Built on Connection, Consistency, and Community
Mistye Clary has always been good with people.
Long before Fox Nutrition existed, she spent her days working in school offices, handling clerical work and customer service, and keeping things running behind the scenes. She loved the conversations and the sense of purpose that came with being needed, but she rarely slowed down. Time off was saved instead of taken, and showing up for others always came first. Over time, her body began asking for more care than it had been getting, and she realized it was time to pay closer attention.
The first real shift came twelve years ago in a Zumba class.
The Sentence That Stayed
Mistye walked into that first class with her daughter, Shay, and headed straight for the back corner of the room. Shay was a teenager then, and Mistye remembers both of them hoping they could stay unnoticed long enough to make it through.
Thirty minutes in, Mistye was gasping for water and proud she had lasted that long. When the instructor, Naomi, told her the class was an hour, Mistye laughed and joked she was ready to call 9-1-1.
Instead, Naomi offered a simple instruction.
“Just keep moving.”
Naomi was coaching at Fit City, a nutrition and fitness space where Mistye had begun showing up consistently. That sentence stayed with her because it felt doable. It did not demand perfection, only movement, even when things felt uncomfortable.
That idea followed Mistye into her health journey, into her business decisions, and into the way she shows up for people every day.
How Fox Nutrition Began
As Mistye spent more time at Fit City, she started noticing the atmosphere. People were genuinely happy and unhurried, enjoying being there.
One day she finally asked the question that still makes her laugh.
“This is what y’all do all day? Y’all happy like this all day?”
When the answer was yes, something clicked.
Mistye drove to see a friend in Caddo Mills, Chrissy Dumire, with a drink she insisted had to be tried. That visit turned into a conversation, and that conversation turned into a decision. They would open a shop together.
Fox Nutrition opened six and a half years ago in a former barbershop on Main Street in Caddo Mills. The space was small, but it was enough. There was room to start, to gather, and to see whether the idea could grow. Over time, it did, and Mistye eventually became the sole owner. Even as ownership shifted, the heart of the business stayed rooted in community, connection, and showing up for people.
“It’s like hanging out with your friends all day,” Mistye said, and that feeling has always been intentional.
Today, she works alongside her daughter Shay. One of Mistye’s favorite parts of owning her own business is being able to work together and build a life that allows flexibility. They structure their schedules so they can swap out caring for the grandbabies, creating space for work while staying present for family. For Mistye, success looks like presence just as much as growth.
Built From Real Life
Mistye is open about managing health issues that affect her energy, metabolism, and how her body processes food. Over time, she has had to relearn what works for her with the support of doctors and dietitians who understand her needs.
That experience matters, but it is not the reason Fox Nutrition exists.
The business grew out of learning, adjusting, and paying attention to what actually works in real life. Listening to her own body helped shape how Mistye approaches wellness, but the heart of Fox Nutrition has always been about sustainability. She does not believe in extremes or quick fixes, but in steady change and options that fit everyday routines.
That belief shows up in everything she does behind the bar.
Better, Not New
January comes with pressure, and Mistye is clear about where she stands.
She does not believe in “new year, new you,” because she believes there is nothing wrong with who you already are. What she believes in is becoming one percent better than yesterday through small steps and consistent movement that does not lead to guilt or burnout.
She encourages people to surround themselves with others who are trying too, people who make it easier to show up again and understand that confidence comes from action, not waiting until you feel ready.
“Love yourself through it,” she said. “If you don’t, the change won’t last.”
Movement, Community, and Showing Up Together
That philosophy comes to life each week through the exercise classes Fox Nutrition hosts for the community, led by Shay through her program, Sweatin’ with Shay. Held outdoors in the parking lot, the classes focus on movement that feels approachable rather than intimidating. Cardio drumming, dance cardio, and combo classes create a welcoming space where people can move, laugh, and show up together.
You do not have to be in shape to attend. You simply have to come.
Being outside, breathing fresh air, and moving alongside others creates connection. For many women, these classes become the first step back into movement, not because they feel confident, but because they feel supported.
A Customer She Will Never Forget
Some of the moments that shape a business never make it onto a menu board.
Mistye fought back tears as she shared the story of a customer named Betty, who came in when Fox Nutrition first opened and quickly became part of the rhythm of the place. She was known by name and deeply cared for.
When Betty went through cancer, eating became difficult, and getting enough protein and nutrients was a challenge. Mistye worked with her to find options she could tolerate and that supported her body during a hard season. It was personal, not transactional.
Betty beat cancer once and fought again when it returned. Mistye remembers her smile and the way she showed up, even when things were hard. She is grateful Fox Nutrition could be part of her story in a way that truly mattered.
That kind of connection does not happen everywhere. It happens in places where people pay attention.
Spirit 66 and Community in Action
Today, Fox Nutrition is part of the Spirit 66 Building, a shared space filled with small businesses that support one another. The building itself holds history as the former Payne’s Grocery Store, and people still walk in with memories tied to it.
Mistye loves that history and the way the community showed up during the remodel to help bring the building back to life. That same spirit continues to shape the collective today.
She is a strong advocate for supporting local businesses and believes that when people invest in their town, the town can invest back in them through schools, parks, and shared spaces that strengthen the community.
Her philosophy is simple. There is room at the table for everybody.
Opening the Doors Wider
Community support at Fox Nutrition does not stop with workouts.
Several times a year, Mistye and the businesses inside Spirit 66 host events designed to support other small businesses. One of those is their Galentine’s shopping event held around Valentine’s Day, where home-based businesses are invited to set up inside the shop.
Vendors are never charged a fee. The goal is to remove barriers and create opportunities by giving small businesses space, foot traffic, and connections.
They do the same on Black Friday, opening their doors to local vendors during one of the busiest shopping seasons of the year. These events are about paying it forward and supporting the women and families behind local businesses.
The Part That Matters Most
When asked what makes her most proud of Fox Nutrition, Mistye did not mention numbers.
She talked about relationships. Friendships formed at the bar. Women supporting women. Families showing up for one another. People walking in tired and leaving steadier than when they arrived.
If Fox Nutrition could be summed up in one sentence, Mistye answered without hesitation.
“We’re just here to make your day better.”
And that might be the best way to describe it.
Not flashy. Not perfect. Just real.
A place built on showing up, learning as you go, and offering encouragement along the way.
Just keep moving.