Trista Sutter Says She DidSpecial Forcesto 'Get Back to Me' as She Wonders What It'll Feel Like 'When My Kids Go Away'

Mar. 15, 2025

Trista Sutter.Photo:John Parra/Getty

John Parra/Getty

Trista Sutteris in the process of rediscovering herself.During her Dec. 19 appearance on theBachelor Happy Hourpodcast, the inauguralBachelorettestar, 52, opened up about why she decided to sign up forSpecial Forces: World’s Toughest Test, a physically intensive military training show.“At first, I was like, you’ve gotta be kidding. Yeah. No way I’m doing that. Do you know my husband? He’s firefighter,” she recalled, adding that she thought her husbandRyan Sutterwould be a better fit. “He would be perfect for the show."(L) Ryan Sutter and Trista Sutter.Bennett Raglin/WireImageShe noted that at the time of her casting she was 51 years old and had lived as a “stay-at-home and work mom.““I just thought, you’re crazy. Why would you want me?” Sutter continued, admitting, “I did it kind of for that reason. So I’ve been a stay-at-home and work mom for almost 18 years and I have poured myself into my children and my family life. And I kinda wanted to get back to me.“When she became a mother, the reality star explained that her life became “all about your kids and your family.“Trista and Ryan Sutter with their kids Blakesley and Maxwell Sutter.Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty"That was me,” she added. “I just felt like I’m anticipating what it’s gonna feel like when my kids go away, and it breaks my heart. And I don’t know who I’m gonna be when they’re gone.“Sutter admitted she didn’t know “what I wanna do with my life besides just hang out with Ryan.““I just wanted to challenge myself,” she explained. “I wanted to show myself that I can do hard things, that I wanted to meet new people. I feel like it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to really learn about what the military goes through and gain even more respect.““So I’m really thankful that they asked me,” she concluded. “I’m grateful for the opportunity.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.On Friday, Nov. 15, Fox announced that Sutter was amongst the cast joining season 3 ofSpecial Forces. In addition to Sutter,Denise Richards,Stephen Baldwin,Ali Manno [Fedotowsky],Nathan Adrian, Alana Blanchard,Landon DonovanandCarey Hartare also taking up the challenge.Brody Jenner,Marion Jones,Cam Newton,Kayla Nicole,Kyla Pratt,Christy Carlson Romano, Golden Tate andJordyn Wieberalso round out the season 3 cast.

Trista Sutteris in the process of rediscovering herself.

During her Dec. 19 appearance on theBachelor Happy Hourpodcast, the inauguralBachelorettestar, 52, opened up about why she decided to sign up forSpecial Forces: World’s Toughest Test, a physically intensive military training show.

“At first, I was like, you’ve gotta be kidding. Yeah. No way I’m doing that. Do you know my husband? He’s firefighter,” she recalled, adding that she thought her husbandRyan Sutterwould be a better fit. “He would be perfect for the show.”

(L) Ryan Sutter and Trista Sutter.Bennett Raglin/WireImage

Bennett Raglin/WireImage

She noted that at the time of her casting she was 51 years old and had lived as a “stay-at-home and work mom.”

“I just thought, you’re crazy. Why would you want me?” Sutter continued, admitting, “I did it kind of for that reason. So I’ve been a stay-at-home and work mom for almost 18 years and I have poured myself into my children and my family life. And I kinda wanted to get back to me.”

When she became a mother, the reality star explained that her life became “all about your kids and your family.”

Trista and Ryan Sutter with their kids Blakesley and Maxwell Sutter.Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty

Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty

“That was me,” she added. “I just felt like I’m anticipating what it’s gonna feel like when my kids go away, and it breaks my heart. And I don’t know who I’m gonna be when they’re gone.”

Sutter admitted she didn’t know “what I wanna do with my life besides just hang out with Ryan.”

“I just wanted to challenge myself,” she explained. “I wanted to show myself that I can do hard things, that I wanted to meet new people. I feel like it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to really learn about what the military goes through and gain even more respect.”

“So I’m really thankful that they asked me,” she concluded. “I’m grateful for the opportunity.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

On Friday, Nov. 15, Fox announced that Sutter was amongst the cast joining season 3 ofSpecial Forces. In addition to Sutter,Denise Richards,Stephen Baldwin,Ali Manno [Fedotowsky],Nathan Adrian, Alana Blanchard,Landon DonovanandCarey Hartare also taking up the challenge.

Brody Jenner,Marion Jones,Cam Newton,Kayla Nicole,Kyla Pratt,Christy Carlson Romano, Golden Tate andJordyn Wieberalso round out the season 3 cast.

source: people.com