Meet Terri Ross | Certified Personal Trainer, Cancer Exercise Specialist, and Breast Cancer Survivor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Terri Ross and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Terri, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Move Conquer Live is a gym for women and cancer survivors to discover their own grit, strength, and confidence. After my own diagnosis, I learned just how important fitness is for cancer survivors. The short-term and long-term side effects of cancer treatment require a specialized program. We work on avoiding lymphedema, keeping one safe if they have neuropathy, and managing fatigue. Move Conquer Live is helping survivors redefine what life looks like during and after treatment. The highs we have after a good lift and an energizing workout follow us to our lives outside the gym. We are crushing strength goals and life goals at MCL.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
About a year into my breast cancer treatment, I decided that my everyday life needed to change. I am beyond grateful for my day job which has supported me and my family for the last 14 years, but I didn’t feel I was changing any lives with my role there. So through some therapy and coaching of great friends, we searched my life for things that gave me energy. It was easy once I started paying attention. Walking into the gym was enough to completely change my attitude. I immediately felt better, no matter what kind of workout I had. The more I worked out, the more questions I got from friends. It was important to me to give the “right” answer, to be the most helpful, and to give a SAFE answer. So I decided to become a certified personal trainer through ACE. I wasn’t exactly sure what I was going to do at the point, but knew this was a good starting place.

It didn’t take long in the gym to realize that cancer survivors needed more support! We need someone who understands our journey and how our bodies and minds have been affected. So, I decided to get certified as a Cancer Exercise Specialist through CETI. I was working full time, training for a triathlon, and studying for my certifications, so I won’t say that it was easy! But I enjoyed every moment of the preparation! I scheduled my whole day including my workouts, my study time, and sometimes even my meals! Thankfully my family was very supportive, so we changed some of the roles at home. My husband has become very domestic while I am working full time and running my own business! And my daughter always knows how to cheer me on when the days are tough.

It is important to me that my clients feel safe with me, not just in avoiding injury, but also in trusting me with the difficult stuff in their lives. Move Conquer Live is a shame-free environment. Clients are never asked for body measurements, and I don’t push diet plans. What you put in your body is your business! My clients all know that I believe they know their bodies better than I do, but that I will push them to do their best, whatever that looks like on that day, and take one lift at a time.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am always a fan of doing things outside, thankfully there is plenty of that to do here in Denver. I really enjoy hiking the Chavez and Beaver Brook Trail Loop near Golden. Here in Denver you can learn rock climbing, go sky diving, take dance classes, and learn to paint. If you are interested in it, it’s here. In the winter there is an outdoor ice skating rink downtown which is a fun holiday activity. If you are a roller coaster junky like me, Elitch Garden’s is a must in the summer.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
It is so hard to choose just one person that deserves a shout-out! I stand on the shoulders of many. But if I must choose one, I owe the most to Marshelle Johnston at MJ Fit. Marshelle gave me great training and mentored me in not just how to be a great personal trainer, but gave me an insight into the running of a gym. I am so grateful that she gave me a chance even though I was newly certified at the time. I learned so much there and she gave me the confidence to start my own business. Thank you, MJ!

Website: www.mclgym.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terri.mclgym/

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/MCLgym

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MCL.Gym/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2918sHpXNCrCYf2J7MDTgA

Image Credits
Luke Bieganek