TORI FOLES
Age: 25
Blogger & Supporting my husband in our crazy lifestyle
Current Location: Clayton, Missouri
Tell us about yourself!
My name is Tori. I grew up dancing around the clock! It was competitive dance that had me very busy all the time so being active was not a question. Once I hit high school, I decided to stop dance and try for volleyball. From there, I ended up attending the University of Arizona on a volleyball scholarship and played for four years. After graduation, I went to work at Nike doing digital marketing for Nike.com. At Nike, the culture is obviously VERY active and all about living healthy. I started to get into running and loved it. It was my new thing to be competitive at with myself.
Some time after that, a challenge came my way and I came down with an illness called POTS syndrome most likely caused by Lyme Disease. Since my life took this turn, I have had to come up with other ways to be active and adapt to some of the restrictions my body has had but it is no excuse to not be active and remain healthy. From this challenge, I have taken the positives and started a blog-www.healingaswego.com. Here I share my story and how I remain faithful during this trial. I also share many healthy and delicious recipes that keep me going as I love to cook! In all stages of my life I have remained active and it has been a way that I remain happy and confident. I will continue to do this as I heal and it will be a key ingredient to continuous healing!
When did you discover fitness & healthy living and decide to make it a part of your life?
I discovered fitness from my young dancing days. I always loved how it felt to be active and get a good sweat in. Now, its so important for the mind. Physical and mental health are some key ingredients to happiness and well being.
How do you positively influence others to live an active, healthy life?
I love to remain active despite my challenges and hopefully impact others as I do that.
What do you wake up looking forward to and excited about everyday?
I wake up looking forward to getting a little bit better and a little bit healthier everyday!
Do you have any daily rituals?
I eat breakfast everyday, along with every other meal and snacks of course-I love to cook and eat! I also walk my dog every day. One of the best parts about having a dog is it makes you get up and get going even if you want to be lazy. Right now, I am working to rewire my brain as a method of healing my body so I also do 1 hour of brain training everyday. 
What’s in your gym bag?
I don’t currently attend a gym, but typically it would be Nikes, water, electrolytes, some snacks, headphones, and then the obvious like wallet and phone.
What challenges and/or injuries have you had to overcome on your fit journey?
As I mentioned above, 1.5 years after graduating college, I came down with a severe illness called POTS that had me bedridden for a while. To go from an elite athlete to being that ill is pretty devastating and discouraging. To remain somewhat fit and active despite these challenges has taken a lot of determination. 
What keeps you motivated when the going gets tough?
My faith and knowing that God has a plan for my life no matter what is going on right now. Knowing this and staying faithful to Him helps me through. Also, my husband, dog and family are always helping to motivate me. Lastly, the thought of being back to 100% one day and doing whatever I want to do whenever I want to do it is enough to make me jump for joy and I will do anything to get to that.
What do you love about your body?
I love that my body is unique and unlike any other. God made all of us as one of a kind and that is pretty cool.
What does Strong mean to you?
“Strong” to me means how you handle adversity. Everyone can show up and work hard when things are easy, but when it gets tough, how do we respond? Strong means having faith and perseverance in times of trial. 
Who are Strong Women in your life that inspire you?
My mom, my grandma, my mother-in-law.
What makes you a Strong Girl?
I am a Strong Girl because I believe in my ability to overcome trials and I have faith regardless of my circumstances. I am a Strong Girl because God made me one. It’s somewhere inside all of us. 
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