Lose the pudge and bring on the sizzle!

DAWN ROBERTS is sizzling hot. She's not afraid to show off her buff new body - and she's ready to share how she got it!

The 45-year-old West Philadelphia native, co-owner of KD Communications Group, skillfully juggled career, marriage and motherhood for years while always making fitness a priority. She was fit, for sure, but had grown frustrated about her weight.

The former long-distance high-school track athlete and former ambassador for Black Girls Run had come to a crossroads: She'd been "running consistently for five years, and I was not getting faster and hadn't lost a pound."

Fed up, Roberts began working last summer with nutritionist/fitness trainer Toze Manjerico, of Nutrition and Exercise Concepts, in Delaware. She lost 30 pounds, and though that's not a huge weight loss, it had a huge impact on her, as Roberts shared with me recently.

Q: You had been running for years and yet had a difficult time losing weight, right?

A: When I went to my trainer in July 2014, I was 176 pounds. At 5-foot-5 1/2 inches, that almost put me in the obese category. I wanted to look and feel like a runner.

Q: How did changing your diet impact your weight?

A: I discovered I have to eat clean. For me, that means eating about every two hours. I eat certain carbs at breakfast and lunch and then have protein and vegetables at dinner.

Q: What's a typical breakfast?

A: Two slices of whole wheat toast with natural peanut butter, or scrambled eggs with toast. Then two to three hours later, I might have a piece of fruit.

Q: How long did it take you to lose the 30 pounds?

A: By November 2014, I was in the thin and muscular range.

Q: Did everyone celebrate your success or was there pushback?

A: Of course, there always is. My mom was like, "Look, you're losing too much weight." But now I'm in maintenance mode, I know exactly where the fats and sugars go on me - directly to my stomach. Sure, I splurged a little over the holidays, but I'm keeping my muscle.

Q: What's the biggest challenge in managing your new lifestyle?

A: Making sure I get enough sleep. I tended to believe I didn't require much. Now, I try my best to get 7-8 hours sleep.

Q: Sleep is vitally important to overall health. What's been your biggest triumph?

A: Shopping! After losing weight, I couldn't wear any of my size-12 suits. I had to go on a shopping spree. Talk about speaking into existence.

I wanted to do something different, something transformational. People didn't recognize me. I didn't even think I had a story. I didn't think I was big or overweight.

Q: Any other dramatic changes?

A: Yes, my hair grew voluminously. I think it was eating all the vegetables and wearing my hair natural. I didn't realize how much of a difference it can make.

Q: What's been the hardest thing to give up?

A: I love birthday cake. Last year was the first time I didn't have any of my son's cake.

Q: Any advice for others?

A: Stay focused. Sometimes people think, "I messed up, I ate cake, I ate snacks." It's not all over. Get back on the wagon! Jump back on! And don't worry about what other people say. Be mindful and stick with your goals, and you'll make it!