July 9, 2024 • 35 mins
What happens when a determined student from Biloxi, Mississippi, transforms her career path in the wake of a global pandemic? Discover the extraordinary journey of Atlas Jones, the powerhouse CEO and founder of Build a Body Training, as she shares her inspiring story with us. From her days at Howard University to her evolving career goals, Atlas opens up about her decision to become a personal trainer and the drive to uplift women through fitness.
Reconnect with Atlas as she reflects on the pivotal moments that redirected her passion from medicine to the fitness industry. Learn how the pandemic acted as a catalyst, turning her home workout routines into a thriving personal training business. Hear about her experiences in the DMV area, contrasting them with the Southern hospitality she left behind, and how these changes influenced her professional and personal life.
Looking forward, Atlas shares her ambitious vision for Build a Body Training, including business expansion, real estate ventures, and transitioning from hands-on training to motivational speaking. She also addresses crucial topics like childhood obesity, healthy eating habits, and the role of parents in fostering a balanced lifestyle. Through her inspiring connections with clients and her commitment to empowerment, Atlas’s journey is a testament to finding one's true calling and making a lasting impact.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Korian (00:00):
Welcome to season 2024 of For the Health of it.
I'm your host, corian KPadpaget.
Sit back, relax and enjoy thenew episode.
Welcome to another edition ofFor the Health of it.
I'm your host, corian KPadpaget, and today I have with
me Atlas Jones.
(00:21):
Atlas is the CEO, owner andfounder of Build a Body Training
.
Go ahead, Atlas, introduceyourself.
Atlas Jones (00:31):
Hi, I am Atlas.
I am located in the DMV area.
I live in DC right now.
I've been a personal trainerfor since, so going on three
years now.
I've been a personal trainer.
I specifically only train womenand I decided to take that
route because of my own personaljourney with fitness going
(00:54):
through a transformation withinmyself during the pandemic, just
growing and maturing into awoman.
Into a woman, I felt the needto share everything I went
through with other women, touplift other women and to just
help them feel more confident intheir own skin, in their body
and, honestly, it's been thebest decision of my life.
(01:15):
I love it.
Korian (01:16):
Okay, cool, cool, cool.
So just a little background.
As soon as Atlas hopped on thisrecording with me, first thing
she said is she's gettingflashbacks to high school.
So she's aging me here.
You know, besides the hair lineand whatnot, atlas was one of
my students when I wassubstitute teaching my first go
(01:37):
around at Biloxi High, I believe.
Didn't you run track also?
Atlas Jones (01:41):
I did track for one year, but we're not going to
talk about that because itwasn't a good All right, all
right, all right.
Korian (01:50):
So a little more, a little more history, just to
show you how small Biloxi,Mississippi, is.
I went to high school withAtlas's brother, also Giovanni,
so yeah, we do have a littlebackground.
Well, smaller world is, uh, thefact that you live in dc and my
(02:12):
sister-in-law moved up therefor a period of time and she ran
into you and yeah, uh, yeah,yeah.
So she actually told me she waslike.
She called me up one day.
I was, was like she was upthere for like two months at
this point.
Her name's Denise Chair.
She was up there for aresidency for her.
What was orthodontist?
(02:35):
She was going to Howard fororthodontistry and she was like
I met a girl named Atlas Jonesand knows you?
I was like, yeah, I know.
She was like, yeah, we justboth figured out we were from
Biloxi.
And then we started talking andthey always say I know
everybody.
So yeah, you do, oh, man.
(02:55):
So so tell me a little bit.
You know we mentioned you fromBiloxi.
How long have you been in theDMV area?
Atlas Jones (03:01):
I came here in 2016 to go to Howard.
I got my bachelor's degree insports medicine and human
performance.
When I first went to school forthat major, I was going down
the doctor track, so I wanted tobe an OBGYN, but then I
(03:22):
realized that wasn't reallygoing to provide the lifestyle
that I want in terms of, likework, family dynamic.
So I decided that I wanted togo down my own path of being an
entrepreneur, but I just didn'tknow what that would look like.
And then, during the pandemic,that's when I found out that
this is what I was reallypassionate about.
I can't wait to leave the DMV.
(03:42):
I miss the South so bad.
Korian (03:51):
So so I was.
I was just about to ask youthat, uh, a lot of people do
consider the DMV area Southern,uh, as a true Southern.
What's your opinion?
Atlas Jones (03:56):
on that.
That could not be further fromthe truth.
Korian (04:00):
Okay, okay, so so what would you say?
A lot of people consider it upNorth.
More people on the East coastdon't really consider it.
Is it like a mixture of all ofit?
Atlas Jones (04:13):
Well, I will say you do have a mixture of, like
all different types of peoplefrom everywhere here, so it's
like one big melting pot.
So that part is pretty cool.
But just the people like in theSouth were way more hospitable
than the people are up here.
You might see someone and notknow them and say, hey, how are
you?
And then you guys like engagein a conversation here.
(04:34):
That's not really how it goes,like, oh, do I know you?
Ok, why are you talking to me?
Korian (04:42):
OK, OK, OK, All right.
So, uh, what?
What made you choose Howard?
Atlas Jones (04:50):
Um, the the big.
Well, okay, howard was actuallythe only school I ever applied
to.
Oh, okay, I only applied to oneschool and I was just praying
that I would get in.
But I knew that in high school,uh, my grade point average and
everything was prettyexceptional.
So I just, you know, put all myfaith there.
But I wanted to be far, farfrom home, because I just wanted
(05:12):
to see something different.
I wanted more out of life and Ifelt like Mississippi could
only do so much for me.
And then also, I really wasyearning to be surrounded by
people that look like me, thatwere successful.
So I think those two thingswere like the driving factor for
me.
It was always going to be anHBCU, because I was like I'm
(05:36):
ready to go where it's a lot ofblack people.
But then I was like, if I'mgoing to do something, I have to
be the best.
I want to be at the best place,and Howard was the best.
So that's why I just appliedthere.
Okay, that's what's up.
Korian (05:48):
That's what's up.
You said a couple of thingsthere that really stuck out to
me.
You say you want to be around alot of people that look like
you and that are successful.
I think that is a veryimportant thing, not just that
they look like you, but they aresuccessful.
Man, just just, I don't knowwhen this episode is going to
drop probably within a month orso but the fact that I'm leaving
(06:10):
Jackson and going back to thecoast, I'm going to miss the
fact that I'm around a lot ofpeople that look like me and
that are successful, so thatthat plays a big role into it.
It.
And just to segue, you know Ikeep up with some of y'all.
You know from a distance you,the McDaniel girls, kennedy,
(06:31):
gabby I see what she's doingTrey there's a few more, a
couple older, a couple youngerthan y'all.
I see Paige is going to go toUMC, but the main thing that
really just sticks out to me,I'm like man.
I see a lot of these youngladies doing their thing.
Man, you know where the fuck isthat though.
You know I'm happy.
I'm happy for them.
I'm really don't get me wrong,I'm truly happy for y'all, but I
(06:56):
sit back and be like well, youknow where, where is so-and-so,
you know what is so-and-so doing, and you know I, and so you
know what is someone so new?
And then you know, uh, I sayall that, and then who pops in
my head is a guy named shannon.
I think shannon might have been.
What was the last?
name ballard, shannon ballardlight-skinned dude yeah, yeah,
yeah, yeah, yeah so I ran intoshannon back in like july or
(07:20):
august, up here in jackson I was, we were at the and then he
says what's up to me?
I was like what's up, justthought it was some random dude.
Atlas Jones (07:28):
And I ain't seen you in a while.
Korian (07:29):
And I look and I'm like wait, what's up, Dude, I don't
think I seen you in about 10years.
Man, yeah, so I think he isactually in med school up here
at.
Atlas Jones (07:40):
UMC.
Korian (07:40):
Wow, love that so shout out to him, definitely shout out
to him.
Atlas Jones (07:45):
Yes.
I'd love to see more Black mengoing to med school and becoming
dentists and following thatpath.
Korian (07:52):
For sure, for sure on that.
So you said you chose Howardbecause of his legacy and what
you strove to be, and you alsowanted to go into the field of
being a physician.
What actually, you know, kindof strayed you from that?
Atlas Jones (08:10):
um, I started doing more research, okay, so I feel
like I went into it for thewrong reasons to begin with okay
it's coming from my family nothaving much and stuff.
My whole thing was I want to besuccessful.
I want to be successful.
But when you're in a placethat's like a smaller town or
(08:31):
whatever, sometimes the onlypeople that you see are
successful are lawyers anddoctors.
So you think I need to be alawyer or a doctor and going,
based off of what interested mein high school and everything I
was like, of like whatinterested me in high school and
everything, I was like, okay,doctor for sure, more than
lawyer.
Because I was in a like apre-med type of two-year course,
um, avaluxi High, where youwere like going to shadow
(08:54):
doctors and nurses and stufflike that, and I really was like
, oh, I enjoy this, this is fun,whatever.
So I guess I should do this.
Um, and then when I was incollege, I started the school.
The coursework was never theproblem.
I've always been prettytalented with school.
That's been pretty easy for me.
But just looking at what itwould be like actually being a
(09:16):
doctor, like being on call,especially with me wanting to be
an OBGYN, I've always felt likeI wanted to help women in some
type of way.
So that's what made me want tobe an OBGYN.
I've always felt like I wantedto help women in some type of
way, so that's what made me wantto be an OBGYN.
But knowing that my patientmight be going into labor at two
in the morning and I have towake up and go tend to them just
different things like that whenI thought about the actual
lifestyle of it, I was like thatdoesn't really align with who I
(09:39):
am.
Korian (09:50):
I want to be free, okay, okay.
I 100% understand that.
I know your brother was apersonal trainer at one point.
I don't know if he still is.
Does he still personal train ordoes he?
Okay, okay, did that have anysway in you?
Atlas Jones (09:58):
It's so crazy because I want to say no but I
also feel like I can't say nobecause my um, my brother even
though I grew up living with mydad and stuff, my brother has
always been a father figure tome and I always looked up to my
brother and a lot of things thatmy brother did I ended up doing
as well, like, I guess,subconsciously.
(10:19):
So it's possible that you know,I would have came across
personal training and that beingmy path on my own, and it's
also possible that I learned alot of things from him, like he
would take me to the gym withhim when I was in high school
and that kind of got the ballrolling a little bit early for
me, even though it took me goingthrough my own personal life
experiences to like really diveinto my, my health journey
(10:43):
myself.
Korian (10:44):
OK, all right.
That okay, all right.
That makes sense.
That's me seeing.
So at what point, uh, duringthe pandemic, because that's
when you said you, you know,really started to sway.
At what point were you like allright, I'm making this change
for a life, change, essentially,from you know, going down into
med school and then I just wantto start my own business and do
(11:06):
personal training.
Atlas Jones (11:08):
So when the pandemic hit, it was actually my
senior year in college.
Okay, so at this point I waslike I mean, I'm getting my
degree in this, but I don't knowwhat's about to happen.
Like I don't know what's mynext step.
I was praying a lot for, youknow, just guidance for God to
(11:29):
open my eyes so that I can seewhat he sees in me, so I can
know what path to take.
But when everything was shutdown, my roommate and I at the
time, every morning we will wakeup and we will go downstairs
and watch a follow along YouTubevideo, and so, like that
started, like us just beingconsistent and like wanted to
(11:49):
take care of our health andstuff, because a lot of people
either went one or two ways.
They either like stay healthyor got very health conscious, or
it was the complete oppositeand they kind of let themselves
go, and we were both like wedon't want to be like that.
So let's start by just doingsomething simple, like following
a workout video and then fromthere, after doing that for some
(12:11):
months uh, by the time I guesssummer rolled around, I was
putting together my own workoutsand I noticed that I was pretty
good at that like making theintense work, like it just came
to me naturally, um, so thatmade me happy and then I think
at that point I started actuallyseeing some results.
(12:31):
Mind you, this is the pandemic,so gyms are still closed.
Everything is really bodyweight I'm not able to use.
I didn't have any weights oranything like that.
So that was that.
And then, I think aroundSeptember, going into about to
be my 23rd birthday, I wassitting one day and I was
(12:52):
thinking and I was brainstormingand I think entrepreneurship
has always kind of been a partof me.
I just didn't know how toreally channel that.
Entrepreneurship has alwayskind of been a part of me.
I just didn't know how toreally channel that.
So I had bought this.
Like there was this place thatwas really big during the
pandemic.
It was called the Boss Palaceand they basically sold like
vendor lists for every type ofbusiness.
(13:12):
So I basically spent like onehundred dollars or one fifty and
I bought that and I was like,if I have the vendor, vendor
list, it doesn't matter what Iwant to do.
I could find something off thisand try to do it.
So then, as I'm like lookinginto everything, um, I started
thinking like oh, I want to selllike some waist trainers,
(13:34):
because this was the time where,like I think, it's called waist
snatchers um.
And I think she lives in Biloxi,actually the founder of that,
but that was that startedblowing up and I was like, wow,
I guess this is like the newthing, like the new health thing
, and I wanted to be healthrelated.
So I started looking into thatand getting samples and doing
(13:56):
all that type of stuff.
And then shortly after I waslike you know what I'm all about
multiple streams of income.
I'm never going to limit myself.
So I'm like you know what?
You don't have to have acertification to be a personal
trainer and technically I'malready qualified by my, my
degree in sports medicine.
(14:16):
But I was like you know what,if I'm going to do it like I, I
said I want to be the best, Iwant to have as much knowledge
as possible.
So I took the NASM course onthat and I mean I was really
relieved because everything Ilearned in school was everything
I learned in the packet.
So it was just like a refresherkind of um, and I was like I'm
just gonna start, I feel good,I'm happy, like and I think the
(14:39):
thing with working out that Ilove is that it's more than just
working out, like when westarted doing the working out at
nine in the morning type ofthing.
I noticed this change aboutmyself.
Like we will work out and thenthat was it.
And then shortly after, like Iwould work out and then I would
(14:59):
do yoga after, and then afterthat I would work out, do yoga,
I started meditating and thenafter that, like I started
journaling and writing gratitude.
So it ended up becoming thiswhole like morning spiritual
(15:20):
routine where it was just like agreat safe space for me to just
pour into myself, to work onmyself.
I would read 10 pages a onmyself.
I would read 10 pages a day.
I still read 10 pages a day aself-help book, just doing
things, to always pour intomyself, to be the best version
of myself.
I think that helped me to seethat it's so much more than just
fitness and it's so much morethan just having a nice body,
because I feel like so manypeople they just want to go to
(15:41):
summer's coming because theirbirthday's coming, because of
the body, the physical, how, howyou present yourself.
And don't get me wrong, that'svery important because it does
play into your confidence andyour confidence plays into what
you think you can achieve andwhat you're willing to go out
there and do, but, um, I don'tthink it's.
It's spoken enough about justthe mental clarity you get from
(16:01):
it, the better person you becomebecause of it, how much you
begin to love yourself, becauseyou're showing up for yourself
and you're being consistent anddedicated to something and
you're really learning whatdiscipline is about, because you
have to continue to show up foran extended period of time even
when you don't see results.
And I think that all of thoselessons that I learned they
(16:25):
really are success principlesthat apply to any type of
business, because you have to bewilling to show up, you have to
be willing to keep doing itwhen nobody's watching, you have
to do it when there's no sales,and all of those things really
helped me to be consistent andstay on the path with my brand
and stuff.
So I'm really thankful for justeverything that this experience
(16:45):
has brought me.
Korian (16:46):
OK, all right, your brand.
So let's go ahead and plug yourbrand.
Do all that.
So what is your brand?
Atlas Jones (16:55):
OK, so my brand is Build a Body Training.
Okay, so my brand is Build aBody Training.
I used to have a brand calledForward, which is where I sold
apparel yoga mats, waisttrainers, just fitness like
one-stop shop type of thing.
I did have to close thatbusiness down last February
(17:16):
because of a trademarkinfringement problem, and I'm
just sharing this becausesomebody out there might want to
start a business and you needto know about these types of
things or you're going to haveto close your business, like me.
The company basically reachedout to me and was like you have
two weeks to shut down yourentire website and everything
that you're doing associatedwith this name, or we're going
to sue you.
So I had to do that.
(17:38):
I ended up taking a majorfinancial loss because, uh, all
the inventory and stuff that Ihad bought I didn't have an
opportunity to sell so, and nowthere was nothing I could do
with it.
So that was a big learninglesson for me.
Like, don't just get your llc,you also need to make sure you
can get it trademarked so thatevery part of it is yours.
Um, um, but yeah, so with builda body training, um, I am doing
(18:02):
in person and online coaching,um for women all across the U?
S.
I'm so proud of that.
I have a team of over 30 women,um, yeah, and I feel like I've
been able to accomplish a lot inthe two and a half years, so
I'm very proud of myself.
I'm looking forward to thissummer potentially releasing
(18:24):
another line and just startingall of that up.
I have an app that I use, sothat's how I train the women.
Virtually.
There's an app on your phoneand I give you all the workouts
that you need.
You can track your nutrition onthere.
I do daily check-ins with them,so it's very personalized and
you're able to do it on your owntime.
(18:44):
So I really love it.
I'll show you my app, yeah goahead.
Let's see.
Korian (18:50):
So when you say you had a team of 30 women, that like
they are your employees.
Atlas Jones (18:55):
No, they, I train them.
Korian (18:57):
OK, got, got you.
I don't have any employees.
Got you, so you're client-based.
Got you, okay.
Okay, that's wild.
Atlas Jones (19:04):
So this is my app, let's go to it.
Can you see that?
No, I think my background yeah,yeah, we can yeah.
Okay, and then you click on itand there's a workout assigned
every day.
You can plug your nutrition,you can track your progress
photos, everything is right fromyour phone.
(19:25):
I really I love it.
I love it.
Korian (19:28):
Well, what's the name of the app?
Atlas Jones (19:31):
So it's a member-only app, so I actually
have to send you your logincredentials to be able to get
access to the app from the appstore.
Gotcha, but it is calledBuild-A-Body Training, but if
you go to the app from the appstore, gotcha but it is called
build a body training, but ifyou go to the app store you
won't see it that's okay allright?
Korian (19:46):
well, uh, while while we're here, go ahead and drop
your uh, your handles and allthat okay, so I am on instagram.
Atlas Jones (19:56):
That's like I need to be better.
That's like the only one I'm on, but my Instagram handle is um
myths.
Build a body m-i-s-s.
Build a body, because you canbuild your body, you do not have
to go by me all right, allright.
Korian (20:14):
So we got what you do, we got who you are, we got your
why, uh, and we got yourinspiration.
So let's talk a little bitabout career goals.
You mentioned a couple thingsyou're looking forward to this
summer.
Uh, let's let's forecast.
Five years from now, ten yearsfrom now.
What do you want to be doing,um?
Atlas Jones (20:37):
five years from now .
Um, um, I want to still have myonline coaching.
I no longer want to be ain-person trainer, though.
I'd like to be using my time todo content and other things
like that, other businessventures that I see myself doing
, but by that time, I would liketo have the online coaching run
(21:00):
by other trainers, so actualemployees that I like can and
like go over them to make surethey have the same coaching
style and everything as me.
Um, I see myself being havingmultiple rental properties, so
I'm actually looking forward totrying to do that within having
my first one within the nextyear, so I'm excited about that.
(21:22):
Um, I see myself having amultimillion dollar athletic
brand where I sell fitnessapparel, and I see myself being
an author and motivationalspeaker.
Ok, I'm not really going to betraining anymore, more so.
Korian (21:41):
Right, I'm more so doing content, youtube content.
Atlas Jones (21:51):
I want to get into YouTube within the next six
months and start transitioningfrom in-person to fully online,
and then I can use that freetime to you know.
Focus on my YouTube, go andstart working on these other
business ventures.
Korian (21:58):
Makes sense, makes sense , I like it, I like it.
You mentioned potentiallymoving, where to see yourself
moving.
Atlas Jones (22:07):
To Houston.
Okay, all right, I thought youwere going to say Atlanta.
Korian (22:12):
I was like hey, don't go there.
Atlas Jones (22:14):
No, I feel like if I go to Atlanta I might run into
15 people from my school, fromhigh school, so I don't want to
be too known.
Korian (22:27):
Right, right.
Yeah, I can tell you off top.
My sister moved there, so I'mlike man.
Once she moved, I'm definitelynot moving.
Traffic is horrible, so yeah.
Yeah, yeah, he was the wave, asyou kids say.
Atlas Jones (22:43):
Not as you kids say oh man, hey.
So.
Korian (22:49):
I was a young teacher.
You know it's crazy when youthink about it.
I met you like 10 years ago, soI've been in this game for like
10 years now and you know, thechildren basically stay the same
age and I keep getting olderand older.
I keep finding myself like, ohthese kids are.
Atlas Jones (23:05):
These kids are weird.
Korian (23:07):
You know when we, when I first started with y'all, you
know, I'm not saying you eversaid this, but it's been told to
me that I was a young hipteacher.
Atlas Jones (23:17):
Cool oh, yeah, yeah and you know it's.
Korian (23:21):
It's definitely not that way.
Now I am, I'm not the young hipguy anymore, so what was that
part I?
Atlas Jones (23:33):
said you out here feeling seasoned.
Oh yeah, oh yeah I'm definitely, hey, definitely seasoned.
Korian (23:38):
Definitely I am.
I'm fine with that, I'mabsolutely fine with that.
So you mentioned, uh, while youwere talking about getting your
certification and whatnot, thatyour schooling.
You felt like you were alreadywell prepared, but you felt like
, you know, if I'm going to dothis, I at least need to have
the credentials everybody elsehave you mentioned that you felt
(23:58):
like your schooling preparedyou enough for that.
Can you speak on how yourschooling and your college
degree prepared you for thatcertificate?
Because I actually felt thesame way.
So go ahead.
Atlas Jones (24:09):
Yeah, I think, as far as school, with my major
being sports medicine, a lot ofthe classes that I was taking
was anatomy one and two sportsmedicine, where we like talked
about helping athletes triageall that type of stuff.
Like talked about helpingathletes triage all that type of
stuff.
Um, I took a weight liftingclass where I went into the gym
(24:31):
like three times a week and theytaught me about different
equipment, what it's for, how touse it properly, like all those
different types of things, andjust learning everything about
the body, how the body moves,learning what body parts are
what when it comes down tomuscles and everything.
Um, I feel like that preparedme because I feel like that's
what a lot of the test was aboutyou know how the body functions
(24:54):
, what, what goes together, andthings like that.
Korian (24:59):
OK, ok, cool.
A lot of, a lot of origins,assertions, actions OK, cool,
cool, cool.
So one of my main questions Iwanted to ask you you know you
being from Mississippi, you'restill technically in the South
and you know moving even furthersouth to Texas.
(25:20):
So you know, one of the thingswe battle down here is obesity,
in particular, childhood obesity.
So I know you primarily workwith women, but what could you
do or what is something that thecommunity and industry can do
to battle childhood obesity?
Atlas Jones (25:37):
Honestly, I believe that it starts with the parents
, because the kids don't teachthemselves these habits.
The kids, they're just kids.
I just eat what's in the house.
I eat what my parents have forme.
You know what I mean.
So I feel like and I think thisis also another reason why I
love working with women becausewhile men are the head of the
(25:59):
household, the woman is trulythe backbone of the household.
And I feel like if a womanknows how to nourish her body
and nourish her husband orspouse's body, and that trickles
down to the kids.
Because if you live a healthylifestyle and you're the mom or
the wife and you're preparingall the food, then the food is
going to be healthy.
You know what I mean.
But if you're not really healthconscious, how can you expect
(26:21):
that your kids will be?
And then also, I feel like kidsdon't really play anymore, and
I feel like that's a really bigproblem because with everything
being so technological, likekids are always either watching
TV on a tablet, on a phone, on acomputer, like something you
know they're never like runningaround and playing like how we
(26:42):
used to be.
Korian (26:45):
Don't forget I got.
Like 10 years on you, we usedto be um.
Atlas Jones (26:47):
Don't forget, I got like 10 years on, you still
used to play like it starts withwith women and and just adults
in general okay, yeah, gotcha,okay, all right.
Korian (27:01):
Uh, my next question for you is you know you mentioned
cooking in the woman preparingfood.
My wife doesn't really cookthat often, so I'm the one you
know in my household thatprepares the food.
Lately it's been a struggle, Iwon't lie to you about that.
But so if one thing my wifelikes to think of is bland food,
(27:21):
and she, well, I don't know ifshe thinks of that, but her
cooking is very bland, blandfood, and she, well, I don't
know if she thinks of that, buther cooking is very bland.
So so how, if my wife was aclient of yours and she came to
you telling you that, oh, youknow, atlas went, went, went.
I cook.
My husband doesn't like mycooking.
He says it's very bland.
What can I do to spice it up,to make it taste better, but
(27:42):
also keeping it healthy?
Atlas Jones (27:44):
I think that this is the number one, like a
million dollar question foreveryone, like everybody across
the board, women and men,because I feel like, before we
can ever have a healthyrelationship with food, we have
to get the images out of ourhead of what's good food and
what's bad food.
You know what I mean, becauseso many people have this like oh
(28:07):
, I want to be healthy right now, so I'm only going to eat
salads, I'm only going to eatthis, I'm only going to eat that
, and it's so rich.
The diet that they have in mindis so restrictive that it's not
sustainable.
And I feel like, in terms ofyour wife, she's got to get a
little creative.
You know, she got to get somemore spices in the cabinet.
I feel like, if you can season,you can cook anything good.
(28:30):
But yeah, I have a lot ofpeople who come to me and
they're like you know, I'm aboutto do this three-day detox.
Before I start with you, I'mabout to where I only drink
smoothies and I'm going to dothis, I'm going to do that, and
I'm like don't do that, don'teven do that, don't even wish
your money doing that.
I'm going to tell you right now.
This is about learning that lifeis all about balance.
(28:51):
There's an 80% and a 20%.
80% of what you put in yourbody needs to be, um, nutritious
, whole foods, not processed,not fried.
Um, you know what I mean andthankfully you know, we have an
air fryer invention.
Now you can have so many morefoods that actually taste fried
and they're not bad for you.
Like, I just posted a reel onmy Instagram on how to make
(29:16):
fried chicken without flour orgrease.
Ok, so that keeps it lowcalories.
No, it's not high in fat.
Like, it's still good for you.
But, yeah, I think you justgotta figure out, like, take all
your favorite meals and be like, okay, what is the problem with
this meal?
And then you can say, okay, if,if me, having it fried in oil
(29:40):
is the problem, how can I cookthis and make it fry without
that?
Maybe get an air fryer simple,you know yeah, hey, it makes
sense to me.
Korian (29:49):
Makes sense to me, all right, uh.
So, before I get you up out ofhere, uh, what's your personal
life looking like?
How's everything going,everything good?
Atlas Jones (29:58):
everything is is great.
Honestly, um, I really I'mreally happy with everything
going on in my life right now.
Um, I'm dating someone.
We've been dating for a while.
I hope that it leads tomarriage, so that's great.
Um, business is going great.
I am looking to hit my firstsix figure year this year.
(30:21):
That is like I'm super proud ofthat, um, especially because
I've never worked for a gym, solike any clients I ever had was
literally through word of mouthor like me posting on social
media and stuff like that.
Um, and my spiritual life.
I feel very spiritually fedright now.
I've been going to church outhere I have a church home, so I
(30:43):
go every Sunday.
I've been reading, pouring intomyself, so I'm really happy.
I need to do more and I wasjust saying this the other day.
I feel like the last couple ofyears have been I've been so
focused on growing my businessand growing the financial side
of my life that I haven't pouredas much energy and effort into
(31:03):
my relationships, like withfriends and family.
I haven't visited family in thelast like two years, like, and
it's like my dad is about toturn 70 in August and I'm like I
can't go a year plus, withoutseeing him.
You know what I mean Because,god forbid, you never know when
someone is going to go.
You know what?
Korian (31:23):
I mean.
Atlas Jones (31:24):
I need to just pour into that side of me a little
bit more.
Now that I have more financialstability in my life, I feel
like I'll be able to go and dothose things.
Korian (31:33):
Yeah, you're no longer a broke college student.
Atlas Jones (31:35):
Yeah, you know.
Korian (31:38):
So when was the last time you've been to Biloxi?
Atlas Jones (31:41):
When my sister graduated.
If I graduate, if I graduate,when did I graduate?
16, right From from college,2020.
So she would have beengraduating.
When did she graduate?
I think that was three yearsago.
Ok, yes, yes, yes, I graduatedcollege and then she graduated
(32:04):
high school.
Ok, so, three years.
You also got to remember.
So it's been about three years.
I graduated college and thenshe graduated high school.
Korian (32:08):
Okay, yes, so three years, you also got to remember,
so it's been about three years.
Atlas Jones (32:11):
Yes, a long time Okay.
Korian (32:13):
I mean, you also got to remember there was a pandemic
that you know seemed to be on alot of travel.
So there is that.
And one last thing how was itwhen you got your first client?
Atlas Jones (32:26):
I will actually never forget my first client.
Um, it was a guy, because atthis point, when you first
started out and you don't haveclients, you can't really be
picky.
So I wasn't a only womantrainer at this time.
I started training someone thatI knew from Howard.
Um, that was a guy that wastransitioning to be a girl
actually, so he wanted to buildhis physique to kind of look
(32:48):
like a woman and we startedworking together and it was very
eye opening because you know,you have to explain things to
people on the level of like athird grader.
You know you can't just say allthis terminology that they
don't know and like.
So it was a really, a reallygood learning experience for me.
(33:09):
It was actually a short lived.
We didn't, we didn't traintogether for that long, but I
ended up meeting someone in hisbuilding that came up to me and
was like hey, are you a trainer?
I see you in here sometimes I'mlooking for a trainer or
whatever and she is actuallystill my client to this day.
I've trained her this wholetime and I'm training her
(33:29):
through her pregnancy right now.
So, like it's just, it's just,it's really beautiful to for
people to be able to see me growand for me to be able to watch
other women grow.
I feel, like so extremelyblessed by the type of women
that I get to train.
Like one of my clients, she haslike multiple rental properties
(33:54):
in DC that she has like milliondollar homes and stuff, and
like that being something that Iwant to go into.
I feel so blessed to have thatconnection because she could
teach me and we actually have areal, genuine relationship, so
it's not like it's anything youknow to to call her or text her.
And I have another client whohas a swimwear line.
Um, that is like being sold byexpress and like I've been
(34:16):
featured in sports, illustratedand like just a lot of great
things.
And I will say that's one thingabout being in this area you
will meet a lot of successfulwomen who are doing extremely
well for themselves and it's soempowering.
Yeah, that's what thing aboutbeing in this area you will meet
a lot of successful women whoare doing extremely well for
themselves and it's soempowering.
Korian (34:29):
Yeah, that's what's up.
That is what's up.
So one thing I want to saybefore I get up out of here,
after I say this you know, again, drop your socials and all that
again, but you are aninspiration.
I'm proud of you.
Keep doing what you're doing.
You are you never know who'swatching you, but you are
definitely doing a great job oh,my christ thanks no problem, no
(34:52):
problem.
So, uh, hey, go ahead and dropthose socials and how you can,
people can reach you and uh,that'll be all yes, so, um, you
can check out my websitebuildabodytrainingcom.
Atlas Jones (35:03):
I do have um a workout pdf guide there like a
21 day challenge.
You can follow me on instagramor tiktok at miss build a body
m-i-s-s, build a body um.
And I think that's allinstagram and tiktok.
Korian (35:19):
Yeah, okay all right, cool.
So this has been anotherepisode of, for the health of it
, and I'm your host, kory andK-Pat Padgett, and thank you.
Welcome to season 2024 of For the Health of it.
I'm your host, corian KPadpaget.
Sit back, relax and enjoy thenew episode.
Welcome to another edition ofFor the Health of it.
I'm your host, corian KPadpaget, and today I have with
me Atlas Jones.
(00:21):
Atlas is the CEO, owner andfounder of Build a Body Training
.
Go ahead, Atlas, introduceyourself.
Atlas Jones (00:31):
Hi, I am Atlas.
I am located in the DMV area.
I live in DC right now.
I've been a personal trainerfor since, so going on three
years now.
I've been a personal trainer.
I specifically only train womenand I decided to take that
route because of my own personaljourney with fitness going
(00:54):
through a transformation withinmyself during the pandemic, just
growing and maturing into awoman.
Into a woman, I felt the needto share everything I went
through with other women, touplift other women and to just
help them feel more confident intheir own skin, in their body
and, honestly, it's been thebest decision of my life.
(01:15):
I love it.
Korian (01:16):
Okay, cool, cool, cool.
So just a little background.
As soon as Atlas hopped on thisrecording with me, first thing
she said is she's gettingflashbacks to high school.
So she's aging me here.
You know, besides the hair lineand whatnot, atlas was one of
my students when I wassubstitute teaching my first go
(01:37):
around at Biloxi High, I believe.
Didn't you run track also?
Atlas Jones (01:41):
I did track for one year, but we're not going to
talk about that because itwasn't a good All right, all
right, all right.
Korian (01:50):
So a little more, a little more history, just to
show you how small Biloxi,Mississippi, is.
I went to high school withAtlas's brother, also Giovanni,
so yeah, we do have a littlebackground.
Well, smaller world is, uh, thefact that you live in dc and my
(02:12):
sister-in-law moved up therefor a period of time and she ran
into you and yeah, uh, yeah,yeah.
So she actually told me she waslike.
She called me up one day.
I was, was like she was upthere for like two months at
this point.
Her name's Denise Chair.
She was up there for aresidency for her.
What was orthodontist?
(02:35):
She was going to Howard fororthodontistry and she was like
I met a girl named Atlas Jonesand knows you?
I was like, yeah, I know.
She was like, yeah, we justboth figured out we were from
Biloxi.
And then we started talking andthey always say I know
everybody.
So yeah, you do, oh, man.
(02:55):
So so tell me a little bit.
You know we mentioned you fromBiloxi.
How long have you been in theDMV area?
Atlas Jones (03:01):
I came here in 2016 to go to Howard.
I got my bachelor's degree insports medicine and human
performance.
When I first went to school forthat major, I was going down
the doctor track, so I wanted tobe an OBGYN, but then I
(03:22):
realized that wasn't reallygoing to provide the lifestyle
that I want in terms of, likework, family dynamic.
So I decided that I wanted togo down my own path of being an
entrepreneur, but I just didn'tknow what that would look like.
And then, during the pandemic,that's when I found out that
this is what I was reallypassionate about.
I can't wait to leave the DMV.
(03:42):
I miss the South so bad.
Korian (03:51):
So so I was.
I was just about to ask youthat, uh, a lot of people do
consider the DMV area Southern,uh, as a true Southern.
What's your opinion?
Atlas Jones (03:56):
on that.
That could not be further fromthe truth.
Korian (04:00):
Okay, okay, so so what would you say?
A lot of people consider it upNorth.
More people on the East coastdon't really consider it.
Is it like a mixture of all ofit?
Atlas Jones (04:13):
Well, I will say you do have a mixture of, like
all different types of peoplefrom everywhere here, so it's
like one big melting pot.
So that part is pretty cool.
But just the people like in theSouth were way more hospitable
than the people are up here.
You might see someone and notknow them and say, hey, how are
you?
And then you guys like engagein a conversation here.
(04:34):
That's not really how it goes,like, oh, do I know you?
Ok, why are you talking to me?
Korian (04:42):
OK, OK, OK, All right.
So, uh, what?
What made you choose Howard?
Atlas Jones (04:50):
Um, the the big.
Well, okay, howard was actuallythe only school I ever applied
to.
Oh, okay, I only applied to oneschool and I was just praying
that I would get in.
But I knew that in high school,uh, my grade point average and
everything was prettyexceptional.
So I just, you know, put all myfaith there.
But I wanted to be far, farfrom home, because I just wanted
(05:12):
to see something different.
I wanted more out of life and Ifelt like Mississippi could
only do so much for me.
And then also, I really wasyearning to be surrounded by
people that look like me, thatwere successful.
So I think those two thingswere like the driving factor for
me.
It was always going to be anHBCU, because I was like I'm
(05:36):
ready to go where it's a lot ofblack people.
But then I was like, if I'mgoing to do something, I have to
be the best.
I want to be at the best place,and Howard was the best.
So that's why I just appliedthere.
Okay, that's what's up.
Korian (05:48):
That's what's up.
You said a couple of thingsthere that really stuck out to
me.
You say you want to be around alot of people that look like
you and that are successful.
I think that is a veryimportant thing, not just that
they look like you, but they aresuccessful.
Man, just just, I don't knowwhen this episode is going to
drop probably within a month orso but the fact that I'm leaving
(06:10):
Jackson and going back to thecoast, I'm going to miss the
fact that I'm around a lot ofpeople that look like me and
that are successful, so thatthat plays a big role into it.
It.
And just to segue, you know Ikeep up with some of y'all.
You know from a distance you,the McDaniel girls, kennedy,
(06:31):
gabby I see what she's doingTrey there's a few more, a
couple older, a couple youngerthan y'all.
I see Paige is going to go toUMC, but the main thing that
really just sticks out to me,I'm like man.
I see a lot of these youngladies doing their thing.
Man, you know where the fuck isthat though.
You know I'm happy.
I'm happy for them.
I'm really don't get me wrong,I'm truly happy for y'all, but I
(06:56):
sit back and be like well, youknow where, where is so-and-so,
you know what is so-and-so doing, and you know I, and so you
know what is someone so new?
And then you know, uh, I sayall that, and then who pops in
my head is a guy named shannon.
I think shannon might have been.
What was the last?
name ballard, shannon ballardlight-skinned dude yeah, yeah,
yeah, yeah, yeah so I ran intoshannon back in like july or
(07:20):
august, up here in jackson I was, we were at the and then he
says what's up to me?
I was like what's up, justthought it was some random dude.
Atlas Jones (07:28):
And I ain't seen you in a while.
Korian (07:29):
And I look and I'm like wait, what's up, Dude, I don't
think I seen you in about 10years.
Man, yeah, so I think he isactually in med school up here
at.
Atlas Jones (07:40):
UMC.
Korian (07:40):
Wow, love that so shout out to him, definitely shout out
to him.
Atlas Jones (07:45):
Yes.
I'd love to see more Black mengoing to med school and becoming
dentists and following thatpath.
Korian (07:52):
For sure, for sure on that.
So you said you chose Howardbecause of his legacy and what
you strove to be, and you alsowanted to go into the field of
being a physician.
What actually, you know, kindof strayed you from that?
Atlas Jones (08:10):
um, I started doing more research, okay, so I feel
like I went into it for thewrong reasons to begin with okay
it's coming from my family nothaving much and stuff.
My whole thing was I want to besuccessful.
I want to be successful.
But when you're in a placethat's like a smaller town or
(08:31):
whatever, sometimes the onlypeople that you see are
successful are lawyers anddoctors.
So you think I need to be alawyer or a doctor and going,
based off of what interested mein high school and everything I
was like, of like whatinterested me in high school and
everything, I was like, okay,doctor for sure, more than
lawyer.
Because I was in a like apre-med type of two-year course,
um, avaluxi High, where youwere like going to shadow
(08:54):
doctors and nurses and stufflike that, and I really was like
, oh, I enjoy this, this is fun,whatever.
So I guess I should do this.
Um, and then when I was incollege, I started the school.
The coursework was never theproblem.
I've always been prettytalented with school.
That's been pretty easy for me.
But just looking at what itwould be like actually being a
(09:16):
doctor, like being on call,especially with me wanting to be
an OBGYN, I've always felt likeI wanted to help women in some
type of way.
So that's what made me want tobe an OBGYN.
I've always felt like I wantedto help women in some type of
way, so that's what made me wantto be an OBGYN.
But knowing that my patientmight be going into labor at two
in the morning and I have towake up and go tend to them just
different things like that whenI thought about the actual
lifestyle of it, I was like thatdoesn't really align with who I
(09:39):
am.
Korian (09:50):
I want to be free, okay, okay.
I 100% understand that.
I know your brother was apersonal trainer at one point.
I don't know if he still is.
Does he still personal train ordoes he?
Okay, okay, did that have anysway in you?
Atlas Jones (09:58):
It's so crazy because I want to say no but I
also feel like I can't say nobecause my um, my brother even
though I grew up living with mydad and stuff, my brother has
always been a father figure tome and I always looked up to my
brother and a lot of things thatmy brother did I ended up doing
as well, like, I guess,subconsciously.
(10:19):
So it's possible that you know,I would have came across
personal training and that beingmy path on my own, and it's
also possible that I learned alot of things from him, like he
would take me to the gym withhim when I was in high school
and that kind of got the ballrolling a little bit early for
me, even though it took me goingthrough my own personal life
experiences to like really diveinto my, my health journey
(10:43):
myself.
Korian (10:44):
OK, all right.
That okay, all right.
That makes sense.
That's me seeing.
So at what point, uh, duringthe pandemic, because that's
when you said you, you know,really started to sway.
At what point were you like allright, I'm making this change
for a life, change, essentially,from you know, going down into
med school and then I just wantto start my own business and do
(11:06):
personal training.
Atlas Jones (11:08):
So when the pandemic hit, it was actually my
senior year in college.
Okay, so at this point I waslike I mean, I'm getting my
degree in this, but I don't knowwhat's about to happen.
Like I don't know what's mynext step.
I was praying a lot for, youknow, just guidance for God to
(11:29):
open my eyes so that I can seewhat he sees in me, so I can
know what path to take.
But when everything was shutdown, my roommate and I at the
time, every morning we will wakeup and we will go downstairs
and watch a follow along YouTubevideo, and so, like that
started, like us just beingconsistent and like wanted to
(11:49):
take care of our health andstuff, because a lot of people
either went one or two ways.
They either like stay healthyor got very health conscious, or
it was the complete oppositeand they kind of let themselves
go, and we were both like wedon't want to be like that.
So let's start by just doingsomething simple, like following
a workout video and then fromthere, after doing that for some
(12:11):
months uh, by the time I guesssummer rolled around, I was
putting together my own workoutsand I noticed that I was pretty
good at that like making theintense work, like it just came
to me naturally, um, so thatmade me happy and then I think
at that point I started actuallyseeing some results.
(12:31):
Mind you, this is the pandemic,so gyms are still closed.
Everything is really bodyweight I'm not able to use.
I didn't have any weights oranything like that.
So that was that.
And then, I think aroundSeptember, going into about to
be my 23rd birthday, I wassitting one day and I was
(12:52):
thinking and I was brainstormingand I think entrepreneurship
has always kind of been a partof me.
I just didn't know how toreally channel that.
Entrepreneurship has alwayskind of been a part of me.
I just didn't know how toreally channel that.
So I had bought this.
Like there was this place thatwas really big during the
pandemic.
It was called the Boss Palaceand they basically sold like
vendor lists for every type ofbusiness.
(13:12):
So I basically spent like onehundred dollars or one fifty and
I bought that and I was like,if I have the vendor, vendor
list, it doesn't matter what Iwant to do.
I could find something off thisand try to do it.
So then, as I'm like lookinginto everything, um, I started
thinking like oh, I want to selllike some waist trainers,
(13:34):
because this was the time where,like I think, it's called waist
snatchers um.
And I think she lives in Biloxi,actually the founder of that,
but that was that startedblowing up and I was like, wow,
I guess this is like the newthing, like the new health thing
, and I wanted to be healthrelated.
So I started looking into thatand getting samples and doing
(13:56):
all that type of stuff.
And then shortly after I waslike you know what I'm all about
multiple streams of income.
I'm never going to limit myself.
So I'm like you know what?
You don't have to have acertification to be a personal
trainer and technically I'malready qualified by my, my
degree in sports medicine.
(14:16):
But I was like you know what,if I'm going to do it like I, I
said I want to be the best, Iwant to have as much knowledge
as possible.
So I took the NASM course onthat and I mean I was really
relieved because everything Ilearned in school was everything
I learned in the packet.
So it was just like a refresherkind of um, and I was like I'm
just gonna start, I feel good,I'm happy, like and I think the
(14:39):
thing with working out that Ilove is that it's more than just
working out, like when westarted doing the working out at
nine in the morning type ofthing.
I noticed this change aboutmyself.
Like we will work out and thenthat was it.
And then shortly after, like Iwould work out and then I would
(14:59):
do yoga after, and then afterthat I would work out, do yoga,
I started meditating and thenafter that, like I started
journaling and writing gratitude.
So it ended up becoming thiswhole like morning spiritual
(15:20):
routine where it was just like agreat safe space for me to just
pour into myself, to work onmyself.
I would read 10 pages a onmyself.
I would read 10 pages a day.
I still read 10 pages a day aself-help book, just doing
things, to always pour intomyself, to be the best version
of myself.
I think that helped me to seethat it's so much more than just
fitness and it's so much morethan just having a nice body,
because I feel like so manypeople they just want to go to
(15:41):
summer's coming because theirbirthday's coming, because of
the body, the physical, how, howyou present yourself.
And don't get me wrong, that'svery important because it does
play into your confidence andyour confidence plays into what
you think you can achieve andwhat you're willing to go out
there and do, but, um, I don'tthink it's.
It's spoken enough about justthe mental clarity you get from
(16:01):
it, the better person you becomebecause of it, how much you
begin to love yourself, becauseyou're showing up for yourself
and you're being consistent anddedicated to something and
you're really learning whatdiscipline is about, because you
have to continue to show up foran extended period of time even
when you don't see results.
And I think that all of thoselessons that I learned they
(16:25):
really are success principlesthat apply to any type of
business, because you have to bewilling to show up, you have to
be willing to keep doing itwhen nobody's watching, you have
to do it when there's no sales,and all of those things really
helped me to be consistent andstay on the path with my brand
and stuff.
So I'm really thankful for justeverything that this experience
(16:45):
has brought me.
Korian (16:46):
OK, all right, your brand.
So let's go ahead and plug yourbrand.
Do all that.
So what is your brand?
Atlas Jones (16:55):
OK, so my brand is Build a Body Training.
Okay, so my brand is Build aBody Training.
I used to have a brand calledForward, which is where I sold
apparel yoga mats, waisttrainers, just fitness like
one-stop shop type of thing.
I did have to close thatbusiness down last February
(17:16):
because of a trademarkinfringement problem, and I'm
just sharing this becausesomebody out there might want to
start a business and you needto know about these types of
things or you're going to haveto close your business, like me.
The company basically reachedout to me and was like you have
two weeks to shut down yourentire website and everything
that you're doing associatedwith this name, or we're going
to sue you.
So I had to do that.
(17:38):
I ended up taking a majorfinancial loss because, uh, all
the inventory and stuff that Ihad bought I didn't have an
opportunity to sell so, and nowthere was nothing I could do
with it.
So that was a big learninglesson for me.
Like, don't just get your llc,you also need to make sure you
can get it trademarked so thatevery part of it is yours.
Um, um, but yeah, so with builda body training, um, I am doing
(18:02):
in person and online coaching,um for women all across the U?
S.
I'm so proud of that.
I have a team of over 30 women,um, yeah, and I feel like I've
been able to accomplish a lot inthe two and a half years, so
I'm very proud of myself.
I'm looking forward to thissummer potentially releasing
(18:24):
another line and just startingall of that up.
I have an app that I use, sothat's how I train the women.
Virtually.
There's an app on your phoneand I give you all the workouts
that you need.
You can track your nutrition onthere.
I do daily check-ins with them,so it's very personalized and
you're able to do it on your owntime.
(18:44):
So I really love it.
I'll show you my app, yeah goahead.
Let's see.
Korian (18:50):
So when you say you had a team of 30 women, that like
they are your employees.
Atlas Jones (18:55):
No, they, I train them.
Korian (18:57):
OK, got, got you.
I don't have any employees.
Got you, so you're client-based.
Got you, okay.
Okay, that's wild.
Atlas Jones (19:04):
So this is my app, let's go to it.
Can you see that?
No, I think my background yeah,yeah, we can yeah.
Okay, and then you click on itand there's a workout assigned
every day.
You can plug your nutrition,you can track your progress
photos, everything is right fromyour phone.
(19:25):
I really I love it.
I love it.
Korian (19:28):
Well, what's the name of the app?
Atlas Jones (19:31):
So it's a member-only app, so I actually
have to send you your logincredentials to be able to get
access to the app from the appstore.
Gotcha, but it is calledBuild-A-Body Training, but if
you go to the app from the appstore, gotcha but it is called
build a body training, but ifyou go to the app store you
won't see it that's okay allright?
Korian (19:46):
well, uh, while while we're here, go ahead and drop
your uh, your handles and allthat okay, so I am on instagram.
Atlas Jones (19:56):
That's like I need to be better.
That's like the only one I'm on, but my Instagram handle is um
myths.
Build a body m-i-s-s.
Build a body, because you canbuild your body, you do not have
to go by me all right, allright.
Korian (20:14):
So we got what you do, we got who you are, we got your
why, uh, and we got yourinspiration.
So let's talk a little bitabout career goals.
You mentioned a couple thingsyou're looking forward to this
summer.
Uh, let's let's forecast.
Five years from now, ten yearsfrom now.
What do you want to be doing,um?
Atlas Jones (20:37):
five years from now .
Um, um, I want to still have myonline coaching.
I no longer want to be ain-person trainer, though.
I'd like to be using my time todo content and other things
like that, other businessventures that I see myself doing
, but by that time, I would liketo have the online coaching run
(21:00):
by other trainers, so actualemployees that I like can and
like go over them to make surethey have the same coaching
style and everything as me.
Um, I see myself being havingmultiple rental properties, so
I'm actually looking forward totrying to do that within having
my first one within the nextyear, so I'm excited about that.
(21:22):
Um, I see myself having amultimillion dollar athletic
brand where I sell fitnessapparel, and I see myself being
an author and motivationalspeaker.
Ok, I'm not really going to betraining anymore, more so.
Korian (21:41):
Right, I'm more so doing content, youtube content.
Atlas Jones (21:51):
I want to get into YouTube within the next six
months and start transitioningfrom in-person to fully online,
and then I can use that freetime to you know.
Focus on my YouTube, go andstart working on these other
business ventures.
Korian (21:58):
Makes sense, makes sense , I like it, I like it.
You mentioned potentiallymoving, where to see yourself
moving.
Atlas Jones (22:07):
To Houston.
Okay, all right, I thought youwere going to say Atlanta.
Korian (22:12):
I was like hey, don't go there.
Atlas Jones (22:14):
No, I feel like if I go to Atlanta I might run into
15 people from my school, fromhigh school, so I don't want to
be too known.
Korian (22:27):
Right, right.
Yeah, I can tell you off top.
My sister moved there, so I'mlike man.
Once she moved, I'm definitelynot moving.
Traffic is horrible, so yeah.
Yeah, yeah, he was the wave, asyou kids say.
Atlas Jones (22:43):
Not as you kids say oh man, hey.
So.
Korian (22:49):
I was a young teacher.
You know it's crazy when youthink about it.
I met you like 10 years ago, soI've been in this game for like
10 years now and you know, thechildren basically stay the same
age and I keep getting olderand older.
I keep finding myself like, ohthese kids are.
Atlas Jones (23:05):
These kids are weird.
Korian (23:07):
You know when we, when I first started with y'all, you
know, I'm not saying you eversaid this, but it's been told to
me that I was a young hipteacher.
Atlas Jones (23:17):
Cool oh, yeah, yeah and you know it's.
Korian (23:21):
It's definitely not that way.
Now I am, I'm not the young hipguy anymore, so what was that
part I?
Atlas Jones (23:33):
said you out here feeling seasoned.
Oh yeah, oh yeah I'm definitely, hey, definitely seasoned.
Korian (23:38):
Definitely I am.
I'm fine with that, I'mabsolutely fine with that.
So you mentioned, uh, while youwere talking about getting your
certification and whatnot, thatyour schooling.
You felt like you were alreadywell prepared, but you felt like
, you know, if I'm going to dothis, I at least need to have
the credentials everybody elsehave you mentioned that you felt
(23:58):
like your schooling preparedyou enough for that.
Can you speak on how yourschooling and your college
degree prepared you for thatcertificate?
Because I actually felt thesame way.
So go ahead.
Atlas Jones (24:09):
Yeah, I think, as far as school, with my major
being sports medicine, a lot ofthe classes that I was taking
was anatomy one and two sportsmedicine, where we like talked
about helping athletes triageall that type of stuff.
Like talked about helpingathletes triage all that type of
stuff.
Um, I took a weight liftingclass where I went into the gym
(24:31):
like three times a week and theytaught me about different
equipment, what it's for, how touse it properly, like all those
different types of things, andjust learning everything about
the body, how the body moves,learning what body parts are
what when it comes down tomuscles and everything.
Um, I feel like that preparedme because I feel like that's
what a lot of the test was aboutyou know how the body functions
(24:54):
, what, what goes together, andthings like that.
Korian (24:59):
OK, ok, cool.
A lot of, a lot of origins,assertions, actions OK, cool,
cool, cool.
So one of my main questions Iwanted to ask you you know you
being from Mississippi, you'restill technically in the South
and you know moving even furthersouth to Texas.
(25:20):
So you know, one of the thingswe battle down here is obesity,
in particular, childhood obesity.
So I know you primarily workwith women, but what could you
do or what is something that thecommunity and industry can do
to battle childhood obesity?
Atlas Jones (25:37):
Honestly, I believe that it starts with the parents
, because the kids don't teachthemselves these habits.
The kids, they're just kids.
I just eat what's in the house.
I eat what my parents have forme.
You know what I mean.
So I feel like and I think thisis also another reason why I
love working with women becausewhile men are the head of the
(25:59):
household, the woman is trulythe backbone of the household.
And I feel like if a womanknows how to nourish her body
and nourish her husband orspouse's body, and that trickles
down to the kids.
Because if you live a healthylifestyle and you're the mom or
the wife and you're preparingall the food, then the food is
going to be healthy.
You know what I mean.
But if you're not really healthconscious, how can you expect
(26:21):
that your kids will be?
And then also, I feel like kidsdon't really play anymore, and
I feel like that's a really bigproblem because with everything
being so technological, likekids are always either watching
TV on a tablet, on a phone, on acomputer, like something you
know they're never like runningaround and playing like how we
(26:42):
used to be.
Korian (26:45):
Don't forget I got.
Like 10 years on you, we usedto be um.
Atlas Jones (26:47):
Don't forget, I got like 10 years on, you still
used to play like it starts withwith women and and just adults
in general okay, yeah, gotcha,okay, all right.
Korian (27:01):
Uh, my next question for you is you know you mentioned
cooking in the woman preparingfood.
My wife doesn't really cookthat often, so I'm the one you
know in my household thatprepares the food.
Lately it's been a struggle, Iwon't lie to you about that.
But so if one thing my wifelikes to think of is bland food,
(27:21):
and she, well, I don't know ifshe thinks of that, but her
cooking is very bland, blandfood, and she, well, I don't
know if she thinks of that, buther cooking is very bland.
So so how, if my wife was aclient of yours and she came to
you telling you that, oh, youknow, atlas went, went, went.
I cook.
My husband doesn't like mycooking.
He says it's very bland.
What can I do to spice it up,to make it taste better, but
(27:42):
also keeping it healthy?
Atlas Jones (27:44):
I think that this is the number one, like a
million dollar question foreveryone, like everybody across
the board, women and men,because I feel like, before we
can ever have a healthyrelationship with food, we have
to get the images out of ourhead of what's good food and
what's bad food.
You know what I mean, becauseso many people have this like oh
(28:07):
, I want to be healthy right now, so I'm only going to eat
salads, I'm only going to eatthis, I'm only going to eat that
, and it's so rich.
The diet that they have in mindis so restrictive that it's not
sustainable.
And I feel like, in terms ofyour wife, she's got to get a
little creative.
You know, she got to get somemore spices in the cabinet.
I feel like, if you can season,you can cook anything good.
(28:30):
But yeah, I have a lot ofpeople who come to me and
they're like you know, I'm aboutto do this three-day detox.
Before I start with you, I'mabout to where I only drink
smoothies and I'm going to dothis, I'm going to do that, and
I'm like don't do that, don'teven do that, don't even wish
your money doing that.
I'm going to tell you right now.
This is about learning that lifeis all about balance.
(28:51):
There's an 80% and a 20%.
80% of what you put in yourbody needs to be, um, nutritious
, whole foods, not processed,not fried.
Um, you know what I mean andthankfully you know, we have an
air fryer invention.
Now you can have so many morefoods that actually taste fried
and they're not bad for you.
Like, I just posted a reel onmy Instagram on how to make
(29:16):
fried chicken without flour orgrease.
Ok, so that keeps it lowcalories.
No, it's not high in fat.
Like, it's still good for you.
But, yeah, I think you justgotta figure out, like, take all
your favorite meals and be like, okay, what is the problem with
this meal?
And then you can say, okay, if,if me, having it fried in oil
(29:40):
is the problem, how can I cookthis and make it fry without
that?
Maybe get an air fryer simple,you know yeah, hey, it makes
sense to me.
Korian (29:49):
Makes sense to me, all right, uh.
So, before I get you up out ofhere, uh, what's your personal
life looking like?
How's everything going,everything good?
Atlas Jones (29:58):
everything is is great.
Honestly, um, I really I'mreally happy with everything
going on in my life right now.
Um, I'm dating someone.
We've been dating for a while.
I hope that it leads tomarriage, so that's great.
Um, business is going great.
I am looking to hit my firstsix figure year this year.
(30:21):
That is like I'm super proud ofthat, um, especially because
I've never worked for a gym, solike any clients I ever had was
literally through word of mouthor like me posting on social
media and stuff like that.
Um, and my spiritual life.
I feel very spiritually fedright now.
I've been going to church outhere I have a church home, so I
(30:43):
go every Sunday.
I've been reading, pouring intomyself, so I'm really happy.
I need to do more and I wasjust saying this the other day.
I feel like the last couple ofyears have been I've been so
focused on growing my businessand growing the financial side
of my life that I haven't pouredas much energy and effort into
(31:03):
my relationships, like withfriends and family.
I haven't visited family in thelast like two years, like, and
it's like my dad is about toturn 70 in August and I'm like I
can't go a year plus, withoutseeing him.
You know what I mean Because,god forbid, you never know when
someone is going to go.
You know what?
Korian (31:23):
I mean.
Atlas Jones (31:24):
I need to just pour into that side of me a little
bit more.
Now that I have more financialstability in my life, I feel
like I'll be able to go and dothose things.
Korian (31:33):
Yeah, you're no longer a broke college student.
Atlas Jones (31:35):
Yeah, you know.
Korian (31:38):
So when was the last time you've been to Biloxi?
Atlas Jones (31:41):
When my sister graduated.
If I graduate, if I graduate,when did I graduate?
16, right From from college,2020.
So she would have beengraduating.
When did she graduate?
I think that was three yearsago.
Ok, yes, yes, yes, I graduatedcollege and then she graduated
(32:04):
high school.
Ok, so, three years.
You also got to remember.
So it's been about three years.
I graduated college and thenshe graduated high school.
Korian (32:08):
Okay, yes, so three years, you also got to remember,
so it's been about three years.
Atlas Jones (32:11):
Yes, a long time Okay.
Korian (32:13):
I mean, you also got to remember there was a pandemic
that you know seemed to be on alot of travel.
So there is that.
And one last thing how was itwhen you got your first client?
Atlas Jones (32:26):
I will actually never forget my first client.
Um, it was a guy, because atthis point, when you first
started out and you don't haveclients, you can't really be
picky.
So I wasn't a only womantrainer at this time.
I started training someone thatI knew from Howard.
Um, that was a guy that wastransitioning to be a girl
actually, so he wanted to buildhis physique to kind of look
(32:48):
like a woman and we startedworking together and it was very
eye opening because you know,you have to explain things to
people on the level of like athird grader.
You know you can't just say allthis terminology that they
don't know and like.
So it was a really, a reallygood learning experience for me.
(33:09):
It was actually a short lived.
We didn't, we didn't traintogether for that long, but I
ended up meeting someone in hisbuilding that came up to me and
was like hey, are you a trainer?
I see you in here sometimes I'mlooking for a trainer or
whatever and she is actuallystill my client to this day.
I've trained her this wholetime and I'm training her
(33:29):
through her pregnancy right now.
So, like it's just, it's just,it's really beautiful to for
people to be able to see me growand for me to be able to watch
other women grow.
I feel, like so extremelyblessed by the type of women
that I get to train.
Like one of my clients, she haslike multiple rental properties
(33:54):
in DC that she has like milliondollar homes and stuff, and
like that being something that Iwant to go into.
I feel so blessed to have thatconnection because she could
teach me and we actually have areal, genuine relationship, so
it's not like it's anything youknow to to call her or text her.
And I have another client whohas a swimwear line.
Um, that is like being sold byexpress and like I've been
(34:16):
featured in sports, illustratedand like just a lot of great
things.
And I will say that's one thingabout being in this area you
will meet a lot of successfulwomen who are doing extremely
well for themselves and it's soempowering.
Yeah, that's what thing aboutbeing in this area you will meet
a lot of successful women whoare doing extremely well for
themselves and it's soempowering.
Korian (34:29):
Yeah, that's what's up.
That is what's up.
So one thing I want to saybefore I get up out of here,
after I say this you know, again, drop your socials and all that
again, but you are aninspiration.
I'm proud of you.
Keep doing what you're doing.
You are you never know who'swatching you, but you are
definitely doing a great job oh,my christ thanks no problem, no
(34:52):
problem.
So, uh, hey, go ahead and dropthose socials and how you can,
people can reach you and uh,that'll be all yes, so, um, you
can check out my websitebuildabodytrainingcom.
Atlas Jones (35:03):
I do have um a workout pdf guide there like a
21 day challenge.
You can follow me on instagramor tiktok at miss build a body
m-i-s-s, build a body um.
And I think that's allinstagram and tiktok.
Korian (35:19):
Yeah, okay all right, cool.
So this has been anotherepisode of, for the health of it
, and I'm your host, kory andK-Pat Padgett, and thank you.
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