AY's Ultimate Makeover
Ernest Abrams, owner BCLR
Photography by Ashlee Nobel
Lisa Nelms, recipient of AY’s Ultimate Beauty Makeover, has thus far undergone procedures to makeover her smile, reshape her body and rejuvenate her face. This month, we profile two other businesses that partnered with AY to help Nelms find the “fountain of youth.”
Because Nelms did not suffer from varicose veins, we interviewed Suellen Waters, who recently underwent treatment at RAPA.
Body Clinic Little Rock (BCLR)
The BCLR offers personal training by certified National Federation of Personal Trainers fitness professionals with more than 25 years combined experience. They pride themselves in practicing safe, effective and enjoyable fitness programs for any level, from beginner to advanced.
Trainers at BCLR, including owner Ernest Abrams, bring new, innovative ideas to personal training. They strive to keep the workouts interesting and engaging for clients and utilize the most up-to-date techniques.
Each new client to BCLR receives a full and comprehensive initial assessment to learn which training method best fits the individual’s needs as well as to better track progress once training begins. Initial assessments include: weight measurements; before pictures; body fat percentage; BMI; push, pull and flexibility tests; diet analysis; and goals discussion. Trainers work with each client to assess their goals and help them achieve the fitness level they desire.
The personal training program at BCLR lasts approximately 1 to 1 1/2 months with training sessions three or four days per week. Sessions may include: warm up exercises; stretches; cardio exercises; swimming; running; sports; strength training; and more. BCLR utilizes the facilities at Jim Dailey Fitness & Aquatic Center located at 300 S. Monroe St., Little Rock, Arkansas.
Abrams has worked closely with Lisa Nelms, to create a workout program perfect for her. Before winning the Ultimate Makeover, Nelms did not regularly exercise.
“It is essential that Lisa keep up a good and steady workout routine after her surgeries are complete,” Abrams said. “If she doesn’t maintain a proper diet, stretch and continue to workout, her body could go right back to the way it was before her procedures. Now that her body is in better shape, she has to learn how to keep it that way.”
Abrams is working with Nelms on a six-month program, meeting with her three times a week. They work on general conditioning including strengthening the abdominals; chest presses; squats; bridges; rows; planks; and anaerobic interval training to help her burn fat.
“Interval training involves a lot of running short distances at high speeds, it’s not about distance,” Abrams said. “We get the heart into the anaerobic zone — which is in the top 85 to 90 percent of your maximum heart rate — to work the heart and burn fat, as opposed to the aerobic zone which works the lungs.”
Abrams said Nelms struggled initially just as everyone starting a new workout routine does, but now she is really getting the hang of it and enjoying their workouts.
“She is very excited about maintaining her new body,” Abrams said.
501.563.0438 • bodycliniclr.com
Radiology Associates, P.A.
Radiology Associates, PA (RAPA) uses advanced and specialized technology and minimally-invasive interventional techniques to render their precise “Imaging for Life” approach to patient care, to preserve and improve the health and long-term quality of life for Arkansans.
Arkansas Vein Center, a division of RAPA, is a team comprised of Interventional Radiologists, nurses and vascular-certified, ultrasound technologists who have extensive experience in vein diagnosis and treatment. Physicians evaluate patients’ symptoms, and create the best treatment plan for their individual needs. The Arkansas Vein Center uses procedures that: are minimally-invasive and non-surgical; use local, rather than general anesthetic; cause little or no discomfort; have a low risk of infection; are most likely to promote a speedy recovery; leave no significant scars or stitches; and achieve long-term effectiveness.
“When a patient comes in to see us about treating varicose veins, we evaluate their condition by first taking an ultrasound of the leg, which allows us to look at all of the veins and determine which are affected so that we can come up with an individualized plan for treatment,” said Dr. Bill Deaton. There are two primary ways varicose veins are treated, Dr. Deaton explained. “Either a laser fiber is inserted into the vein to close it off, or we use a radio frequency catheter. With these devices, we use a local anesthetic, make a tiny incision to insert the device, and seal up the vein from the inside.”
These procedures are minimally invasive and are performed as an outpatient procedure. Patients are encouraged to walk around a bit after the treatment and are given a compression stocking to wear for a couple of weeks after.
“The veins shrink to almost nothing after these procedures, and the patient is able to resume their normal lifestyle,” Deaton said.
He has performed varicose vein treatments on mostly women ages 30 to 80, but has seen patients as young as their late 20s. “This is a very common problem among women, mostly due to pregnancy or working a job that requires standing for long periods of time, such as a nurse or stylist.” Symptoms can include swelling, cramping, aching and a feeling of “heaviness” in the leg. In severe cases, the calf or ankle may become discolored or a “non-healing wound” may appear.
Suellen Waters, 68, suffered from varicose veins for years and finally decided to visit RAPA last year for treatment. “Besides the ugliness of varicose veins, it was really very painful, and I had a lot of throbbing in my leg at night. RAPA was highly recommended; so after several years of being afraid to get help, I decided to have the procedure done.”
Waters was surprised at how quick and painless the surgery was. “I could see the difference in my leg instantly. I am very glad I did it and would recommend it to anyone suffering from varicose veins.”
Radiology Associates, PA • 500 S. University Ave. • Little Rock, AR • 501.664.3914 • rapaxray.com
