Not only did Brenda Nikkila lose 130 pounds after gastric bypass surgery, but she also lost her loving father and then her very best friend to cancer.

As her weight slowly creeped back up, she decided enough was enough, and turned to her friends at Ways to Wellness, located at Woodwinds Health Campus in Woodbury.

“I felt after my dad and my best friend passed away, I was on a spiral downward,” Nikkila said. “I needed to take back my emotional and physical well-being, and get back on track. I saw the Ways to Wellness 'Break the Winter Blues' three-part series as a place to start.”

She was one of several people enrolled in the program who put their names in to win one of two makeovers. "Throughout the years, I really haven't changed up my look at all, and thought I might as well throw my name into the drawing," she said.

Nikkila ended up winning the complete "Reveal" makeover, which included hair, beauty, wardrobe stylist, and a Ways to Wellness fitness and nutritional coaching program. Joyce Hughes, was the winner of the mini-makeover.

Last Thursday evening during the final session of Break the Winter Blues, the two winning makeover participants were revealed to the rest of the seminar attendees at Woodwinds Health Campus. (See the and after photos.)

The complete Reveal experts said after hearing Nikkila’s story, they were moved to tears, and were delighted to help provide her with a fresh take on life.

Brenda Navin, director of Ways to Wellness, said several sponsors donated their time and talent for the complete Reveal and mini-makeover, including: M.J. Harden, (esthetician at Adiva), Krystal Pearl (Mixx Salon), Brenda Strom (Lori’s Day Spa), Lynne Kehne (Wardrobe Solutions), La Rue Marche (clothing) and Ways to Wellness (personal training/nutrition).  

“Experiencing the process of the complete Reveal was awesome, and now I have all the tools to take care of me now, thanks to all of these professional women who donated their time and talent to the complete Reveal,”  Nikkila said.

For those who are interested, watch for the third annual Break the Winter Blues series in early 2012.

Expert Tips from the Ways to Wellness Break the Winter Blues:

• To brighten-up that winter skin, give yourself a facial once-a-week. Make sure the masque you use is a non-granular exfoliant.
• Frame your eyes with brow color and it will instantly brighten your eyes. As you age, it’s important to bring more warm colors to your skin.
• If you’re thinking about changing your hairstyle, be realistic about what you can and can’t do with your hair. For instance, if you're always short on time when getting ready, then don’t get a style that will take you forever to style. 
• Befriend a tailor. When it comes to buying clothes, don’t be afraid to work with a tailor to get things to fit properly, particularly if you have “trouble spot areas.” If the hips fit properly in a skirt, but the waist is too big, get it fitted. Remember, first impressions matter.