In today’s episode, we sat down with Shannon Collins (aka The Gym Nurse) for an unfiltered conversation about injury, ego, seasonal slumps, and what it actually looks like to play the long game in fitness. Shannon shares her ongoing two-year battle with shoulder impingement, the frustration of chronic pain, and the mental shift from chasing progress to prioritizing recovery. For someone whose identity and career are rooted in strength training, this season has required humility, patience, and a whole lot of perspective.
We go beyond rehab and into the mindset work that keeps women consistent when life doesn’t go according to plan. We talk about modifying training without quitting, adjusting nutrition when activity drops, navigating seasonal depression, and the difference between giving yourself grace and avoiding accountability. This is a conversation about honoring the season you’re in - without turning the dial all the way off.
“Your health is not guaranteed. Take action right now, because who knows what's going to happen to you?”
- Shannon Collins (The Gym Nurse)
“Something is better than nothing.”
- Shannon Collins (The Gym Nurse)
This week on Here’s the Deal: Fitness, Nutrition and Mindset for People Who Don’t Want Life to Suck:
- Shannon’s experience with shoulder injury - pain, imaging, injections, and preparing for possible surgery
- Why stopping all movement is often the worst thing you can do during injury
- How to train around pain by modifying range of motion, load, and expectations
- The role of ego, identity, and confidence when your body can’t perform like it used to
- Why recovery seasons are about preservation, not progress - and why that’s okay
- Adjusting calories and nutrition when steps and overall output decrease
- Navigating seasonal depression, low vitamin D, and rebuilding momentum with simple daily habits
- The difference between giving yourself grace and using it as an excuse, and how to align actions with goals
Connect with The Gym Nurse:
Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of Here’s the Deal: Fitness, Nutrition, and Mindset for People Who Don’t Want Life to Suck, where we challenge the common understanding of what it means and what it takes to be fit and healthy! If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.
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