FIT4MOM x Amanda Thompson
When Amanda first typed “workout groups for moms” into Google, she wasn’t entirely sure what she was looking for. With a newborn at home, postpartum fog hanging heavy, and a deep craving for connection, she needed something—anything—that would make her feel like herself again. What she found was a lot more than a fitness class.
It was the beginning of FIT4MOM McAllen.
Amanda’s road to motherhood was anything but simple. After having a "pandemic baby," the isolation was intense. Gone were the playdates, coffee chats, and those casual run-ins with other new moms that could make early motherhood feel a little less lonely. She needed a village. There wasn’t one around her, so she decided to build it herself.
Amanda had never been to a FIT4MOM class. She wasn’t a longtime member or instructor like many other franchisees. She was simply a mom, scrolling through social media pages of other FIT4MOM locations, inspired by the energy and connection she saw on her screen. “I knew right away,” Amanda says, “this is what moms in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) need—and I’m going to be the one to bring it here.”
Amanda’s passion for fitness didn’t start with FIT4MOM. She’s been leading workouts for over a decade, and movement has always been a grounding force in her life. After becoming a mom, her relationship with movement shifted. It wasn’t just about strength anymore—it was about connection. It was about showing up, even when everything felt hard. And it was about doing it with your baby in tow, surrounded by women who understood exactly where you were in life.
“Fitness is my foundation,” Amanda says, “but community is my heart.”
Opening a FIT4MOM franchise gave Amanda the chance to combine both. It offered her the freedom to keep moving, keep connecting, and keep growing—all while keeping her little ones close.
Amanda didn’t step into franchise ownership lightly. With three kids under five—Carter (4), Archer (2), and Harper (3 months)—life is loud, chaotic, and filled with nap schedules, snack requests, and all the beauty and mess of motherhood.
But she knew this mattered.
When she discovered FIT4MOM, it became clear to Amanda that this was the missing piece, not just for her, but for moms in the RGV. “I immediately saw how powerful this program could be for moms in my community,” she shared. And even though she hadn’t attended a class herself, Amanda trusted her gut and jumped in, bringing FIT4MOM to her corner of Texas for the very first time.
Running a business with three small kids isn’t easy—Amanda is the first to admit that. “There have been times I’ve questioned everything,” she says. “But I’ve had conversations with FIT4MOM team members who genuinely care, who remind me of my why, and that’s been everything.”
She also credits her fellow franchisees—many of whom she’s never even met in person—with being a steady source of encouragement. “It’s wild how connected we are,” she says. “There’s this beautiful, unspoken bond. You can show up in our Facebook group, say you’re struggling with something, and within minutes, you’ll have support, advice, and maybe even a meme or two. It’s like one big, nationwide sisterhood.”
Amanda lights up when she talks about her local Village. Whether it’s moms swapping baby gear, organizing meal trains, or simply high-fiving each other after class, the energy is real. “There’s so much good here,” she says. “So much generosity, so much solidarity.”
And the kids? They’re thriving too. “I love seeing their friendships grow. I love when the toddlers start coming out of their shells, when they ask if they can go to ‘mommy’s exercise class.’ It’s just as much for them as it is for us.”
Her goal has always been to make FIT4MOM that something every mom needs in her life. Not just a workout. Not just a place to pass time. But a real-deal, soul-nourishing, confidence-boosting, laugh-till-you-cry community.
Amanda’s former career was in radio—literally. She was an On-Air Personality before having her first child. She loved the connection, the creativity, and the impact her voice could have. And while her audio booth has been replaced with a stroller and yoga mat, she’s still using her voice—this time to lift moms up.
“I didn’t want to leave my newborn to sit in an office all day. But I didn’t want to lose myself, either,” she explains. FIT4MOM offered the balance she was craving: purpose and presence, flexibility and fulfillment.
“It’s more than a job,” she says. “It’s a calling.”
If you’re a mom who feels like something’s missing—something just for you—Amanda gets it. She’s been there. And she has one piece of advice:
“Take the leap.”
“Everything else can be taught,” she says. “But if you have the passion to connect, to serve, and to build something meaningful, you’ll figure it out. And you won’t be doing it alone.”
When Amanda is asked what she loves most about FIT4MOM, she doesn’t hesitate. “It’s when a mom says, ‘This saved me.’ It’s when someone hugs you after class and says, ‘This made my day.’ That’s what makes every late night, every nap-time work sprint, every moment of doubt worth it.”
And even on the tough days, there’s gratitude. Gratitude for the moms who show up. For the friendships that form. For the realness, the resilience, the joy.
“This is so much more than fitness,” Amanda says. “This is family.”
Whether you’re a new mom trying to find your footing or a seasoned one searching for purpose outside the walls of your home, Amanda’s story is proof that you don’t have to choose between motherhood and meaning. You can have both. And you deserve it.
Maybe—just maybe—it all starts with one simple Google search.
