A Love Letter to Members From Cat Kom

A Message to My Beautiful Fit Fam

Well, it’s been almost 15 years, can you believe it?! 

In those 15 years, we’ve been through a lot together – like 4 moves (of which many of you literally helped me move all of our heavy stuff from one location to the next), other fitness businesses coming in to try to put us out of business, drama, divorces, children growing up, inquiries from cops when we trespassed for fit camp workouts (bahahaha), and damn it, even a pandemic! 

But somehow, with a lot of grit, determination, diligence, strength, support for one another, and heart… we survived.

Cliche time: I don’t get credit for doing this alone. It took ALL of us pulling together to stay together. In my mind, we are not just a gym – we’re a family. Don’t you think? Even those of you who haven’t been to the studio in a long time, I see you. You’re still part of this fit family. 

I mean, do you have any idea how many people left to explore other options, that just fell off the workout wagon, or had some other reason (like maybe that frickin’ world health crisis) that took them away from Studio SWEAT only to come back? Let’s just say A LOT. And every time the entire team was coached never to ask where they’d been, but rather to just open their arms for a hug and say, “Gosh, it’s so great to see you. Welcome back!” 

That’s who we are.

Some people have asked me why I “sold the studio.” Fair question. In short, it’s just time. I love you guys, and I love the studio, but it’s just time. There’s almost always a time. And I don’t wanna Tom Brady it (sorry babe) and stay one too many seasons, ya know? It’s time to let the new QB have a shot! 

As many of you know, it’s super hard to run a business. It’s stressful. It is. And often you go as the unsung hero with people thinking you just work out for a living. I mean, I can’t tell you how many times people said things that made it clear that’s what they thought I did. 😶 

But, those of you who are business owners, you know what it takes. You never rest. Your mind is always at work even when your body is not. And as much as you’re always surrounded by people, well it can be lonely, and just really hard.

So why do it, right? Well, because it’s worth it. YOU are worth it. The Studio SWEAT team and I are in the business of saving lives, or at least making them a hell of a lot better. 

Speaking of the Studio SWEAT team…I could write a full page just gushing over them, even the ones that are no longer active parts of the team. I mean like little Bethany…you made everything more fun. The team’s dedication to the community and their jobs as your trainers can be FELT, ya know, like deeply.     

Now for the part of Oscar speeches that everyone hates, but there IS no way we made it this far without Brian, a.k.a. “Babe.” And I say “we” because without that guy supporting me I couldn’t support you. He’d be there for me when I came home in tears, he’d fire me up when I needed it, and he’d tell me it’s gonna be okay when it didn’t feel like it was going to be. 

AND he volunteered hour after hour coaching you, making sure the staff were paid properly, and all in all just being a positive, wonderful, kind person. I needed that. WE needed that. So, yeah, thanks babe. ♥️

Let’s show our love & support to Elli, as the new Studio Director (it’s official tomorrow!), and gratitude for Alex, Brian and the rest of the team building “The Studio by Catalyst.” I’m so optimistic and so hopeful that the foundation we built together holds the house up strong–  supporting the day ones (you know who you are), the new generation coming in, and all of our middle children too.🙂   

I love you all. I thank you all. And, though I will still get to see some of you, it’s fair to admit that it will be less, so we’ll have to focus on quality over quantity. 👩‍❤️‍👩 

Wish me luck in this next chapter and know that you will ALWAYS be in heart. ♥️♥️

Yours in love, gratitude & SWEAT,