Fit & Phat takes over St. Helens gym

Charity Lickfold, owner of Clatskanie-based Fit & Phat Fitness brand, is an entrepreneur at heart and knows opportunity when she sees it. Her business ownership journey started at 13 years old, starting and running a score-keeping business for local sports with 45 employees on payroll.

One could say she was born with it; her entrepreneurial parents set an example from a young age. Her mother, a national baton-twirling champion as a child, also taught baton to others at the age of 13. She later ran a successful dance studio while juggling four kids in their hometown of Post Falls, Idaho. Lickfold also cites her father as a "go getter," and being raised around hard-working people as a positive influence.

Later in life, Lickfold earned a Masters degree in Criminal Justice. After she graduated, a hiring freeze in law enforcement led Lickfold to starting a personal training schedule at a local gym. She eventually took on the fitness manager role, overseeing 35 personal trainers. "I was training on top of being in the fitness manager position," she said. "I enjoyed training up there, and I love fitness and always have. It's very rewarding to watch people change and notice their own change and see how they feel better...I'd love to say I want to train someone for the rest of their lives, but my job is to get them so comfortable with fitness and exercise and living healthy that they can continue without me."

This experience started a lifetime career in personal training and the roots of Fit & Phat Fitness when it rolled-out locally in 2015. Since then, she's built up a large clientele base and collaborated with a number of local gyms, including the St. Helens facility she rescued and took ownership of earlier this year. She spends her days in back-to-back appointments between three locations, spending two days a week at the new St. Helens Fit & Phat Fitness gym.

Training, development, and keeping busy is a constant theme with Lickfold. She holds a variety of certifications in different areas of study and emphasized the importance of continuing education, no matter years or decades of experience. "Things are a lot different than when I started 29 years ago," she said. "It is a requirement for your [trainer] certification. You have to take so many continuing [educations] and things like that to keep your certifications live... I'm currently working on my clinicals for a postural analysis program."

​In addition to personal training, Fit & Phat also offers nutrition analysis and programs, physical therapy, 3D body scanning and genetic panel testing. "My favorite thing to tell people when they meet with me is, 'if you bought a brand new car and you did not change the oil or put water in it, fix the tires, how long do you think it's going to run for you.'" said Lickfold. "Not very long. Your body is your automobile. If you don't take proper care of it by getting it proper exercise, walking, doing cardio, [or] eating right, your body's going to give out on you."

As part of the upcoming year's promotions, Fit & Phat is offering specials for new members, including buy-one-year-get-one-year free. This includes eight personal training sessions. More details are available at fitandphatfitness.com. Fit & Phat Fitness is located at 1538-1540 Columbia Blvd. in St. Helens, and is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and from 2-6 p.m. It is also open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or by appointment.