Our Story.

Where it started

Kellie & Chrissy met at Colorado State University while completing their Masters Degrees in the Department of Health and Exercise Science. They quickly became best friends, bonding over wellness, weight lifting and a shared passion for helping women to become the best versions of themselves. Kellie and Chrissy started an online for-profit wellness coaching business for women called Smart Fit Chicks. The more women they coached, the more they began to realize just how prevalent body image and self-esteem issues are. This sparked a conversation between them about why they weren’t intervening earlier. Out of this conversation, Smart Fit Girls was born. And as the saying goes, the rest is history.

Dr. Kellie Walters

Kellie Walters is an Associate Professor in the Kinesiology Department at California State University, Long Beach where she studies the psychosocial aspects of physical activity. Kellie obtained her Master’s Degree in Exercise Science from Colorado State University where she continued her professional career as the Director of Adult Fitness and Instructor in the Health and Exercise Science Department. Kellie received her PhD in the Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management Department at Clemson University. Kellie has been the primary investigator for three studies evaluating the impact of Smart Fit Girls and most recently, has focused her research efforts on body image and weight bias concerns within the fitness industry. In her free time, Kellie enjoys moving her body and spending time with her two kiddos (Miyagawa and Keaton) and husband (Micah).

Dr. Chrissy Chard

Chrissy is currently an Assistant Professor with the Colorado School of Public Health, with a Community and Behavioral Health focus, where she teaches in the Physical Activity and Healthy Lifestyles concentration. She teaches graduate courses in Applied Behavior Change Theory, Health Promotion Programming, Physical Activity and Public Health, and Public Health Ethics. She received her PhD in Human Bioenergetics in the Department of Health and Exercise Science at Colorado State University. Her research focuses on physical activity in children and health behavior change. She has much experience in health and wellness coaching, both in a clinical setting as well as with the general population.

Chrissy resides in Fort Collins, CO with her husband, daughter Lucille, and son Jack. Together they enjoy leading an active lifestyle through walking, hiking and strength training.