Meet Paula Hough | Gym owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Paula Hough and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Paula, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
When we started The Body Firm Fitness Center 24 years ago, the idea of owning and operating my own business was incredibly appealing. I wanted the flexibility to manage my own schedule, especially with three small children at home. But more than that, I had a vision for what a community gym should be.

Even though our small, rural town already had a few fitness options, I felt they weren’t offering the level of quality and experience our community truly deserved. I wanted to bring in a more modern approach—with state-of-the-art equipment and an open, welcoming atmosphere. But just as importantly, I wanted to create a space that felt inviting rather than intimidating—a place people could call their second home.

I believed I could build that kind of fitness environment right here in my hometown. I’ve always loved working with people, and I knew this business would be all about community and connection. Fitness and a healthy lifestyle have always been a passion of mine, and I wanted to share that passion with others—or at the very least, provide a space where they could pursue their own fitness journey.

What should our readers know about your business?
The Body Firm is a community gym in every sense of the word. We’re located in a small rural town in northeast Colorado, where our diverse community is also economically modest. From the very beginning, one of our biggest goals was to create a gym where everyone felt welcome. We also wanted to make sure it remained affordable while still offering top-quality staff, equipment, and services. That’s a tricky balance—like any business, we need enough revenue to keep things running smoothly. But gyms are unique in that they require a large team working all hours of the day, seven days a week, along with costly equipment that’s just as expensive to maintain as it is to purchase.

Despite those challenges, I truly believe we’ve achieved the welcoming, community-driven atmosphere we set out to create. And honestly, that’s because of the people. The members who walk through our doors and the team who keeps it all going have made The Body Firm what it is today—Fort Morgan’s “happy place.” In fact, I often joke that I could disappear, and no one would even notice because my team runs the gym with such dedication and heart.

We also listen—really listen—to what our members need and do our best to meet those needs within the financial means available. And I believe that’s part of why our members feel such a deep sense of ownership over the gym. It’s their gym. They take pride in it, care for the equipment, and respect the space like it belongs to them—because in a way, it does.

That sense of ownership and belonging is what has shaped our brand over the years. The Body Firm isn’t just a gym; it’s a second home for so many. And if there’s one thing that brings me the greatest sense of fulfillment, it’s hearing members say exactly that.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Of course I would have my best friend go to The Body Firm every day to exercise. Haha!
Our little hometown has quite a few great places to visit. I personally love our nature trail located along the Platte River. Our park department has done such a great job building and maintaining one of the best nature trails I’ve ever been on. I use it almost daily and would want to share that with a visiting friend.
We also have many great places to get food. I love our Mexican food choices at Santiago’s, The Rooster, El Jacal, and Casa Patron. I also love the pizza at my favorite food truck, Fahrenheit 851 as well as the new brewery in town, Kukaro Brewing. I would take my friend to get the best matcha at Bun Appetit and slide over to Books on Main to check out the books or just sit and relax and read. I would then end the evening at the historic Cover Theater and watch a movie while I eat some of their amazing caramel corn, made on site.
As you can tell, I like to eat. Thank goodness I like to exercise as well.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The success of The Body Firm is thanks to the help and support of so many individuals. First and foremost, no business thrives without the understanding and backing of family. My husband, Mark, has always been a steady source of advice and encouragement, from the early days of planning and building to the daily grind of operating the gym. He stepped in whenever needed—whether it was helping with the more physical aspects of running the gym or simply being a sounding board as I navigated both the frustrations and joys of business ownership.

I also owe a huge thank you to my children. When we first opened, they were just one, five, and seven years old—far too young to fully understand why their mom was gone at all hours of the day and night. As anyone in the fitness industry knows, gym hours are long. In those early years, we were open seven days a week—17 hours a day on weekdays and 15 hours on weekends. That meant a lot of time spent at work or on-call. Needless to say, my kids were practically raised in the gym! But in the end, that wasn’t such a bad thing, considering they’ve all grown up to be very health-conscious.

Beyond my family, I have to acknowledge the people who have truly made The Body Firm the success it is today. The incredible team members who have worked alongside me and the thousands of individuals who have walked through our doors are what make this gym special. I may have built the framework for the business, but it’s the people—our members, staff, and community—who have given it life, turning it into the welcoming, inspiring place it is today.

Website: https://www.bodyfirmfm.com/

Instagram: @bodyfirm4

Image Credits
Photos by Word of Mouth Productions