Foodie Films

Here are some amazing films that I highly recommend. All of these documentaries are very educational and have inspired me and helped me to change my life for the better. I don't expect you to all watch these films and convert to a vegan lifestyle, but I do hope that this information will help you change some of your bad eating habits. It's time to really start knowing about what your putting inside your body. We spend so much of our lives around food. Let it be the source that nourishes you not the source that kills you.

1. @forksoverknives empowers people to live healthier lives by changing the way the world understands nutrition.
2. @vegucated is a documentary that follows three meat and cheese-loving New Yorkers who agree to adopt a vegan diet for six weeks in an effort to get healthier.
3. Hungry For Change exposes shocking secrets the diet, weight loss and food industries don't want you to know about deceptive strategies designed to keep you coming back for more.
4. @engine2diet Watch Rip Esselstyn, former Texas firefighter and bestselling author, as he teaches the White and Wali families the basics of a whole-food, plant-based diet.
5. @cowspiracy is a groundbreaking environmental documentary, following a filmmaker as he uncovers the most destructive industry facing the planet today and investigates why the world's leading environmental organizations are too afraid to talk about it.
6. @rebootwjoe is a film which follows the 60-day journey of Australian Joe Cross @joethejuicer across the United States as he follows a juice fast to regain his health.
7. Food, Inc. examines corporate farming in the U.S., concluding that agribusiness produces food that is unhealthy, in a way that is environmentally harmful and abusive of both animals and employees.
8. @foodmatters examines how the food we eat can help or hurt our health. Nutritionists, naturopaths, doctors, and journalists weigh in on topics organic food, food safety, raw foodism, and nutritional therapy.
9. GMO OMG tells the story of a fathers discovery of GMOs in relationship to his 3 young children and the world around him.

All of these films are on Netflix except for Cowspiracy. You can order that DVD from their website. 👍

Just some food for though, because I love to eat!


Lexsi Lewis... Muah!!! xxx

Healing from the Hate Together

I didn't really know what to expect when I openly told people, "I'm here for you. If you need someone to talk to I'll listen." I assumed most of the people who would reach out would be to ask for advice on the industry or what is so and so like. (People love to hear celebrity stories) That usually is what most of my DM's consist of, or marriage proposals. I was wrong.

The first message I opened was from a girl I went to high school with. She was congratulating me on my bravery and she proceeded to tell me she was raped. I wasn't prepared for that admission. As I read on she was telling me how it affected her relationships with males and how she finds it hard to be comfortable around men. She also told me how it affected her self image and how she found it hard to get motivate to workout and care about herself.

I applauded her for her strength to even open up to me, a person she hadn't talked to in probably over 10 years. We ended up talking about everything. From what we've been doing the past few years to  the most important aspects of a healthy diet, some easy workouts to implement anywhere, and I was going to send over a list of documentaries that explain how foods really affect our bodies.

I left the conversation not feeling great. I wanted to do more. She was robbed of her trust in other men, she was robbed of her confidence, she was robbed of her belief that the world is a good place. It made me think about how I felt when I was lying in bed healing from what those terrible people did to me, but then I smiled.

The hardest thing for me to do now is to trust in people. I honestly have some anger still towards the people that I considered friends, more then the people that actually assaulted me, because they weren't there. They didn't reach out. They didn't show me support.

While my friend will still continue to heal, as will I, I smile now knowing that we both now have 1 more person on our team. One more person that will just listen. One more person that will just care. The world has been changed numerous times, by just one person.

Thank you! You know who you are. You helped me to realize my individual power again, and I hope I helped you for a little more trusting in the world again.

Lexsi <3

Visit www.GoFundMe.com/Lexsi4MissCA if you want to support my Miss California Dreams. :)

Word of the day!

Trust no one. Do you!

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