When Did You Decide You Have to be an Actress?

I just watched Django: Unchained. Man! It was everything I needed as a movie enthusiast, an actress, and an African American. Everything speaks to people in a different way, and the people that I went to watch the movie with did not seem to be as touched as me. But tonight I was reminded why I want to be an actress.

At some point in every actor's career they are asked "When did you decide you have to be an actress?", and they all have their story. Maybe, it was a play that made them laugh, or the way they felt when they played a certain character, or maybe it was the fact they got to enter a make believe world. Whatever the reason being, they have one. For the last three years I would tell people I knew I wanted to be an actress because of the way it made me feel. I remember acting out a scene in college, and for a few moments it did not feel like acting, I was no longer Lexsi... I was Sarah; I was the character. While I was Sarah, I thought like Sarah, talked like Sarah, and truly believed I was Sarah. It felt amazing being able to escape from my world, and see the world the way that someone else does. It made me understand people in a different way. I love how connected acting made me feel to my world. It felt amazing, but tonight, Django made me realize why I really wanted to be an actor. Yes, I love how it makes me feel, it is a great escape, but I fell in love with acting because of how it can make others feel!

Many of you may or may not know much about Quentin Tarantino's style of directing. It's a little quirky, and he can often make a quite serious situation have some sort of humor. It was perfect, and needed for how serious of a story line Django was. Despite the humor, there were moments that no laughter could be found. There were moments when the true ugliness of humanity was shown, and there were moments when I felt real anger and sadness. When I watch a movie I do not watch it as a spectator, I watch it like I was there, and I put myself in that world. And the world of Django is quite ugly. I do not want to spoil the movie for anyone so I will not get into too many details, but Django (the character) stood for so much hope, in the other blacks eyes, and when he made them proud, he made me proud. It made slavery truly real for me for the first time in my life. I have read about slavery and I have tried to imagine it, but I feel like I never really could. Quentin made it real for me. He found a way to make me understand. I have been called a nigger, and I have experienced racism, but I am so far removed from slavery (and my mother is white), so I can honestly say I did not appreciate my freedom. Deep down I do, but it has never been questioned. I have never had to fear that it would be gone, and I never truly understood how terrible it was to be a slave. I know that I will never ever be able to fully understand how slaves felt, but for that two hours and forty-five minutes of that movie I was connected. I was reminded how fortunate I am, I was motivated to be better, and I was changed.

My favorite moments, and the times when I was most touched, came when the actors gave the most settle gestures. The smirk Keri Washington gave when she heard "It's me baby", or the tear that began to form as one of the slaves saw Django ride off. There was so much behind the littlest gesture. And it was in this story and those little gestures that I was reminded why I have to be an actress. I want to change people, I want to motivate people, I want to make people think. Thank you to everyone involved in that film. Now, when I am asked. "When did you decide you have to be an actress?" I will answer without hesitation, "It was the first time that I saw Django: Unchained".

Please Pray fo Sean Smith

I was just on Facebook and saw all these posts about Sean Smith. I text Brittany Boomershine and she gave me all the details that she knew. I am just in shock! I have known Sean since middle school and to know that someone younger than me is fighting for their life over something so petty has me feeling sick, sad, and angry. If anyone knows who shot him please step up and speak, they deserve to be in jail! I have been praying since I heard what happened. I can only imagine the pain his family and close friends are feeling! Most of you know I have not lived in Elkhart in years but Sean was one of the very few people that I would still talk to from time to time. We would always reminisce about the days when him and all his friends had a crush on me in middle school. It always brought smiles and laughs. It is crazy to think that someone that decided to join the military and serve our country in order to help keep us safe, has fallen victim to the very people he was trying to protect and insure freedom for.

 Let the angels be beside you as you fight to hold on Sean.

I am writing with hope and love!

Lexsi Lewis

Lexsi’s October Ab Challenge

The winner will be chosen based on three different aspects:

How much your specific skills increase (Day 1 are the skills and stats that will be judged)

How involved you are through out the month

Visual change in mid section

The winner of the month’s challenge will receive a free month supply of a Herbalife Nutrition program that has a 275$ value. They will also receive a few other surprises. (I’m not telling)

Below, I have made a list of 31 different challenges(one for each day in October); some may be hard, and some may be easy. I will also be editing and adding tasks and sending notes through out the entire month of October, so make sure you check your emails daily. There will also be mini-challenges, and those winner’s will also receive prizes.

The 31 tasks that are listed are October Ab Challenge minimums! Each day I have made a task that will help you get definition in your abs, but more exercises and work should be implemented if you have real hopes of seeing maximum change, and/or winning the month challenge. 

I will be adding tons of tips, tricks and small trivia and challenges on my blog also. 

http://lexsilewis1.blogspot.com/ <<< Be sure to follow it, as I will be giving you all shout outs as we work towards our goals!!!

Send me your Twitter and Instagram names as well, so I can keep communicating with you to keep you motivated!

I wish you all the best of luck, feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. I am excited to see everyone’s final results!!!! Let’s get it!!!

(You may want to print the challenge out. It will help you remember to do the tasks if it is hanging somewhere you can see!)

Day 1:

  Measure your waist

  Take your weight

  Max out sit ups

  Max out push ups

  Hold a plank

  1 mile run (Time)

 Take a picture of your stomach

  

(Today is all about tracking where you are now. How well you increase in these things will be part of what I judge you on, and these stats will be taken into consideration when choosing the winner. Right down you max for each item, and your measurements. You will not have to tell me what your measurements are, I will just need to know the amount of change by the end)

Day 2: 

100 crunches 4 x’s today

Day 3:

 Females 50 push ups Males 100 push ups by the end of the day

Day 4:

 3 miles run/walk/combo (in one outing)

Day 5: 

Workout while you watch an entire tv show/movie (lounges, sit ups, push ups, etc.)

Day 6: 

Plank for 1 min at 7 different random times today (you will not sweat after 1 minute, so go ahead even if you’re dressed)

Day 7:

  Measure your waist

  Take your weight

  Max out sit ups

  max out push ups

  hold a plank

  1 mile run (Time)

Day 8: 

Find and cook a new healthy recipe

Day 9:

Workout with a friend that never works out today.

Day 10:

Learn a new ab workout. (I have been an athlete since I have been three and I always manage to find something new. Get on the internet, ask a friend, ask trainer. It is good to switch up your workouts.)

Day 11: 

100 crunches 5 x’s today

Day 12: 

Play a sport today. (volleyball, basketball, soccer, badminton etc. You may just find a new hobby)

Day 13:

 Females 70 push ups Males 130 push ups by the end of the day

Day 14: 

  Measure your waist

  Take your weight

  Max out sit ups

  max out push ups

  hold a plank

  1 mile run (Time)

Day 15:

Start a food journal. Start tracking everything you eat for the next week today.  

100 crunches 4 x’s today

Day 16: 

Do not workout at all. Focus on eating 5 well portioned meals and snacks. ( I will send you an outline that gives examples on what your meals and snacks should look like)

Day 17: 

Say bye to the gym, and workout outside today!

Day 18:

 Play a child hood game today. (hopscotch, jump rope, freeze tag, etc. Get those bodies moving) 

Day 19: 

Do more crunches today than you have ever done!!! Keep going, and going, and going.... take a break ( again and again) and then go some more!!!! Push yourself all day!!!

Day 20:

Surprise day.... I’ll keep you posted!!! :)

Day 21: 

  Measure your waist

  Take your weight

  Max out sit ups

  max out push ups

  hold a plank

  1 mile run (Time)

Look at your food journal. Find items that can be eliminated from your diet, and go to the grocery stores and find items that can replace the unhealthy items. 

Day 22:

     This week video tape yourself doing everything. Prove you are still hanging on. 

   

     100 crunches 4 x’s today

Day 23:

 2 mile run! (you do not have to tape the entire run but catch the last few moments)

Day 24:

 Find and cook a new healthy recipe

Day 25: 

Another outdoor workout today! (Get some fresh air)

Day 26: 

Females 80 push ups Males 160 push ups by the end of the day

Day 27:

Do 500 jumping jacks

Day 28:

  Measure your waist

  Take your weight

  Max out sit ups

  max out push ups

  hold a plank

  1 mile run

Send in your videos of this weeks workouts or post them on youtube.

Day 29: 

Plank for 1 min at 9 different random times today (you won’t sweat after 1 minute, so go ahead even if you’re dressed) (Almost done with the challenge)

Day 30: 

Learn something new today. (Read an article about nutrition until you learn a new fact.) 

Day 31: 

  Measure your waist

  Take your weight

  Max out sit ups

  max out push ups

  hold a plank

  1 mile run

Take a picture of your stomach.

Who will be the winner?? 

The Right Voices, The Right Choices

I moved to LA to entertain. That's where the problems started. Lol I know I wanted to focus on acting (to start) but I didn't do research. I didn't make plans. I made up my mind to move, found somewhere to stay a few weeks before I got here, and than shipped my car. My plan was not a plan, so I was open to too many suggestions. And since being here I have done comedy, rapped, fitness modeling, catalogue, runway, drama,blogged, started a group, charity, pageantry and the list goes on. Looking back now I am not mad at all, but it does make me laugh. I want my career credits to be longer than that list BUT that will never happen if I do not focus. And since I did not do my research, everyone else's suggestion on what I should do with my life made sense. It took me getting hurt to realize what I needed to do.

The first step was muting the voices that didn't matter. There are over 7 billion people in the world, everyone one of them has an opinion, and if you could speak their language they'd let you hear it. But, none of their opinions or suggestions will affect their lives, and they do not know every single thing that is going on in your life. YOU have to choose.

Ultimately, you have to make the final decision, but you should also find another voice you can listen to. Jamie Foxx's career is very similar to the career I plan on having for myself. I have been blessed to have him in my corner since the 2nd week of me being in LA, and he has been telling me since than to do fitness modeling. For some reason I ignored him. I've played sports since I could walk, he knows my goals, I'm in great shape, and for some reason beyond me, I decided to listen to 8 other ideas instead of one from an amazing person whom I admire. Looking back I can't believe how dumb I was, but I have went through things and learned lessons that I will have for life now.

Watch who's advice you are taking. Do not take relationship advice from a single person. Do not take career advice from a lazy person. Do not take money advice from a broke person. And do not take life advice from a hater. Make sure that who ever is giving you advice has a good position on whatever they are advising you on. It sounds like such a "dduuuhhhh" statement, but I know for a fact many of us allow our friends to give us advice. They are closest to us, but in reality they have no business even giving us a suggestion.

That's just some food for thought, because I love to eat!

Lexsi Lewis ... Muah!!! xxx

Working in Limbo

My whole life I was preparing myself for the decision I made in January 2010. I decided, that of the many choices I had, acting would be the first career that I would be committed. The initial move was exciting. I left college, moved to LA, and I was emerged right in the industry from day 1. Flash forward to September 2012...

I have not been in a movie. I do not have a show named after me, and I am not shopping on Rodeo every day. Although this is true, I could not be more happy. When I look back on the little 20 year old girl that came here I smile. I had many unrealistic expectations of what Hollywood would be, and thank god I did. I thought it would be easy. Thank god it is not easy, because I never did good with easy. My senior year of school my statistics teacher pulled me to the side and told me something about myself that I will never forget. " B (the name I went by), I have started to notice a trend in all your tests. If there is a question that every person in the class gets right, then 6 times out of 10 you will get it wrong. (I told you it was my statistics class.) If there is a question that every single person in the class gets wrong, than I do not even need to check your answer, because you get the "hardest" question right every time." This just proved to me what I already knew... I love and live for challenges. And since acting is probably the most competitive field there is, I found where I belong. The hardest task is that the entertainment industry forces you to learn patience and how to ignore unnecessary distractions.

There is no blue print on how to make it in Hollywood. It is a mixture of who you know, who knows you, how talented you are, how hard you work, timing and just plain luck. If you ask any coach who has ever got to work with me, they will tell you I am one of the most hard working athletes they have ever seen. If you ask people that know me in LA, many might say she talks too much or I have not seen her do much. The crazy thing is they would both be right. It is hard to be a hard worker, when you have nothing to work on, and even when you finally get on a project it takes forever to come out. 

The whole time while you struggle to find work, or while the waiting is happening, your friends and family will try and make you feel bad. They all think that you are not doing anything. When you say I am busy, because you are writing or reading, they will get mad. They will say you do not care about them. In reality, they are saying they do not respect what you are doing. If you were going to school to be a doctor and told them, "No I have to study, we have pop quizzes often and they take up 35% of our grade" there would be no bickering. SoYES, doctor's have it easier when it comes to gaining access to their field. There is a nice paved road that leads you right to your destination, but we artists do not have that luxury. We artists, do not have deadlines, we do not have guide lines, we do not (initially) have one person besides our self telling us to sit down, write your ideas, and practice. All we have is this urge to get our creativity out. We have an urge to get the images and ideas that are in our heads out into the physical world. 

Every now and then events will align and you will feel yourself starting to elevate, you will feel this over whelming feeling of happiness and in that moment, you know that you are doing exactly what you are suppose to be doing. Hold onto those moments and keep working. Do not let the haters, failures, and set backs keep you down or send you back to unhappiness. Accept all those events as part of the journey. Every great person that you look up to and admire have went through some sssshhhhhhiiiiitttttt. While you are going through "your sssshhhhhhiiiiitttttt" family members and friends will be on the side lines nagging. (While they are claiming to be your biggest supporters)....Every time something bad happens just smile and know that setback is setting you up for an even greater blessing. Every time someone complains you are neglecting your relationship, realize you are building a better relationship with your craft. Every time you create something that is"not quite right", realize you are one project closer to fulfilling your dreams. It will not be easy, but it will be worth it!

Just some food for thought, because I love to eat.

Lexsi Lewis ... Muah!!! xxx

My Favorite Movie!!!!

 What you lookin' at? You all a bunch of fuckin' assholes. You 

know why? You don't have the guts to be what you wanna

 be? You need people like me. You need people like me so 

you can point your fuckin' fingers and say, "That's the bad 

guy." So... what that make you? Good? You're not good. You

 just know how to hide, how to lie. Me, I don't have that 

problem. Me, I always tell the truth. Even when I lie. So say 

good night to the bad guy! Come on. The last time you gonna

 see a bad guy like this again, let me tell you. Come on. Make 

way for the bad guy. There's a bad guy comin' through! Better get outta his way"#ScarFace  

Solo Dolo

I just walked out of the movies. I went alone to go see Lawless. (Great film. Must see) It was a very liberating experience.

 Some people think I am weird, but I like to do most things by myself. Get my nails done, go shopping, and yes... go to the movies. Maybe it is just me ( I don’t think it is) ,but when I go places by myself the world slows down. I start to notice my surroundings more. (partly because I am looking around making sure no one is about to pull out a gun and rob me.) But I also am more aware of myself. When I am away from friends I start to notice that I am just like everyone else. We are all just on small portion of this world. Sometimes, we forget that and focus on how large we are in our own individual worlds.

CONFESSION: I was sitting in the theatre and cried 3 times. Not when someone died, not when someone was being all lovey dovey, but when  nothing really big or emotional was happening. I cried because I was doing exactly what I wanted to do, exactly when I wanted to do it. I went and grabbed a sandwich at the exact place I wanted to go to. I had spent the day doing everything on my terms. Days like this can not always happen, but they should happen more often then not.

Have these moments more. Take time to be alone. Just you and your thoughts. It is in those “lonely” moments you remember how amazing you are. When no one is around laughing at you, pointing, or hating. When you can be your true self. When you are fearless. Find a pass time that you can do all by your self. During this "self enjoyment time" the question that has been haunting you (the one you knew you had but could not figure out how to ask) will be answered.

The more time you spend alone, the more you will begin to learn your strengths. You will become more familiar with your talents, so you do not have to hate on others for knowing their's. 

Me           Myself        and I

Make sure to spend some time alone, so you can than in return share what you have discovered with the world.

Just some food for thought, because I love to eat.

Lexsi Lewis ... Muah !!! xxx