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TERESA MOSS

HOW THIS IPL PRO CHAMPION TRIUMPHED

THROUGH CHALLENGE

INTERVIEW & PHOTOS BY BEN YOSEF

In this heartfelt interview with Teresa Moss, an IPL Pro Champion, we explore her remarkable journey of triumph through a series of personal and physical challenges. From a devastating knee injury to the loss of her father, Teresa has faced significant obstacles, yet she has emerged stronger than ever, showcasing incredible resilience. Her determination to push through both emotional and physical barriers was evident at IPL APEX VIII, where she not only honored her father’s wishes but also proved to herself and others that true strength lies in overcoming adversity. Join us as Teresa shares her powerful story of perseverance, healing, and the unwavering belief that we all possess the resilience to transform, no matter the hurdles life throws our way.
BEN YOSEF: Welcome to INSPIRE Magazine! And congratulations on a fantastic showing at IPL APEX VIII last month! It was great having you at APEX weekend. So let’s get into the last few chapters of your journey. There’s a lot to unpack, so feel free to divulge or withhold any information you want.
     First, my deepest condolences on the passing of your father. I know that it was hard for you to be away from him and your family while you were in Arizona at APEX. You told me that you had contemplated removing yourself from the weekend and flying back home. How are you feeling…how are you doing now?

"I truly hoped I would be able to bring home a win for him so when I did, it took everything in me to not breakdown on stage. I may have shed a tear or two if you were looking closely."

BEN: It has been quite a challenge for you on many different levels over the past year. Starting with the injury you suffered in 2024. A story which you shared in your Athlete Entrepreneur Magazine cover story interview. You also talked a bit about this experience during your PRESS PASS interview the day before APEX. What was it like for you specifically with regards to recovery after that injury and at what point did you feel you might be ready to start training and prepping for stage again?
TERESA: It has been a challenge for sure. More mentally and emotional than physically, to be honest. Truth be told…I went ice climbing just three weeks post-surgery. Not the wisest decision I’ve ever made, and I definitely don’t recommend it. I laid and slept in a chair for three weeks barely moving and I felt really good. I had started a very well thought out and researched program I had made for myself and started a few days prior to my surgery. Eating certain foods and taking supplements all to aide in healing. I also started doing a daily injection of BPC157, a peptide specifically for healing ligaments and tendons. I hit my physical therapy hard and started back in the gym after two weeks. Most physical therapy exercises with dumbbell deadlifts, reverse hack squats, good mornings and some other exercises that didn’t involve bending the knee.
     Knowing I had to pull out of the Arizona competition in April was bummer, but I challenged myself to compete by the end of the year. Mentally and emotionally it was difficult because of the battlefield of the mind. The “what if’s.” What if I’m never the same? What if it doesn’t heal correctly? What if I have to have a second surgery? And the big one…what if I can’t hike?! I was actually more afraid and worried about not being able to climb my mountains more than competing. I begged the doctor to make sure I would be able to hike and all he would say was, “I just want you to be able to walk”. I didn’t like that answer. After the surgery seeing my leg atrophy and having zero mind-muscle connection was devastating. I’d try to flex it with all my little heart and it was dead! I cried a lot. Literally alone and crying many times at the uncertainty of my knee and my future in the outdoors and competing.

"Mentally and emotionally it was difficult because of the battlefield of the mind. The 'what if’s.'"

 
BEN: You are a real trooper! And I am so proud of you and happy that you pulled through that incident. How did this injury impact the prep for you comeback show, IPL APEX VIII last month? And how is the knee today?
TERESA: I think the biggest impact that this unfortunate accident had on my knee was getting the mind-muscle connection back. And it being so weak. I could barely do a 10-pound leg extension with that knee. I decided that at the end of every workout, no matter what body part I was working, that I would do 60 leg extensions and really focus on squeezing that quad and staring at it. I purchased a tens unit and would hook it up and use that to get the mind-muscle connection back as well. If you’re not familiar with one of those, it basically shocks you, and automatically contracts the muscle that you have it attached to. So, when my muscle would contract, I would try to engage the quad as hard as I could. I also had a really hard time getting my head back in the game for this competition. I struggled hard on the nutrition side of things. The workouts and cardio are always the easy part, right? [laughs]
     I had some pretty intense things going on in my personal life as well and I was emotion-eating really bad. I always tell my clients on the team I coach that if you’re not where you wanna be it’s because you don’t want it bad enough. I have to apply that to myself. I was allowing the things in my personal life, and obviously my health with my knee, to obstruct my view. My knee is doing OK. It’s still not 100% but I am able to do the things that I love like hiking mountains, ice, climbing, backpacking, horseback riding as well as hitting it hard in the gym. They say it takes a full year minimum to fully recover. It’s been nine months, and I feel like I am way ahead of schedule.
BEN: I appreciate your transparency regarding the struggles and challenges. This just shows and makes clear to everyone that even the toughest and most skilled athletes and professionals “go through it.” Your emotional eating experience is especially powerful, and I know will really hit home with readers. What are some of the other issues you were faced with over this past year that threatened your success…and sanity?

"A couple days after I arrived in Arizona I received a phone call that he had been taken to the emergency room. His blood pressure was 80/27 and I was bawling, knowing I wasn’t gonna make it back."

TERESA: Where do I start??? I guess in no particular order…Rupturing my ACL which we already discussed. My dad’s Alzheimer’s was worsening and the diabetes started causing compression sores that would not heal. Having to make very hard decisions due to his living will health directive. He wanted no interference medically so I literally had to watch him rot away slowly. Doing my best to honor him and his wishes to pass away at home and not in a hospital. That’s another thing that made my time at the recent APEX so hard.

"Learning to grieve through counseling has been crucial. I am sticking close to Jesus, the gym, the outdoors and my very small girl circle and I am in a good place. I have peace and that is all I want right now."

     A couple days after I arrived in Arizona I received a phone call that he had been taken to the emergency room. His blood pressure was 80/27 and I was bawling, knowing I wasn’t gonna make it back. The doctor said they couldn’t do anything to treat him until they got his blood pressure up and in order to do that they needed to admit him. I didn’t know what to do. Do I have him admitted and take a chance on him passing away in the hospital which is something he absolutely did not want in hopes that I would make it home in time? Which would have been selfish of me. Or do I tell them to return him home and him pass away without me but knowing I would fulfill his wishes. I told them I needed to contact my siblings but about five minutes later, they called back and said everything was normal. His blood pressure was up. His vital signs were good and his oxygen level was good. That is when he told me to stay and win, and that he would see me at home.
     Staying and competing was a hard thing to do and it showed on stage. I know that because one of the girls that I coach texted me and told me to pull my head out and show up! I love that she had the comfortability to call me out.
     Another unfortunate happening was my marriage of 24 years went down the drain and we separated. It’s something I never saw happening. I was a married once and forever kinda girl. This huge change has and still is affecting me. The grief and loss of the marriage and friendships, emotional turmoil, stress and anxiety, loneliness etc. However, it has also been wonderful in rediscovering who I am. The resilience, mental fortitude and hope I am finding within myself as well as being able to build a more authentic life.
     Financially I have gone from a stay at home mom for years, (all adults now) having a small business to now, working a lot! I’m working my two businesses (fitness professional and outdoor guide) plus a seasonal job in summer doing guided tours for the best company ever…Welcome Anchorage Tours and in the winter I drive a dump truck and occasionally a loader doing snow removal.
 

"Right now I am getting ready to start prep as I take the stage May 3rd to bring my best look ever. I’m singing and leading worship a couple times a month and solidifying my 2025 outdoor adventures..."

     And then the most recent blow was losing my Dad December 1st. I have been in survival mode for a little over a year now. I feel my sanity is intact by the Grace of God! Trusting God with holding my heart and future brings peace within the struggle. Learning to grieve through counseling has been crucial. I am sticking close to Jesus, the gym, the outdoors and my very small girl circle and I am in a good place. I have peace and that is all I want right now.
BEN: Wow, Teresa. You and I had a chance to chat after APEX right outside the venue and I really appreciated that. Not only was I grateful for you showing up and bringing it at that contest but I was really moved by our conversation right after. You shared much of this with me during that conversation and I just knew that, if you allowed me, I wanted to let the world know that behind this “tough” and active exterior is someone who was dealing with a great deal of turmoil in her life. It was an emotional talk, and it almost brought me to tears as you were also getting choked up. Your story of challenge and triumph is very powerful, and I know it will resonate with, and inspire many.
     So let’s talk about happy things! [laughs] I’m excited to publish yet another compelling feature with you in this issue of INSPIRE Magazine. ALSO your cover issue for ATHLETE Entrepreneur is in production for print right now and will be available in hard copy next month! How cool is that? So, update us on the fun and exciting things happening in Teresa Moss’ life. [smiles] Oh, And don’t give too much away because we still have to do the feature in the new issue of Athlete Entrepreneur titled, “The Boss, Teresa Moss: What Cover #1 Is Up To Now”. Sort of like a “Where Are They Now” vibe!
TERESA: Yes, that was an emotional conversation! I typically do not open up and share my personal life. It’s not easy being vulnerable, but knowing that someone else’s healing could be in my story INSPIRES me to push through. I love the saying, “I love when people that have been through hell walk out of flames and go back in carrying buckets of water for those still consumed by the fire.” I guess this is me walking back in.

"We are all capable of extraordinary transformation. Sometimes, all it takes is one person to show us the way. If I can be that person for someone, I’ll know I’ve made an impact."

     Right now I am getting ready to start prep as I take the stage May 3rd to bring my best look ever. I’m singing and leading worship a couple times a month and solidifying my 2025 outdoor adventures for my business. The June solstice trip is going to be an amazing 6-day adventure with hiking, backpacking, helicopter out to a glacier for ice climbing and paddle boarding and if you’re brave enough…jump in that glacier blue with yours truly.

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