Chit Chatting with Tuff Girl Fitness in New Haven

I am thrilled to introduce ‘Chit Chatting,’ a new feature on kidHaven of online interviews with some fabulous, local people doing good, interesting things.  I couldn’t think of a better person to start with than Christa from Tuff Girl Fitness.  She’s the kind of gal that, when you first meet her, you think, “Wow!”  At least that’s what I thought when I recently met her in New Haven.  Christa has sinced wow’ed me on so many levels, connecting with her is like taking my daily vitamin–a regular dose of a healthy supplement.  So, without further ado, meet Christa Doran, founder of Tuff Girl Fitness in New Haven.

My neighbor is about to celebrate her child’s first birthday and is already in incredible shape!  Can you say ‘bye bye baby weight’?!  She let me in on her secret – Tuff Girl Fitness.  So tell us, what is Tuff Girl Fitness?

Tuff Girl Fitness is an amazing community of very special women dedicated to their health and fitness. Under my guidance and support, these women get fit, healthy, and change their lives. This is not about a quick fix, or losing ten pounds fast. This is about changing your life. This is about changing your body, increasing your energy, and looking and feeling better than you ever have, ever. The women of Tuff Girl Fitness range from mid-twenties to mid-fifties. Some are married with multiple children, some are single and looking for love. But all these women come out each week to work hard and transform their bodies. Their commitment to change is the common thread that holds this fitness family together.

And tell us a little about you, the original Tuff Girl.

I’m not superwoman, although I like to think I am sometimes. I love chocolate, I love to sweat, and I think being a mom is the hardest, most rewarding job ever. So how did I get here? It was in the living room of my family’s apartment where I followed along to my first workout video. Right then and there I knew I wanted to be her. I wanted to be the woman on the TV, encouraging, motivating, educating. Flash forward seventeen years and today I am the owner and creator of Tuff Girl Fitness. Tuff Girl Fitness is a place where women of all shapes, sizes and fitness levels come to get an incredible, challenging, body-changing workout in a supportive and fun environment. On paper, I run fitness bootcamps and train women. But this job is so much more than that for me. I have the honor and privilege of helping women change their lives. Before my eyes they transform, body, mind and spirit. It is incredible to watch and I feel so blessed to be a part of their transformation.

I have the honor and privilege of helping women change their lives. Before my eyes they transform, body, mind and spirit.

I love the moment when women get it. Food and fitness come together in a beautiful fusion that leaves my clients feeling strong, powerful and in-control.  I truly believe you can have the body of your dreams if you are willing to work hard and make sacrifices.

Along with my almost ten years of experience comes some nice documents I like to hang on my wall. I have a Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy, am a certified personal trainer through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, and have additional training in running bootcamps and pre-natal and post-partum exercise design. I love learning new and exciting ways to challenge my clients, so I am constantly seeking out ways to become a better, more educated, and well-rounded trainer.

I live in an old white colonial in Hamden, CT with my supportive husband Mike and my adorable daughter Livia. Check me out at www.tuffgirlfitnessct.com or www.christadoran.com.

Why should I choose Tuff Girl Fitness over my gym membership?

I like to think of Tuff Girl Fitness as one stop shopping. You get to workout under the guidance and supervision of an educated and experienced trainer (that would be me :) ). You get effective, proven workouts that deliver rapid results. You get support, guidance, education, motivation and inspiration on a daily and weekly basis. You get to work out with other amazing women who will support and encourage you. You also get advice on how to clean up your diet for killer results. Although I am not a nutritionist, I do give general nutrition advice that will compliment your exercise routine to get you results quickly and safely. You get all this at a fraction of what a monthly gym membership and regular sessions with a personal trainer would cost. Now what treadmill or dumbbell gives you that?

Now tell us about your Boot Camps.  Sounds exciting and scary all at once!

Yes, I think the word boot camp is scary, especially for women. I call it boot camp for several reasons. The first reason is my workouts are challenging. If you are expecting a walk in the park, think again. Easy stuff doesn’t work! My “tuff” workouts do. The other reason is my workouts are simple, and often require no equipment. Yes, you heard right. It IS possible to get an incredible workout just using your own bodyweight. I think sometimes women think I am going to yell and scream in their face. I never ever do this. I don’t find yelling and screaming to be motivating. I use encouragement and praise to motivate and push you to your next level. Another reason I call it boocamps is because we interval train. This means we work is short intense bursts, for set periods of time. Some intervals are one minute, some are twenty seconds, but with each interval you are earning your best body, and getting one step closer to your goals.

Be honest.  Is Tuff Girl Fitness for beginners?

Yes. I do offer one beginner bootcamp per week on Saturdays at 9AM, but my almost ten years of experience training women allows me to safely modify any exercise for any level. I have beginners and tri-athletes in the same class, and each woman leaves feeling like they worked hard and pushed themselves to their next level. For example, if we are doing exploding lunges where you jump up off the ground, a beginner would take the jump out and do the lunge only. We all started as beginners!

And I’m curious to know, is Tuff Girl Fitness just for women?

Yes. I feel women are most comfortable when there are no men around. Each woman can push their hardest and not be concerned with what they look like. It is a very safe, supportive, and comfortable environment. In my professional opinion, men and women’s bodies are very different and require different types of training. My experience and training allows me develop plans that will maximize fat loss, while building long, lean and strong muscles for my female clients. My results speak for themselves! Come to any Tuff Girl bootcamp, and take a look at the women who have been with me consistently for 3 or more months! It is incredible to see the change in their bodies.

I dislike when women tell me they have bad genes, an “apple” shape, or will never have cut arms. Genetics is only 10% of how you look. Muscles can be re-shaped, fat can be lost, and you can have the body you have always dreamed of. It all comes down to how hard you are willing to work, and how disciplined you are willing to be. There is a Tuff Girl in you, bring her to bootcamp and let’s transform!

I secretly want to run a marathon.  Can Tuff Girl Fitness help me realize this goal?

Yes! What a great goal. The exercises we do at bootcamp will help you run faster and with fewer injuries. Many of the runners and tri-athletes I train tell me how much faster they run after just a few months of bootcamp. They are less winded, and shave minutes off their time. While we don’t run long distances at bootcamp, the training you receive will help strengthen your muscles and improve your stamina.

Bootcamp will also help you have more stamina to make it through your day, and keep up with all that your busy life entails. You will be able to carry your toddler and your groceries without throwing your back out, walk up two flights of stairs without feeling like you are going to pass out, and walk tall as you go through your day, knowing your body is strong and fit.

Besides your bootcamps, what else is Tuff Girl Fitness up to?

I am very excited to share with you that I am opening my own studio very soon. I am scouting locations as I we speak, and looking for an open and spacious space in North Haven or Hamden for Tuff Girl Fitness to call home. This permanent location is where I will run all my bootcamps, and offer even more classes with new equipment to help my Tuff Girls get fit and healthy. Stay tuned for details!

Alright, ‘I think I can, I think I can…’  Where do I go to start my first bootcamp?

When you are ready to stop making excuses, and start making permanent changes that will transform your body and your life, go to www.tuffgirlfitnessCT.com to sign up for a FREE bootcamp. Remember, to make a change, you actually have to make a change.

I hope to sweat with you soon!

Thanks kidhaven!

Healthy Wishes,

Christa

There is a Tuff Girl in you, bring her to bootcamp and let’s transform!