FROM BURNOUT TO BREAKTHROUGH: CHLOE BLAKEBURN’S JOURNEY TO SELF-LOVE, CONFIDENCE & COACHING SUCCESS

Let’s talk about a transformation story that will light you up from the inside out. Meet Chloe Blakeburn, a health and wellness coach, former nurse, and self-proclaimed “soft-hearted badass.” In a recent episode of Inspire and Move, I sat down with Chloe to talk about entrepreneurship, grief, healing, solo travel, mirror work (yep, it’s a thing!), and why she’s manifesting an assistant coach like, yesterday.

And let me tell you: Chloe brought the real in this episode. So grab your coffee (or rosé, we don’t judge) and let’s dive into what makes her story so incredibly powerful.

HOW FIT BY CHLOE WAS BORN

Chloe never planned to be an entrepreneur. In fact, she was on a one-way track to becoming a nurse. But during her last semester of nursing school, something shifted. She started sharing her fitness journey on Instagram, and people responded—big time. Messages flooded in, asking for advice, tips, support. That was her lightbulb moment: “I could actually do something with this.”

So she hustled. She got certified in personal training and nutrition, started taking on a few clients for free, and slowly—but surely—built a thriving coaching business. Her boyfriend, a successful coach himself, mentored her through the early days. “Treat every client like your only client,” he told her. And that mindset? It still defines her coaching philosophy today.

BEHIND THE INSTAGRAM: WHAT YOU DIDN’T SEE

Let’s talk about what doesn’t show up on your feed. While Chloe’s business was growing, so was the pressure. She moved to a new city, isolated from friends and family, and was quietly struggling with grief after losing her father and her dogs. The grind, the pressure to succeed, the loneliness—it caught up to her.

“I felt like a shell of a human,” she admitted. “I couldn’t stick to routines, I was in a rut, and eventually I became depressed.”

It took hitting rock bottom for Chloe to realize: no one was coming to save her. So she decided to save herself.

THE HEALING ERA

Enter: therapy, mindset coaching, mirror work (yep, talking to yourself in the mirror), meditation, journaling, and solo runs. Slowly but surely, Chloe rebuilt herself from the inside out. “I had to stop trying to hate myself into loving myself,” she said. Preach.

She stopped operating purely from her masculine energy (go-go-go hustle mode) and made room for her softer side—the part of her that needed stillness, connection, and self-compassion. And guess what? Her business flourished even more when she did. Vulnerability became her superpower.

GETTING IN THE ROOM (EVEN WHEN IT’S SCARY)

Chloe knew she needed to expand her world, so she took bold steps—like attending local events solo (shout out to the Girlfriend Walk!), asking a cute server to be her friend (hi, Haley!), and even booking a solo trip to a women’s retreat in Palm Springs.

Spoiler alert: it changed her life.

She walked into that retreat nervous and left feeling empowered, connected, and deeply inspired. “Not one thing went wrong,” she told me. “It was magical.” And yep, it’s safe to say a Fit by Chloe retreat is officially on the vision board!

MORNING ROUTINES, MIRROR WORK, AND MARGARITA-FUELED SOLO DINNERS

These days, Chloe’s morning routine is sacred. Think: skincare, meditation, journaling, and a solid personal development read (she’s a Robin Sharma fangirl). Her boundaries are tight, and her mornings are for her. No client check-ins before coffee, period.

And that mirror work? It’s not easy, but it’s transformative. Chloe named her inner critic “Betty” (hi, Betty 👋), and every day, she chooses to speak to herself with kindness instead. “Thank you for trying to keep me safe,” she says to those old thoughts, “but I don’t need you anymore.”

ADVICE FROM THE HEART

If Chloe could tell you one thing, it’s this: what you feed, grows. You can’t stay stuck in negative thoughts and expect your life to bloom. But when you shift your mindset, when you start investing in your healing, when you surround yourself with people who lift you up—everything changes.

“I used to look at my past and think it was full of failures,” she said. “But now I know those were just redirections to my purpose.”

WHAT’S NEXT FOR CHLOE?

She’s building a mentorship program, manifesting an assistant coach, and continuing to serve her thriving community of women with heart, grit, and intention. Her joy list includes music festivals, nature walks, and bold BBQ Doritos (relatable queen). And her dog Gus? He’s her best friend and co-coach.

Chloe’s journey reminds us that you can be strong and soft, a go-getter and a healer, a badass and a beginner. Whether you're building a business, healing from loss, or just trying to love yourself a little more—you are not alone.

You can do hard things. You can show up scared. And you can absolutely create a life that lights you up.

Go follow Chloe on IG at @chloeblakeburn and @fitbychloecoaching, and keep your eyes peeled—because this girl is just getting started.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE: