Well after a mini rant in my head I came across @beautiful_sasharose’s picture. If you know this gal also known as Shonda Story she is a weight loss success story, now workout instructor, and probably one of the sweetest gals I’ve ever met.
Coincidental as no new friends was on I thought how lucky I am to have met this new friend. When starting a healthy lifestyle it causes you to do some self-evaluation. Somewhere when she launched her brand Beautiful in your Skin and I launched Soul by the Pound we were indeed our toughest critics. However it was our mutual passion for healthy living, sisterhood, and motivating women that kept us motivated thus creating a new friendship. This new friend constantly keeps me motivated and reminds me this heath thing is no sprint but a forever marathon. I hit a brick wall after a 50lb. lost but its Shonda’s never ending enthusiasm and commitment that inspires me.

So take that Drake. As much as I love my old friends, a new friend will definitely challenge you. My old friends adore me so much and give me comfort in my own skin .But it’s the new friends that careless about old you and is more concerned about what the future you can do.
So shout out to my new friend Miss Shonda Story, who continues to motivate others and myself. Everything is a process and we are going to SoulStar this city, and make all of them know they are Beautiful in their Skin!

Follow Shonda on Instagram and see her class schedule @beautiful_sasharose

So the latest text was please stop drinking so much sugar. Pause I haven’t had a cocktail since Vegas, and even my ugly Sprite craving has left. So I reply a nice short huh? Her reply those smoothies, you need protein not just fruit smoothies every day. Now granted I pour a scoop of protein in my smoothies but she didn’t want to hear this.
I knew exactly where this text stemmed from. The previous Sunday I mentioned to my mom how I slummed around my apartment all day only getting up for a taste of heaven. This taste of heaven simply is soy milk, mangos, a tsp. of flaxseed and a half frozen banana. Yup it’s heaven, try it!

Now fast forward here it is the weekend my brash over the top guy BFF calls me “dog what are you doing?” I first thought I really should stop answering this question because it accesses people to my grown business but instead I replied “eating dinner, the usual tilapia and……..Before I could finish he screams a loud “DOGGGGGGGGGGGG that’s all you eat.”
Ok so my mom dissed my smoothie, this fool disses the tilapia what else do I prepare. Then I realized it is consistency that promotes change in my life. When consistent with my workouts and meal options I am staying dedicated to my personal health objectives. Now granted I probably didn’t need 2 smoothies on Sunday with nothing else, and maybe just maybe I can entertain my tilapia with a fresh kale salad (check kale salad recipe below!) but it’s my consistency that keeps me going.

So I say to you “Routine” SoulStars to stay consistent and do what helps you change. Now this doesn’t mean be stagnant, because just one day you will be sick of the same old thing. But understand it’s ok to stick with something that is promoting a HEALTHIER you! Let your consistency promote you onward to the next level. If you consistently do 30 minutes of kickboxing every night, you don’t have to kick the kickboxing to the curb, add weights, increase intensity. But feel free to do the same old thing, because guess what its working!
Get it? Be consistent but not stagnant!

1. Walk it out, we were so over hailing cabs, awaiting them and even paying for them. Walking gave us a sight to see and kept the calories burning.

2. I like my hotel room clean not my plate. We didn’t deprive ourselves one bit on the fine dining experience in Vegas. However we never once cleaned the plate. There was a nibble here and nibble there, but never a cleaned plate.

3. H2O wasted!!!! As you can guess the weather in Vegas was super-hot (a lot better than the Chicago weather that welcomed me when I came back home). With hot weather we went H2O crazy keeping hydrated.

4. When in doubt attend a pool party! Something about an instant reminder of pool party ended our overindulgent breakfast a little early. I mean who wants to be the chick in the sweat suit at the pool party.

5. Lastly, have fun!!!! Whether playing ding dong ditch in your hotel lobby (I heard, I’ve never done it *wink), or simply laughing the night away at random moments. These all burn calories, and create a fun travel atmosphere.

And this ladies, is how the calories earned in Vegas stayed in Vegas!

Green Monster Remixed
-1 cup vanilla almond milk
-1/2 cup of plain Greek Yogurt
-1 banana, frozen and chunked
- 2 cups fresh spinach
-3 teaspoons of flax seeds

Amazing things can happen in 40 days, March 27th, 2013 Soul by the Pound will kick off 40 days of Fitness. Join us for 40 days of diverse yet rigorous workouts. All you have to do is check us in with you via Facebook each time you work out, simple right? Or simply write on our wall when you are about to get started. On the 40^th day which happens to be my late grandmothers birthday we will reward one lucky gal with a SoulStar Soul by the Pound package of great gifts. To maximize this contest visit the website for weekly tips, and tune in on Twitter Wednesday nights 7pm CST for #getoverthehumpchat follow us at @sbp_wellness!

Here are the Rules:

1. You must check in with each workout via Facebook in order for the workout to be counted
2. All participants will begin March27th and end May5th
3. The winner will be announced via Facebook and Twitter Monday, May 6th 2013
4. Winner is the participant that works out the most calendar days within the set 40 days
5. This contest is for women only

1. “If you are going to show up, ya better show out!”

Before you go to the gym already feeling defeated go in there prepared to show out! The hardest thing I noticed about starting something new is getting started. Who goes to the gym and stares at the machines? The hardest part was simply lacing up your shoes and showing up. Then, what’s left other than Show out!!!!!! Sweat harder, breathe harder, and go harder than ever before.

2. My grandma once told me, and I quote “there is Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, and now Soul by the Pound, each have the same goal but each are so different. What are you doing to be different?”

As flattered as I was to be ranked in my grandma’s eyes amongst the weight loss giants, she called a question, am I being my unique self. In the perfect world we can all do the same things and pray for same results however are we are so different and quite frankly have different results. Rather than imitating Beyonce’s hips, Kim’s rear, or Michelle O’s arms……you must embrace your unique differences and know what uniquely makes you, YOU! The quicker we embrace our unique beauty, the easier it is to value your own personal spiritual and physical health.

3.“He was hung up for my hang-ups!”

Whether you are Christian and grasp this quote or not, there is a unique universe in which everything has its order. If Jesus were hung up for your hang-ups, what is there you have to worry about. My grandmother was a fearless lady who never sweated the small stuff yet celebrated the small stuff. Make sense? In a journey to better health never sweat the small stuff, so you slipped up ate that ice cream that was calling your name. It’s ok, get back on track and celebrate the small stuff. Small CONSISTENT changes lead to BIG outcomes.

January is a month filled with New Year Revolutionaries, but what about February? Join us this February for a month of no meat! Yea we said it no meat and my sushi lovers this includes fish too. Below are some tips to support you on the journey of no meat month of February.

1.  Tune in Wednesday nights to #getoverthehump chat on Twitter with us Soul by the Pound (@sbp_wellness) . We will answer all your health questions and give you the option to mix and mingle with other SoulStars
2.  Set yourself up with a mind of success, mentally prepare to not give up on meat but rather “explore” non meat options
3.  Plan and prepare your meals ahead of time. You know the 4 P’s proper preparation prevents poor performance, well this applies to you!
4.  When dining out with friends for dinner look for the vegan or vegetarian options. Many restaurants do not list it on their regular menu but it doesn’t mean they do not exist.
5.  Stock on the below to make your month just as tasty as the last

-       Beans

-          Vegetables ( make them as colorful as you are)

-          Fruits

-          Nuts (I am almond obsessed and they come in delish flavors)

-          Rice

-          Wheat pastas

-          Yogurt

So this Saturday, I great pleasure of attending Saran Dunmore’s class this Saturday. It’s quite funny how I walked in smiling, then I began thinking oh wait this will be a serious workout (insert nervous grin). The workout area wasn’t surrounded in typical free weights, medicine balls, or even my beloved agility ladder.

The area was scattered with pink yoga mats and neon green drum sticks. I mean I smiled that this fab crimson and cream rocking fitness guru thought enough of my pretty old self to stage the room with pink and green equipment, yet I was all too confused looking at drum sticks!

The rhythm of banging your drum sticks on the floor while jumping in the air or seated in crunch position created nothing short of an amazing workout. I felt like a drummer ready to scream out, “Play that funky music SoulStar.” I instantly got so caught up in the rhythmic beats, I didn’t notice how many calories I was actually burning. In this workout, form is incredibly important. And sweating is inevitable.  Stick click, squat, floor pound, and repeat was all my glutes, and abs needed. Ok I will be honest it was just what my glutes, abs, legs, thighs, back, eyelids, and fingernails needed because they all broke out in sweat.

I am always up for the challenge of trying a new workout, I mean the treadmill is slightly sick of me and I am sick of him. Just kidding Tready, see ya first thing Monday morning! Nonetheless if you are in Chicago and looking for something new Saran hosts these classes 3 times a week. For more information you can email this fitness beast at saranfitness@yahoo.com