Fill out the hair donation form, or write your name and address on a separate sheet of paper and include inside the envelope.
-All hair donations must be mailed to Locks of Love at:
          2925 10th Avenue N
          Suite 102
          Lake Worth, FL 33461

-Noland Suttles Salon is happy to donate the haircut and style for anyone who donates their hair to Locks of Love .