Key Takeaways
- 1Sweat is not embarrassing, it is evidence.
- 2Having fun in the gym makes it stick.
- 3You did not come this far to stop halfway.
- 4Working out is fuel, not punishment.
- 5Your fitness journey can look like you.
If you are in a season where life feels messy, routines fell apart, and you are lowkey sick of your own excuses, hi, pull up a chair. That is exactly where I have been.
This vlog is not just a random “run errands with me” day. It is me pressing reset on my space, my money, my health, and my habits, while living back at my grandparents’ house at 22 and figuring it out in front of the internet.
Let us talk about it.
Moving Back Home Without Shame
I moved out way too fast the first time. I wanted my own place so badly that I skipped one tiny step called “actually being financially ready.” Rent humbled me very quickly.
So now I am at my grandparents’ house in Tampa. My brother lives there too, which makes it feel fun and familiar, not like a step backward. I get quiet mornings, time with family, home cooked food, and zero rent. That mix is helping me:
- Calm my nervous system
- Stop living in survival mode
- Stack money for real
- Lock in on content again
For a long time I felt embarrassed even thinking about moving back in with family. I had this picture in my head of “grown women” who never need to do that. Then real life hit. Rent is wild, income as a creator goes up and down, and pretending I am fine helps nobody.
If you are in a similar spot, hear me when I say this: sitting down so you can rebuild is not failure. It is actually a very smart grown woman move.
Getting Ready Like A Girl Who Cares Again
On this day I could have stayed in my pajamas, sat on the couch, and scrolled. I woke up late, hit snooze way too many times, and felt that lazy pull to do nothing.
Instead, I picked an actual outfit. A long leopard skirt, off the shoulder top, sneakers. Completely out of my usual comfort zone, but in the best way. Then I went outside, took selfies by the pool, and let myself feel cute in the sun for a minute, sweat and all.
I have always felt more comfortable on video than in photos. In my head I am “videogenic,” not “photogenic.” That belief made me hide from the camera unless I felt perfect. Lately I have been working on that.
Here is what helps me:
- Take the photo even if you feel “off”
- Use editing tools to gently tune the picture, not erase your face
- Focus on brightness, under eye shadows, tiny details, not a full new face
- Treat it like makeup that you can wash off, not a mask you need in real life
I want my online presence to feel like me on my best regular day, not a stranger. A little digital concealer is fine. A whole new face is not my vibe.
Shark Week, Walmart Runs, And Real Life
The glamorous part of this day lasted maybe twenty minutes. After that it was straight into real life: Shark Week, “diapers,” harsh drugstore lighting, and trying not to buy the whole hygiene aisle.
I grabbed liners, organic tampons, period supplies, and walked past all the cute scrubs and body oils I wanted. That was a big shift for me. Old me would toss extra stuff in the cart for the aesthetic and call it “self care,” then stress over money later.
Right now self care looks like:
- Buying what I actually need
- Leaving treats for a later “restock” trip
- Making fast food a sometimes thing, not an everyday habit
- Praying over my food and saying thank you more
I still grabbed chicken tenders and mac and cheese on the way to the gym. Growth does not have to look like a perfectly curated “what I eat in a day” video. It can look like choosing smaller wins mixed with real life cravings.
Walking Back Into The Gym
Gym anxiety is real. I pulled up to Crunch in a skirt, full parking lot, after Shark Week shopping, with a camera in my bag. Part of me wanted to drive off and call it a sign.
I went in anyway.
I did not get a full tour on camera. I just talked to the front desk, checked out the space, asked about prices, and let myself imagine being “that girl” again who lifts heavy, drinks water, and walks out of the gym glowing.
I walked out with:
- A full membership
- A training session booked
- A reminder that I still belong in that space
I picked the higher tier membership so I can try classes like spin and cardio sessions. Not as a punishment. As a way to keep fitness fun and social. I know myself. If the gym feels boring, I get bored and stop going. If it feels cute and community based, I show up.
Later in the vlog I go back, meet my trainer, and sign up for more sessions. This is my third trainer at Crunch, and every single one has pushed me in a good way. I already know my legs are about to be on fire.
All Or Nothing Patterns And Choosing A New Story
One thing I noticed about myself during this day is how extreme my patterns have been.
When I am locked in with fitness, I am really locked in. Sleeping well, drinking water, cooking at home, heavy on the gym, light on the fast food.
When I fall off, I fall all the way off. No gym, random sleep, soda, takeout, zero structure. I kept saying I would get back on track “soon,” and soon never came.
This move to my grandparents’ house cracked that cycle open. I am not paying rent. I can breathe. Now the question is not “How do I survive this month?” It is “Who do I want to be six months from now, and what would she do today?”
Here is the honest answer that came up for me:
- She would log back into her gym membership
- She would show up for trainer sessions
- She would film, edit, and post consistently again
- She would sit down, stack her money, and think long term
- She would stop treating fitness like a phase and treat it like a lifestyle
So that is what I am choosing. Not perfection. Not a strict meal plan. Just steady grown woman habits that support where I know I am headed.
Locking In, Without Hustle Culture
The last part of this vlog is not flashy. I open my laptop, re-open my calendar for one on one calls, adjust my availability, and sit down to edit. Nothing camera worthy, yet that work is what carries every “glow up” you ever see on social media.
I am learning that locking in does not require chaos, a million tasks, or no sleep. It looks like:
- One solid workout
- One edited video
- One set of bills handled on time
- One grocery run with actual food at home afterward
If life feels wild right now, maybe your next right move is smaller than you think. Clean one corner of your room. Take one selfie in natural light. Walk into one gym for a tour. Ask your body what kind of movement would feel good, then do twenty minutes.
You do not need a perfect routine to start. You just need to act like you care about future you.
She is watching. And she is worth the effort.
