Member of the Month: Heather Lojeski
Heather Lojeski walked into the room Thursday night and jaws dropped. The transformation of the 40-year-old Racine wife and mother of 10 was absolutely astounding.
The winner of this year's Racine Dream Team makeover, Lojeski has been working with a group of local professionals during the past 16 weeks. A reveal celebration for her friends, family and the makeover sponsors was held on Thursday at the Charcoal Grill and Rotisserie, 8300 Washington Ave.
In that time, Lojeski has lost 17 pounds and almost 10 pant sizes. Her teeth have been completely redone. She's ditched the glasses she's worn since the second grade. "This is not the person I trained at 8:30 in the morning two days ago," said Razor Sharp Fitness personal trainer Tenille Isome, who has been coaching Lojeski through tough workouts for the entire makeover.
Racine Dream Team founder Dr. Kim Kind-Bauer of Kind Dentistry, who did Lojeski's dental work, said she might not have recognized Lojeski if she had passed her on the street. "She looks amazing," Kind-Bauer said.
Even Lojeski herself was amazed at the final transformation. She said she didn't realize how far she had come until she saw the life-size cut out of her "before" photo. Lojeski's husband, Mark, and their 10 children were at the reveal party. Lojeski thanked all of them for their support and help during the past few months. "It's great," Mark said of the makeover. "The difference is amazing. I told her the other day I think she looks like a different person. It's been a really good experience for her."
Prior to Lojeski's entrance, Kind-Bauer told the group of about 100 people about the history of the Racine Dream Team and its makeovers. The group started in 2005 and each year has transformed someone in the community through exercise, nutritional coaching, dentistry, skin care treatments, chiropractic work, laser eye surgery, hair styling, makeup and fashion consulting.
This year they offered the makeover to anyone in the community who had been through a hardship. Lojeski is a child abuse survivor with 10 children. She is in the process of getting her master's degree and starting to look for a job. She and her husband have survived financial strains and unemployment while raising their large family.
Despite their struggles, Lojeski and her husband have remained determined to help others. They volunteer at their church and are involved in a nonprofit organization called Teen Challenge. In a teary, heartfelt speech on Thursday, Lojeski told the sponsors of the makeover how grateful she was for all they had done for her.
by Marci Laehr Tenuta
Racine Journal Times
