Can you use a 'Mommy Makeover'

One lucky mother will win a scholarship, including nutritional counseling and a personal training membership, from Achieve Fitness in East Rockaway —and goodies from other local businesses.

Achieve Fitness is running a mommy makeover challenge, where local residents can nominate a deserving, hard-working mom from the surrounding communities. Moms often put their families’ needs before their own, and should be celebrated, said Dianne Sykes Scope, the facility’s owner.

“As we know, most moms put themselves last,” she said, “and therefore often let themselves go physically. This has a tremendous effect on their self-worth.”

Last year, one of Sykes’ colleagues ran a challenge in Colorado, she said. It was inspiring to hear about something so nice for those Colorado moms, she noted, because moms balance many different tasks, from caring for the household to having a career. This year, Sykes brought the challenge to New York, joining with several local businesses.

The winning mom will receive a three-month personal training membership and nutritional counseling from Achieve Fitness. In addition, she will win a day of beauty from Aqua Salon of Hewlett, a fitting and sunglasses from Vision Finder of East Rockaway, a gift card for Mixology Clothing Store of Hewlett, a gift certificate for dinner at Mio Posto Italian Restaurant of Oceanside, new sneakers from Runner’s Stop in Lynbrook, and a spa package. The entire package is worth an estimated $3,000, Sykes said.

The lucky mom will be able to train twice a week as part of the customized fitness membership. She will first be physically evaluated, in order to setup up a specific exercise routine to meet her needs, Sykes said. It will be a very goal-oriented training primarily focusing on weight loss. “She will be able to burn fat, build lean muscle, and fit into her favorite clothes,” she said.

A staff dietician will provide nutritional counseling as well. That will include keeping a nutrition journal and creating a program that fits with the physical training. The goal is to bring out the mom’s best qualities. “The idea is to make the fittest, most beautiful self,” Sykes added. The mom will also have unlimited access the facility’s weekly metabolic conditioning classes.

“She will have an opportunity to truly appreciate herself for the hard work that she does,” Sykes said. The main message is that not taking care of yourself means you are no good for anyone else, she added.

Sykes plans to accept entries until Sept. 30 for this round of the ongoing contest, which will serve as a kickoff to an upcoming “skinny jeans” contest in October. She is also thinking of doing a similar challenge for dads.