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“Each day I have gratitude for the people in my life – that I get a second chance to work hard, staying strong with a well mind, body and soul. I was so happy when I heard that the Iron County Health Department was granted the opportunity of a new Fitness Court® and I plan to take full advantage to inspire others.”
Fitness had always had a place in Trista’s mind but was never something she consistently practiced in the midst of raising children. After a few years of not feeling well, she decided enough was enough and made her health a priority by eating healthier and joining Beachbody (now Bodi) in July of 2020. Trista began seeing results late that summer, however she still wasn’t feeling well, so she scheduled a colonoscopy. At 36, she nor the doctors thought there was much to worry about. But in November of 2020, Trista woke up from the colonoscopy to hear that they found a mass which turned out to be Stage 3 Colorectal Cancer.
From that moment on, wellness was her top priority to fight cancer. Trista’s journey consisted of a myriad of doctor's appointments, 12 weeks of chemotherapy, 28 days of radiation and two major surgeries. During this time, she cared for her two beautiful daughters and worked remotely through a global pandemic. The one thing Trista also committed to during her battle with cancer was exercise.
“I found that movement helped my side effects, my mood and helped me to stay strong during the whole journey,” she stated. “I have now been deemed no evidence of disease, just over two years now. Fitness is my priority and helping others during tough times has been therapeutic. The body and the mind are strong and can endure so much but staying positive and active I feel has helped me to get to where I am today.”
In early 2023 Trista heard that the Iron County Health Department, in partnership with Wisconsin state sponsor Quartz Health and National Fitness Campaign, was bringing a Fitness Court® to the community. Shortly after it was installed, she downloaded the Fitness Court® App and went to check it out. She discovered the wonderful opportunities that it could provide to families and residents in Iron County. With an inspiring story and a willingness to help others, the Health Department reached out and Trista was eager to join the campaign as an official Fitness Court® Ambassador. As the manager of the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) for Iron County, Trista is planning a weekly group exercise class for seniors to introduce them to all the ways they could benefit from bodyweight exercise outdoors in conjunction with the walking track around Cary Park.
“My hope is to raise awareness about the Fitness Court® and the positive opportunities it can bring to residents in our area resulting in more people making wellness a priority in the community. If I can help one person find inspiration from my story, then I am happy that I was able to help someone along their journey.”
Fitness doesn’t just mean exercise or losing weight for Trista. It’s about feeling good in her skin, making a daily effort to appreciate her body for what it can do and a shift in mindset to know that she can do hard things. Being fit allows her the opportunity to play with her children, try new things, create stability when doing daily tasks and control what she can to keep her healthy for years to come.
