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Christine Lyons – Fierce CFO

A bit about my background: I was born and raised in FL. I was a gymnast,  wakeboarder, and avid runner pretty much my whole life. I attended the University of Florida (Go Gators!) where I received my Master’s in Accounting and also completed my CPA. I had the best group of friends and moved with one of my best friends to Atlanta after we graduated where I worked for PwC. In 2014, I visited CO for a friend’s wedding, and without hesitation, looked for a job out here immediately. In May of 2015, I packed everything up, left behind everyone I loved, and moved out here to CO. I didn’t start my job until July 2015 so during that time I explored different areas and gyms which leads me to… 

Outside of being the CFO: When I’m not at Fierce, coaching Fierce, taking Fierce, breathing Fierce, I spend my days with my husband (who I met at my old CO public accounting firm) Jordan and all of our friends. Jordan and I are the proud parents of 2 corgis, Ripley, and Ziggy Starburst. We both love to bike and snowboard. I also love to travel and visit all my friends and family who are scattered across the country.  

How I started at Fierce: During my extended vacation before starting my job, I decided to try out this gym in LoHi through classpass called Fierce45. I showed up thinking this would be easy peasy and got my butt handed to me in a way I never had before (except the time I took my mom’s car out for a joy ride at 13) It was so hard I didn’t come back for three months. However, once I braved coming back, I fell in love. Then in 2017, I decided I would sign up for Teacher Training. It took a lot of convincing since my day-to-day was pencil skirts and board meetings. Getting on a mic to yell at people to hold a plank was a whole new challenge, and I was up for it because fitness was always my passion. During teacher training, we were given a brief overview of the Company. Looking it over, I realized Melissa Williams was in charge of all things operational and financial. At that moment, I decided this was my chance. This was how I could marry my accounting knowledge with my love of movement and fitness. I walked up to Torrey, asked her if they would be interested in a CPA, and the rest is history. Follow your gut and your dreams!

Melissa Willams – COO

My History: I grew up in NY, about 15 miles north of Manhattan and started my college experience at SUNY Albany. I had a 2-year-old sister and felt I was missing everything, so I quickly transferred and finished my undergrad degree in Speech Pathology & Audiology at Iona College. I then went on to attend St. John’s University, where I received my Masters in Speech-Language Pathology while managing a restaurant in the West Village. I needed a change, and if I had to step on one more subway, someone might have gotten hurt.  I decided to look for fellowship positions in Colorado. My family had vacationed in Colorado during the Winter and Summer, and I loved it. The plan was to move to Denver for two years and then back to NY or somewhere new. My dad had lived in many places, and I was always intrigued and inspired by that. These plans quickly changed when I met my husband Ray, about a month after moving. After 8 years of dating, Ray asked me to marry him on New Year’s Day, 3 years later (to the day), our daughter, Serafina, was born and just 4 months ago, our son Atticus entered this wild ride. 

Why Fierce: I was in a pretty dark place when I learned about Fierce45. Serafina was a ROUGH baby and had terrible colic. She cried all day every day for 6 months, and then it lessened, and finally, we all got some real relief around month ten.  I learned that I had been battling postpartum depression, but didn’t really know it until much later.  I met one of Torrey’s BFF’s, Robin, at baby and me swimming, and she suggested I check out Fierce. I told her I had seen it, and it looked too hard, but she assured me that anyone could do it and modify as needed. So I pushed myself really hard, stepped out of my comfort zone, and went. I was welcomed with open arms and the energy, vibe, and Community that I felt within seconds was amazing.  I genuinely felt seen, supported, and I finally felt strong – both physically and mentally. Something I hadn’t felt in a long time.  I firmly believe that my time on the machine and the people inside the walls of Fierce45 pulled me out of the dark postpartum days.  

After my first class, I immediately signed up for a week, then a month, and then hopped into a membership. A few months in, I was asked to start doing front desk and childcare work. From there, I began to manage our LoHi and West Wash Park locations.  When we were ready, we hired designated Studio Mangers for those locations, and I became the General Manager for the Company. Since then, I have done everything from installing closet organizers, to washing rental socks, to opening new studios, to taking on our financials/books/payroll (which was completely insane) – Fast forward to today, I’m the COO and get to work hand-in-hand with Christine Lyons as our CFO to take Fierce45 to the next level. 

I couldn’t be happier in my position at Fierce and am always excited by the next challenge my dear friend, Torrey visualizes. Getting to work alongside some bad-ass, inspiring, women every day that I call friends is an honor and a privilege. AND I get to do so all while wearing leggings and my favorite pair of Cofi Leather sneakers.  

Weird thing about me:  I have a photographic memory. Which is pretty cool for me, but not so much for my husband.  

Food is fuel, and that fuel is vital to making the most out of the Fierce45® burn. But some options are better than others. Fierce Movement™️ is a calorie blaster, with a big focus on core, and we want you to feel strong and energized for the entire 45 minutes! The best way to power up before your next class is with a protein-packed snack to help your muscles fire and carbohydrates for sustained energy.

So, what should you eat before you find that Fierce shake?

Hard-boiled eggs: Eating a hard-boiled egg, or two, before your workout gives you just the right mix of protein and fat for enough pick-me-up to power through and stay focused during your workout.

Cheese and crackers: Grab a little bit of cheese for some protein and pair with a handful of your favorite whole-grain crackers.

Berries, bananas, apples: Fresh fruit is rich in carbs and will give you the energy you need to power through your workout. Indulge a bit and add some nut butter or a few mixed nuts for an extra boost of energy.

Protein bars: Go for a whole-food variety instead, like a Luna Bar or an RXBar. (Be mindful of those sugar-packed options.)

Yogurt: Regular or Greek yogurt are both excellent options. Regular yogurt is higher in carbs, while Greek yogurt is mostly protein. Again, bee mindful of those varieties high in sugar.

Everybody is different, so pick what works best for you. Be sure to give yourself enough time before class to digest. Eating a snack 15-30 minutes before class will help ensure that you are feeling energized heading into your workout, instead of sluggish.

Fuel up, embrace the shake, and let your Fierce side shine!