From “I'm Not a Fit Person” and Getting Lost in Divorce to Finding Her Spark: Brandy's SHINE Story
- Jess Takimoto
- Sep 16
- 3 min read
“I never thought of myself as a fit person. Now I’m in the best shape of my life in my 40s and it keeps getting better. SHINE helped me find my spark again.” - Brandy
Watch the full story: https://youtu.be/GYU69Cs1voc
Summary
Introduction
When Brandy first found SHINE on Instagram, she didn’t think she belonged in a fitness studio. She hesitated. She told herself she wasn’t a “fit person.” She’d tried classes before and nothing stuck.
But something kept pulling her back.
What started as a quiet form submission turned into a life-changing decision and now?
💙 She works out 3–4x per week
💙 She feels confident in her body (sports-bra moment from day one!)
💙 She is the fittest she's ever been, in her 40s, and is still getting stronger
What Was Brandy's Relationship With Fitness Before SHINE?
Before SHINE FIT, Brandy felt like fitness just wasn't for her 😶🌫️
She'd do yoga sometimes and trained for a couple of 5Ks, but consistency? Never.
If she had a personal training appointment, she’d keep it, but nothing self-driven ever stuck. Then came IVF, prednisone, and other medications.
But once her marriage ended, she paused fertility treatment, closed a hard chapter, and made a promise to herself:
“I just wanted to look and feel my best again — to find myself.”
The Turning Point: Finding SHINE
Brandy noticed something different in SHINE’s videos: real people, all ages and body types, actually having fun.
She filled out the First Class Free form and then forgot about it, until the studio followed up with DMs, a phone call, and guidance on which class to try first.
Her first class? Hip-Hop Mashup with Coach Naomi. Only two people were in the room, and midway through, hot and sweaty, she looked around and saw everyone (including the coach) in sports bras.
So she did it too.
“I took off a layer on my first day. It felt safe here.”
Small class. Big courage. A moment she’ll never forget.
From Once a Week to a Consistent Routine
At first, Brandy dipped her toes in: once/week, sometimes twice, mostly Low & Slow and Strength. Cardio still scared her.
Then the community + environment started to work its magic.
✅ She felt herself getting stronger
✅ She felt more confident walking into class
✅ She noticed small wins stacking up
And then came the nudge: “Try a cardio class.” She told Jess, “I think I’ll die.” She didn’t. She lived. And she kept coming back.
The Accelerator: The 6-Week Challenge
Brandy joined the Hybrid 6-Week Challenge (2x in-studio + 1x livestream/week) and everything clicked.
The turning point? Week 1’s accountability call.
They booked all six weeks of classes on the spot—no more “I’ll squeeze a class in when I have time.” Fitness became a big rock in her calendar, and life started to fit around it.
“It felt like my old PT appointments—if it’s in the calendar, I go. No excuses.”
By week 3, the identity shift landed: “I am a fit person.” Not the “fittest” person in the room, but the fittest she’s ever been and getting fitter.
The Celebration Class That Changed Everything
Months later, Brandy finalized her separation. The studio threw a divorce celebration class that was not bitter and not angry, but pure empowerment.
A packed room. A special playlist. An electric Saturday morning in February. She looked around and saw the community that carried her through a hard year.
“I realized how far I’d come—physically, mentally, emotionally. I had my spark back.”
Brandy’s Advice If You’ve “Lost Your Spark”
Put your mask on first. You can’t pour from an empty cup.
There’s never a perfect time. Start now, and let the routine carry you.
Book it like an appointment. If it’s in your calendar, it happens.
Give it a few weeks. Week 3 is where it clicks for so many members.
Choose joy. If you like it, you’ll keep showing up. If you wouldn’t do it forever, don’t do it now.
“You just have to take the plunge and do something for yourself. Make the call.”
READY TO GET YOUR SPARK BACK?
Feeling inspired by Brandy's story? Listen to the full episode of SHINE Stories on Spotify or Apple now! If you’re ready to start your own journey and experience the power of community, book a free intro session today and let’s chat about how SHINE can help you transform your relationship with fitness.
Ready to start your transformation? Click here to book your free intro session today!
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