September 1: Five Things I Can’t Live Without — and Five I’d Love to Have
- Kari Johnson Barroso
- Sep 2
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 15
This is the first in what I hope will become a weekly series. I want to share some of the things that keep me happy, productive, and sane — the must-haves that make my day run smoother. I’ll also share a few wish-list items I’m either seriously eyeing or just dreaming about for the future. Got recommendations? Drop them in the comments — I’d love to hear what works for you.
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Five Things I Can’t Live Without
1. My Planet Fitness Membership
Planet Fitness gets a bad rap sometimes. Sure, if you’re an Olympic lifting junkie, it’s not the perfect fit. But I LOVE my local Planet Fitness. It’s clean, never too crowded, and the equipment is almost always in working order. I get a weekly (sometimes biweekly) training plan from a BJJ specialist, and I can do everything on that list there — no problem.
And yes, I use the Beauty Angel Total Body Enhancement. Cheesy? Maybe. Effective? Absolutely. The red-light therapy helps my aging skin, and the vibration plate has done wonders for chronic pain from an old injury. My usual routine: warm up in the Beauty Angel, knock out my workout, walk for 10–15 minutes, then finish with either the massage beds or deep-tissue massage chair.
Four days a week, $25/month. You can’t beat it.
2. Melatonin
Sleep is not what it used to be. I stay active and try to wear myself out naturally, but sometimes my brain just won’t turn off. Enter melatonin. My favorites: Natrol and Olly Sleep with Muscle Recovery. Both help me fall asleep — and stay asleep.
3. Nello SuperCalm
I also drink Nello SuperCalm with Magnesium Glycinate before bed. This was all over TikTok a few months ago. Did it make me super skinny or magically less puffy, like some influencers claimed? No. But it HAS made my sleep consistent and restorative. If I travel without both SuperCalm and melatonin, I can tell the difference. My favorite flavor: Blue Coconut.
4. Bloom Greens
I know, drinking greens is so three years ago — but Bloom Greens still work for me. They keep me less bloated and generally feeling better. Plus, I use my little hand mixer for everything: coffee drinks, Nello SuperCalm, whatever. My favorite flavor is coconut, but the passion fruit–orange–mango is solid, too. I mix it with creatine in the morning for a gentle energy boost before lunch.
5. My Foreman Grill
Speaking of “vintage” kitchen gadgets — I recently pulled out my old Foreman Grill, and honestly, it’s been a game-changer for my burritos. Crispy outside, melty inside, and clean-up is a breeze. It’s not glamorous, but it works — and sometimes that’s all you need.
Five Things I’d LOVE to Have
Here’s what’s currently on my radar. Because let’s be real — having goals, even for gear, keeps life interesting.
1. Two-Person Sauna Box
Saunas are fantastic for recovery, but gym and spa saunas are expensive and not always convenient. Building a permanent sauna is out (we’re still in an apartment), so something portable like this would be perfect — especially if I need to make weight or just recover from training. Hopefully, this one’s in my future soon.
2. Ice Pod Tub and Chiller
Cold plunges are all the rage — and for good reason. They’re great for metabolism, inflammation, and muscle recovery. I’d love one of these with a built-in chiller so I’m not constantly buying ice. Once we have a house, this is going straight to the basement or back porch.
3. Air Compression Leg Recovery Sleeves
With the amount of training, lifting, and just general moving I do, these would be amazing. My chronic leg pain has improved a lot thanks to the vibration plate at Planet Fitness, but compression boots would add another layer of recovery — perfect for TV time in the evening.
4. Massage Chair
Yes, Planet Fitness has them. But having one at home — or at our academy — would be chef’s kiss. Some days just call for a 45-minute massage nap, you know?
5. Cooling Weighted Blanket
I sleep hot, but I love the weight and coziness of a heavy blanket. A cooling weighted blanket feels like the best of both worlds — and might just be the ultimate sleep upgrade.
Do you own any of these? Tried something similar? Let me know — I love hearing what works for other people juggling busy lives and big goals.
Kari Johnson Barroso is a pianist, business owner, and Jiu-Jitsu competitor. In her mid-40s, she’s chasing big goals, managing the chaos, and proving it’s never too late to fight for the life you want — even if it means hugging the world with your legs.
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