In this get real episode of the Girls Talk Healthy Aging podcast, co-hosts Alli Kerr and Shawna Kaminski welcome renowned fitness authority Alwyn Cosgrove. An accomplished athlete turned coach, national fitness speaker, educator, author, and co-owner of Results Fitness in Santa Clarita, California, Alwyn’s experience spans decades—and his perspective is shaped not only by his professional success but also by his personal journey as a two-time cancer survivor. Together, we dive into timely and important conversations about how training methods have evolved and how to stay fit even with joint issues or injuries—without losing your hard-earned progress.

Alwyn challenges a common but flawed assumption: that doctors are the ultimate resource for exercise-related guidance. While physicians play a vital role in healthcare, most do not receive any training in exercise science, yet patients often take their advice on physical activity as absolute. He shares his frustrations about blanket medical instructions to “do nothing,” pointing out that this one-size-fits-all approach can lead to devastating physical and mental setbacks—setbacks from which many may never fully recover. Instead, Alwyn urges patients to ask, “What "can" I do?” and to seek guidance from qualified fitness professionals who understand injury recovery, pre-hab, and safe modifications.

The conversation shines a spotlight on the reality that one injured joint doesn’t mean the whole body must shut down. Alwyn cites research showing that training the uninjured side can help preserve strength on the injured side, speeding up recovery when rehab begins. He explains that missing six weeks of training can cost you twelve weeks or more just to get back to baseline—a delay most people, especially those battling obesity, weightloss, or active aging, can’t afford. 

Listeners will also hear about the puzzling gap between athletic injury treatment and the approach taken for the average active adult. Athletes begin carefully structured training almost immediately after an injury to maintain performance and aid recovery—so why should non-athletes be told to stop everything? Alwyn advocates for a balanced approach: not pushing at an elite-athlete pace, but also not letting inactivity take away months (or years) of progress. By staying active in a modified, safe way, you can keep your fitness foundation strong and make the comeback process smoother.

Whether you’re an athlete, an everyday gym-goer, or someone just beginning a fitness journey, Alwyn’s wisdom will inspire you to reframe the way you think about setbacks and see them as opportunities to come back not only recovered—but stronger than ever.

Follow Alwyn Cosgrove on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alwyncosgrove/?hl=en

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