At almost 56, Teresa Malone is living proof that getting stronger isn’t something you have to leave to your younger years. In fact, her own fitness journey didn’t really begin until she realized that simply being thin wasn’t the same thing as being fit. When she moved from Kansas to Southern California in 2014, Malone thought she looked good. In jeans, she appeared thin, but underneath, she said, things were different.
“I was what we call in the fitness industry a ‘skinny fat,’ with little muscle tone or definition. I wasn’t strong, I was low on energy, and I didn’t have the body I wanted,” she said.
Then came California – and a major shift in perspective. Fitness was everywhere. Surrounded by people she admired for their strength and physiques, Malone realized she no longer wanted to focus simply on being thin. She wanted to be strong, defined and genuinely fit.
She sought out coaches and learned how to train effectively. She also discovered meal prep, which changed her understanding of nutrition and helped her see the connection between what she was doing in the gym and what she was putting on her plate.
“I trained hard, kept my nutrition on track and completely transformed my body. I got into the best shape of my life, and fell in love with the process,” she said.
That transformation eventually became a career. Malone earned her PROPTA personal training certification at Gold’s Gym Venice Beach under the guidance of Joe Antouri before moving to Malibu, where she became an independent trainer at Diamond’s Malibu Gym.
Today, Malone brings that experience to Arizona through Teresa Malone Fitness LLC, offering private, one-on-one personal training in clients’ homes as well as customized fitness and wellness coaching through the Teresa Malone Branded Fitness app.
Her clients are busy men and women looking for expert guidance, accountability and a fitness plan that actually fits their lives. Some are getting back into exercise after years away, while others are already active but want more structure, strength, definition, or confidence. And for many, there’s something especially appealing about skipping the gym scene. For Malone, it is a full-circle moment: the transformation that once changed her own life has become the foundation for helping others change theirs.
AZF: Why have you made in-home personal training such an important part of your business?
TM: I love personal connections, and I want to make fitness as convenient and comfortable as possible. I come to you. You don’t have to drive to a gym, fight traffic, wait for equipment or feel self-conscious exercising around other people. You also don’t have to wonder whether you’re doing an exercise correctly or what to do next. When I arrive, the focus is entirely on your goals, fitness level, body and progress.
In-home training also makes consistency easier. We work with the space and equipment you have, and I can bring additional equipment when needed. With the right plan and coaching, we can create an effective workout almost anywhere.
AZF: Who is the ideal client for Teresa Malone Fitness?
TM: Anyone who is ready to make a change and wants personalized support to follow through. All they need to do is visit my website, hit the link, and book a Zoom call with me. I train men and women of different ages and fitness levels. You do not need to be fit already. Many clients come to me because they aren’t sure where to begin or have struggled to stay consistent on their own.
Some want to lose weight and body fat. Others want to build muscle, improve strength, balance, flexibility and mobility. And everyone wants to increase their energy and feel more confident.
AZF: What makes personal training different than joining a gym?
TM: Accountability is huge. Most people know they should exercise. The challenge is doing it consistently, knowing what to do and staying motivated when life gets busy. When you know I’m showing up at your home, we’re training.
That scheduled commitment makes all the difference. I also monitor your form, select exercises specifically for you, modify movements when necessary. Injuries play a large role; we discuss this during our zoom call. Naturally, your workout will progress as you become stronger. Your program is never one-size-fits-all, and it shouldn’t stay the same forever.
AZF: You have an impressive physique at 56. Has getting older changed the way you think about fitness?
TM: Absolutely. Strength means more to me than ever. Of course, I want to look great; I love feeling fit and confident in my body. But I also understand how important muscle and strength we are as age.
Dr. Gabrielle Lyon, whose work on muscle and healthy aging I really admire, describes skeletal muscle as our “metabolic body armor.” I love that phrase because it captures why building and maintaining muscle matter so much as we get older. Muscle is not just about appearance. It supports strength, movement, metabolism, resilience and the ability to stay active and independent. Strength supports everyday life, from carrying groceries and climbing stairs to staying active and independent.
I don’t want women to believe that turning 50 means surrendering the body they want. You can still become stronger, build muscle, gain energy and change your physique. I’m doing it at almost 56. And I practice what I preach every day.
AZF: What do you say to someone in their 40s, 50s or 60s who feels they’ve waited too long to get fit?
TM: Stop worrying about where you think you should be and start where you are. Remember, I didn’t arrive in California looking like this. I changed my own body. I know what it’s like to look in the mirror and want something different – and what can happen when you decide you’re willing to work for it.
You don’t need to become someone else. You need to discover what your body is capable of. You also don’t have to figure it out alone. My role is to provide guidance, structure and encouragement to help you make challenging but realistic progress.
AZF: What role does nutrition play?
TM: A massive one. Meal prep was a turning point in my own transformation. You can work hard during your workouts, but what you do outside of them matters too. Dr. Mark Hyman has spent years explaining the connection between nutrition, gut health and overall well-being. His work has reinforced for me that food is not simply about calories or weight loss. What we eat can influence our energy, metabolic health, digestion and how we feel day to day.
There’s also a famous statement attributed to Hippocrates: “All disease begins in the gut.” I think that quote is a powerful reminder that our health is connected to what is happening inside the body, including the health of our guts and the foods we regularly choose.
I help clients make nutrition realistic and sustainable through planning, meal preparation, better choices during busy days and habits they can maintain. I’m not interested in helping someone follow a plan for two weeks and quit. It has to work in real life. Because there is no finish line. It’s a lifestyle.
AZF: What about people who don’t live close enough?
TM: That’s why I created my branded coaching app. Through the app, I coach clients remotely and provide customized workouts they can access wherever they are. It allows me to work with people outside Arizona and with those who prefer online coaching.
My online clients receive structured workouts with videos, a nutrition plan, weekly check ins, weekly calendar, guidance and a ton of accountability! Whether we train in person or online, my goal is the same: to help you stay consistent, train effectively and make fitness part of your life.
AZF: What is your favorite part of the job?
TM: The transformations. I don’t just mean seeing someone’s body change. I love watching confidence return, and seeing clients accomplish things they couldn’t do when we started. And to hear that their clothes fit differently, they feel stronger, have more energy or finally feel good about themselves again.
I know how powerful that feeling is because fitness changed me first. Nearing 56, I don’t just teach the fitness lifestyle. I live it. Now I bring that experience, structure and personal attention to my clients, whether I’m walking through their front door or coaching them through the app.
If you’re ready to get stronger and feel better, book your call with me through the link on my website. We can discuss where you are now, what you want to accomplish and whether in-home or online coaching is right for you. Your home. Your goals. Your transformation. Aging is inevitable; getting old is a choice. Break free from the chains holding you back. Learn more at teresamalonefit.com.
