Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Gattis.
Hi Jessica, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started my fitness journey in April 2025, but honestly, the seed was planted long before that.
I’ve always been naturally petite. Growing up, I never thought much of it until I got older and people constantly commented on how tiny I was. After I had my daughter, I actually loved the healthy weight I gained during pregnancy. For the first time, I felt confident in my body. But as a new single mom juggling work, breastfeeding, and pouring everything I had into taking care of everyone else, I slowly lost that weight—and eventually became smaller than I had ever been before.
Stress has always affected me by taking away my appetite. Between becoming a mom, navigating difficult relationships, and trying to rebuild my life, I wasn’t taking care of myself the way I deserved.
When I finally got my own place and started focusing on healing, my self-love journey didn’t begin in the gym. It started with little things, like challenging myself to stop hiding behind filters and learning to appreciate myself exactly as I was. Around that same time, I watched a girl I graduated high school with completely transform her body through strength training. Seeing her progress made something click in me. Instead of saying “one day,” I decided that day was today.
I hired my first online coach in April 2025 and started working out during my lunch breaks at the hospital where I worked in radiation oncology. As my workouts progressed, I joined Gold’s Gym, and that’s where I truly fell in love with fitness. It wasn’t just about building muscle anymore. It was the community, the confidence, the discipline, and proving to myself that I could stay committed to something even when life felt overwhelming.
A few months later, another coach reached out after following my journey online. She saw potential in me and offered to coach me. She completely changed the way I trained by teaching me proper form, helping me understand my body, and giving me the confidence to train safely and effectively. The progress I made with her was incredible, but even more valuable was everything she taught me.
After we finished working together, I continued my journey on my own. Since April 2025, I’ve gained about 30 pounds, built strength I never imagined having, and completely changed my relationship with fitness. What started as wanting to gain weight became so much bigger than that. Fitness became therapy, confidence, consistency, and a way of showing up for myself.
As I documented my workouts online, people started reaching out saying my consistency inspired them to finally step into the gym. Some told me months later that they had actually started because of my journey. Those messages reminded me that simply showing up for yourself can encourage someone else to do the same.
After losing my full-time job, I decided to bet on myself. As a single mom without a co-parent, flexibility isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. I wanted to build a career that allows me to be present for my daughter while helping other women become stronger and more confident.
That’s how Grow & Glow was born, along with my amazing Bunny Babes. While I’m currently earning my Certified Personal Trainer certification through ISSA, I’m already coaching women who simply need someone to believe in them, guide them, and remind them that the gym doesn’t have to feel intimidating.
My goal isn’t just to help women build glutes or gain muscle. It’s to help them build confidence that carries into every area of their lives. I want Grow & Glow to become a community where women feel supported, encouraged, and celebrated at every stage of their journey. I hope to continue growing my Bunny Babes, earn my certification, open group training opportunities, and eventually create a space where women of all fitness levels know they belong.
Because if my journey has taught me anything, it’s that taking care of yourself isn’t selfish—it’s life-changing.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My journey has been anything but smooth, but I think that’s what makes it meaningful.
One of my biggest challenges has always been maintaining my weight. When I’m stressed, I lose my appetite instead of eating more. Becoming a single mom, navigating unhealthy relationships, balancing a full-time career in healthcare, and trying to provide for my daughter all made it difficult to prioritize myself. There were times I barely had the energy to make it through the day, let alone focus on my own health.
Fitness itself came with a learning curve. I quickly realized that building muscle wasn’t as simple as showing up to the gym. It required consistency, proper nutrition, enough sleep, patience, and a willingness to invest time and money into myself. I also learned the importance of having the right guidance. My first coaching experience wasn’t the best fit, but instead of giving up, I found a coach who truly educated and empowered me. That experience taught me exactly the kind of coach I want to be for others.
More recently, I lost my job due to the challenges of balancing work and single motherhood without a co-parent. It was one of the hardest seasons of my life, but it also pushed me to pursue something I’d been dreaming about—building my own fitness business. Instead of seeing it as the end of my career, I chose to see it as the beginning of a new chapter.
Looking back, every obstacle has strengthened my purpose. Those experiences help me connect with the women I coach because I understand what it’s like to start from a place of self-doubt, exhaustion, and trying to balance everything. My goal has never been perfection—it’s progress.
As you know, we’re big fans of Glow & Grow. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Grow & Glow was created to help women build confidence, strength, and consistency—inside and outside the gym. While my personal brand is JessFitRabbit, Grow & Glow is the community I’ve built for my clients, who I proudly call my Bunny Babes.
I specialize in helping beginner and intermediate women who want to gain confidence in the gym, build muscle, and create sustainable habits that fit their everyday lives. My coaching is designed to meet women where they are, whether they’re stepping into a gym for the first time or simply need structure, accountability, and encouragement to stay consistent.
What sets me apart is that I don’t just coach workouts—I coach through real life. As a single mom, I understand what it’s like to juggle responsibilities, lose yourself while taking care of everyone else, and have to rebuild your confidence from the ground up. Because I’ve lived those experiences, I lead with patience, empathy, and realistic expectations.
I’m currently earning my Certified Personal Trainer certification through ISSA, and I love continuing to learn so I can better serve my clients. Seeing my Bunny Babes become more confident—whether that’s lifting heavier, walking into the gym without fear, or simply believing in themselves—is what I’m most proud of.
My vision for Grow & Glow is to create more than a fitness program. I want it to be a community where women feel supported, celebrated, and empowered to become the strongest version of themselves, one workout at a time.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I wouldn’t describe myself as someone who takes impulsive risks. I’m someone who believes in preparing as much as I can, but also recognizing when faith and action have to meet.
One of the biggest risks I’ve taken was deciding to build my own fitness business. After losing my job, I had every reason to play it safe and only focus on finding another traditional position. Instead, I chose to invest in myself by pursuing my Certified Personal Trainer certification through ISSA (International Sports Sciences Association
) while beginning to coach women through my Grow & Glow program. Starting a business comes with uncertainty, especially as a single mom, but I knew I wanted to create a career that allowed me to be present for my daughter while doing work that genuinely fulfills me.
Another risk was simply putting myself out there. Posting my workouts online, sharing my progress, and allowing people to watch me grow made me feel vulnerable at first. Social media can be intimidating, and opening yourself up to criticism isn’t easy. But that decision ended up connecting me with an incredible community of people who encouraged me, held me accountable, and eventually inspired others to begin their own fitness journeys.
I’ve learned that growth rarely happens inside your comfort zone. Not every risk will work out exactly the way you planned, but every experience teaches you something. For me, the biggest reward has been realizing that believing in yourself can inspire someone else to believe in themselves too.
Pricing:
- 4-Week Grow & Glow Coaching Program – $100
- $50 due at sign-up, remaining $50 due after the first two weeks
- Weekly coaching available after the initial program – $25/week
- Online coaching with optional in-person sessions (Baltimore area)
- Free consultation to discuss goals and determine the best plan
Contact Info:
- Website: https://app.hevycoach.com/muvarabbit/join
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessfitrabbit/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jessfitrabbit
