Who is Frank?
I bet you were expecting a guy, right? My name is Tiffany but I came by the nickname "Frank" because I just prefer to be frank and shoot straight. This frank attitude is one of the best gifts you will receive from me as your trainer. It is not that I am super hard core, it's that I want what is best for the people around me. I want to see athletes, friends, family experience their best selves and sometimes that means saying honest things, with kindness, at the right moment.
How did Frank Fitness come to be?
(My journey began when a friend invited me to participate in a 5k mud run the summer of 2013. This friend had been working so consistently to lose weight. In 6 months she had dropped just over 50 pounds and I wanted to support her, so, I said 'yes' to the race. I haphazardly launched into a fitness regime - doing push-ups in my kitchen and "Just Dance" workout routines. Not only did this not get me far athletically, but it also quickly grew boring. Knowing I needed something more, my husband encouraged me to try a garage gym he had been going to for about a year. The problem . . . I was intimidated. I had no idea what to expect and, honestly, I was terrified to go. Even though I had been an active person - playing softball and having a history of running - I had no experience in a gym setting. It was even more intimidating to me that it was in some guy's garage! I assumed anyone who would choose to go there would already be in shape and way past my abilities. It also dumbfounded me that people enjoyed going to the gym. I had a race commitment though and found myself reluctantly roped into attending a class.
It turns out that the garage gym wasn't as terrible (or as scary) as I thought it would be. In addition, the guy who ran the place (Quinn) was pretty cool. I decided I would workout there to prepare for the 5k. As the days and weeks passed, I began having fun at the garage. I enjoyed being around the coach and the community of friends that were growing with each workout we sweat through together. The week the race arrived Quinn asked me, "What are you going to do after this? Is this it? Or are you going to come back?" It was then that I realized how much I was actually enjoying myself. Yes, the workouts were hard, but parts were getting easier. I was getting faster; I had lost a few pounds I was carrying around; I could move things that were heavier. I thrived with the community pushing me to work and do my best. I loved seeing my workout buddies each day and hanging out after workouts. I was not ready for this journey to end, and I knew it was not meant to. So I signed up for another race and kept right on training.
As my journey was progressing, Quinn's was also. His little garage gym was growing and he was looking to transition to a commercial facility and become a CrossFit affiliate. Additionally, he was interested in building a team of coaches from a handful of athletes already in the garage. Although my fitness background was limited, I was very interested in being a part of what he was doing. I wanted to contribute to this community that was transforming people's lives - both physically and mentally. Thus began my journey of acquiring knowledge and developing my understanding of the body and its mechanics. I attained a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer certificate in February 2014 and thus began my coaching journey. After a few short months of coaching in Quinn's garage we transitioned to a new facility and became 79 South CrossFit. During my time with 79 South, I worked as a coach for general CrossFit classes and also coached a gymnastics class that served to build muscle connectivity. I also wrote 79 South's programming (i.e. workouts) for the general CrossFit class, boot camp class, and gymnastics class.
While I worked at Quinn's Gym and 79 South CrossFit I was able to develop under the mentoring of a veteran coach. Quinn has 30+ years of experience with athletes and freely shared his wealth of knowledge with me. He also helped me to realize my strengths and passions as a coach. His influence, both through his garage gym and 79 South CrossFit, has greatly shaped who I have become as an athlete and coach. I loved being a part of these businesses - working with the coaches on staff and helping athletes develop based on their goals. So, when I found out I would be moving half-way across the country, I decided to open my own garage gym.
Frank Fitness operated out of my Kansas City garage from 2017 to 2021, during which time I became an ACE Certified Trainer. It was an incredible privilege working with athletes there and so, when we moved end of 2021 back to Cali I knew I would be rolling the garage doors up again and continuing right on where I left off!
It turns out that the garage gym wasn't as terrible (or as scary) as I thought it would be. In addition, the guy who ran the place (Quinn) was pretty cool. I decided I would workout there to prepare for the 5k. As the days and weeks passed, I began having fun at the garage. I enjoyed being around the coach and the community of friends that were growing with each workout we sweat through together. The week the race arrived Quinn asked me, "What are you going to do after this? Is this it? Or are you going to come back?" It was then that I realized how much I was actually enjoying myself. Yes, the workouts were hard, but parts were getting easier. I was getting faster; I had lost a few pounds I was carrying around; I could move things that were heavier. I thrived with the community pushing me to work and do my best. I loved seeing my workout buddies each day and hanging out after workouts. I was not ready for this journey to end, and I knew it was not meant to. So I signed up for another race and kept right on training.
As my journey was progressing, Quinn's was also. His little garage gym was growing and he was looking to transition to a commercial facility and become a CrossFit affiliate. Additionally, he was interested in building a team of coaches from a handful of athletes already in the garage. Although my fitness background was limited, I was very interested in being a part of what he was doing. I wanted to contribute to this community that was transforming people's lives - both physically and mentally. Thus began my journey of acquiring knowledge and developing my understanding of the body and its mechanics. I attained a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer certificate in February 2014 and thus began my coaching journey. After a few short months of coaching in Quinn's garage we transitioned to a new facility and became 79 South CrossFit. During my time with 79 South, I worked as a coach for general CrossFit classes and also coached a gymnastics class that served to build muscle connectivity. I also wrote 79 South's programming (i.e. workouts) for the general CrossFit class, boot camp class, and gymnastics class.
While I worked at Quinn's Gym and 79 South CrossFit I was able to develop under the mentoring of a veteran coach. Quinn has 30+ years of experience with athletes and freely shared his wealth of knowledge with me. He also helped me to realize my strengths and passions as a coach. His influence, both through his garage gym and 79 South CrossFit, has greatly shaped who I have become as an athlete and coach. I loved being a part of these businesses - working with the coaches on staff and helping athletes develop based on their goals. So, when I found out I would be moving half-way across the country, I decided to open my own garage gym.
Frank Fitness operated out of my Kansas City garage from 2017 to 2021, during which time I became an ACE Certified Trainer. It was an incredible privilege working with athletes there and so, when we moved end of 2021 back to Cali I knew I would be rolling the garage doors up again and continuing right on where I left off!
Who is Frank Fitness for?
I have always emphasized that Frank Fitness is for everyone and anyone. Which is true in essence, but really I specifically format the workouts with a focus on long-term wellness. I love working with athletes who are more interested in being able to maintain their ability to play a recreational sport they love, enjoy aggressive hiking or trail riding, or really want to be able to play with their kids without throwing their back out or losing their breath within 5 seconds than they are with increasing mass, hitting personal records, or getting super lean. The goal of Frank Fitness is to increase your cardiovascular and muscular capacity so that you may enjoy the rest of your life better. What that really means is we get in, we work hard, we have a good time, and then we move on - it's about thirty to forty-five minutes of your day.
What does a day at Frank Fitness look like?
Frank Fitness meets in my garage. Group classes are generally thirty to forty-five minutes long and are designed to burn fat, increase strength, and build/maintain cardiovascular health. Each day is different - completing diverse types of work over a varying duration of time. Some days will be sprint based, other days will be more endurance based. The focus is on conditioning pieces that improve cardiovascular capacity while building strength. The primary equipment used in the garage includes: rowing machine, dumbbells, kettlebells, gymnastic rings, and jump ropes.
Every time you walk in the garage I expect you to be ready to put in work! Bring a positive attitude and be prepared to take on whatever we are doing for the day. Some days will be easier than others, but no matter the circumstances, as a community, we will push each other to put forward our best effort. Be an athlete that others enjoy working out with - encouraging others where they are!
Every time you walk in the garage I expect you to be ready to put in work! Bring a positive attitude and be prepared to take on whatever we are doing for the day. Some days will be easier than others, but no matter the circumstances, as a community, we will push each other to put forward our best effort. Be an athlete that others enjoy working out with - encouraging others where they are!