For many years of my childhood my twin suffered from HS. Many days and many nights I remember her screaming in pain. Cyst popping up in the worst of places at the worst of times. Watching her just try to make it through basic tasks like showering, sitting, and even just trying to put on clothes posed such a problem. The day-to-day things that we take for granted or have become so numb to because they are well things, we must do to maintain health and appearance. I will never forget I went with her to see a specialist and at the end of the visit the Dr. asked me “Do you get them as well?” I replied “No” followed with “If you don’t get them know you will. It is very common that twins share this disease, and in my professional opinion this will be something you both share.” I won't lie at that time I was naive and thought here’s a doctor just trying to scare me.
He was so right and exactly a year to the date of that visit I had my very first one in the worst place you could have one in my opinion. After being rushed to the hospital twice in one day going through the worst pain of my life, I decide to take charge of my health. Over the next few years, I had made many changes. They say if I had lost weight, quit smoking, and lowered my stress levels, I could keep my HS under control. So, after finally leaving a relationship of constant turmoil. I found a man who inspired motivated and uplifted me in so many ways. The one thing I will always be grateful for is he got me moving again.
He introduced me to life again. My stress had decreased significantly, and I Candice the founder of Fit-Toa-Tee was not only eating correctly for once in my life, but I was actively working out. Over the year I had lost so much weight, and my HS flare ups became less frequent. Not gone just to make it clear just less frequent. Although I loved the gym and it became something I needed, when I flared going to the gym felt impossible. It wasn’t just the pain of my HS that kept me out the gym it was putting on the fitness clothes that posed the most problem. When I have cyst under my breast or under my armpits pulling a sports bra over my head had me in tears and feeling completely defeated. So often sports bras hug and rise in the worst of ways especially if you are a little on the heavier side. Yoga pants either to thin adding no comfort to when I flare on my bottom or on my lady parts or thighs. Yoga pants also being to tight often having to jump in them causing to much pain to bare.
Fit-Toa-Tee came to mind for all these reasons. I got tired of missing the gym and not being able to fight back against HS. In the year 2023 I was flaring almost constantly making getting to the gym something I just couldn’t do anymore. Wanting to take back my health and often wondering how many others feel like I feel. Defeated, unmotivated, and lost on how to stay fit or start a fitness journey with clothes that aren’t made for comfortability when it comes to this disease, I decided to create a fitness clothing brand that was curated to work with HS so we can take back our physical and mental health.
As a HS Warrior I want to test and try every product I bring to FIT TOA TEE! Although we are still testing actual fitness clothes for the brand I did not want to sit idle to the possibility of bringing awareness to this disease. T-shirts, Hoodies, and Socks all personally designed by me bringing fun, motivation and the brand to life! Taking back our lives and fighting back against HS while bringing awareness is my mission! I want to inspire you to be FIT TOA TEE in any mood!!