How Two Moms Built a Village Through FIT4MOM DELCO

How Two Moms Built a Village Through FIT4MOM DELCO

October 16, 2025 FIT4MOM x Colleen Catania x Heather Van Thuyne

Motherhood reshapes everything: identity, priorities, even the way time feels. One moment you’re focused on career milestones and personal goals; the next, your days are measured in nap lengths and snack refills. It’s beautiful, disorienting, and quietly transformative.

For Heather and Colleen, two moms in Pennsylvania, that shift didn’t just lead them to rethink what life could look like — it led them to rebuild it entirely. Today, they are the co-owners of FIT4MOM DELCO, a thriving community built for prenatal and postnatal fitness, friendship, and unwavering support.

But before they became leaders, they were simply two moms searching for connection.

The First Step: Finding FIT4MOM

It wasn’t a friend or an online search that led Heather to FIT4MOM — it was a flyer that came with her brand-new stroller.

“I went to my first class when my son was 8 weeks old and haven’t looked back since.”

In those early postpartum weeks, she wasn’t just looking for a workout. She was looking for herself.

Colleen discovered FIT4MOM differently: by typing “workout classes with your baby” into Google. Pregnant with her second, she wanted to prioritize her health without missing naptime or rearranging childcare.

“I wanted to be able to work out without compromising naptime.”

Two women. Two separate searches. One shared realization:

This is what motherhood was supposed to feel like: supported, seen, and never alone.

From Members to Co-Owners

At first, Heather and Colleen didn’t know each other. Their paths only crossed when Colleen inquired about becoming an instructor. To her surprise, she learned that the local franchise was about to close.

Everything could have ended there.

Instead, it ignited something bold.

“I couldn’t imagine my life without the community FIT4MOM brought for me. I wanted to do whatever it took to keep it going, not just for me, but for other moms as well.”

Heather felt the same. A former athlete and lifelong team player, she wasn’t ready to let go of what FIT4MOM had become in her life.

So they made a decision most people never would: two near-strangers bought a business together.

“I took a gamble with a then stranger (Heather), and we haven’t looked back since.”

It didn’t stay a gamble for long. It became a calling.

What Drives Them

Ask Heather and Colleen what keeps them going, and their answers are deeply personal — and beautifully different.

Heather: “I relate most to building community. I had already found purpose outside of motherhood earlier in life, and building a community keeps me coming back for more each day.”

Colleen: “It was my love of fitness that made FIT4MOM so special. Moving my body once a day makes me show up as a better person and a better mom. Being able to do that with my kids with me is priceless.”

For one, it was connection. For the other, movement. For both, it was belonging.

What Moms Love Most About FIT4MOM

Now as leaders, Heather and Colleen witness every day how FIT4MOM changes lives, not just through fitness, but through friendship. Ask any member what keeps them coming back, and you’ll hear the same themes over and over:

“I finally met other moms who just get it.”

“It’s the one hour of my day that’s just for me. And I don’t have to find childcare to make it happen.”

“My kid thinks I’m strong. He cheers me on during the workout.”

The workouts may bring moms in.

The village keeps them there.

Blending Motherhood and Leadership

Franchise ownership can sound intimidating from the outside. But for Heather and Colleen, FIT4MOM was never about building a business instead of raising their children — it was about building something alongside them.

Heather: “I’m a former teacher and coach and decided to stay home after my second was born. Having something flexible with young kids is important to me. This business fits seamlessly into my every day.”

Colleen: “I still work part-time as a nurse. FIT4MOM is the perfect complement. I feel fulfilled without taking more time away from my family.”

Their lives don’t look like a traditional 9-to-5. They look like strollers lined up in a park, preschool drop-offs between class planning, quick emails sent between PB&J’s — and a career defined not by hours worked, but impact made.

The Best Part

There are wins like full classes, new partnerships, and growing program lists. But, those aren’t the moments they talk about most.

Heather: “I feel proud to share what we do. I feel so lucky to call this my job! It rarely feels like work. I couldn’t do it without Colleen though! We make such a great team.”

Colleen: “Hearing from our members about how FIT4MOM has impacted their lives — whether it’s gaining confidence, meeting new friends, or hitting fitness goals — means everything.”

And their members?

“These moms are generous, kind, welcoming, supportive, and non-judgmental. Once someone shows up to class, the community truly sells itself.”

A Final Takeaway

Maybe your story won’t mirror theirs exactly.

Maybe you’re not thinking about running a fitness community; maybe you just want to feel like yourself again.

But that’s exactly how Heather and Colleen started, too. One class. One decision to show up. One unexpected connection that changed everything.

And they hope every mom knows this:

"Motherhood never disqualifies you from finding your next purpose."

If you’d like to learn more about FIT4MOM programs, or explore what it could look like to be part of a village like theirs, click the button below.

Whether you show up as a member or someday step into leadership, one thing is certain:

You won’t walk alone.

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