Today we’d like to introduce you to Allyson Gottfried-Byrne.
Hi Allyson, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m originally from Los Angeles, and while I’ve built a career in the entertainment industry, my passion for health and wellness has always evolved right alongside it. Fitness has been part of my life from a young age (I was that teenager taking classes from Jane Fonda herself), so movement and discipline have been in my DNA from the start.
Early on, I fell in love with martial arts, especially Tae Kwon Do and boxing conditioning. For fun, I started teaching group fitness classes. I taught everything from Tae Bo and Spinning to HIIT, and I quickly realized how much I loved helping people move with confidence and strength.
That passion led me to become a certified sports-specific personal trainer, working with young athletes and learning from some incredible mentors. I also became Pilates certified, which completely changed the way I approach movement. Those principles became the foundation of everything I teach, even in the weight room. From there, I went on to become a certified perinatal fitness coach, helping women stay strong and supported through every stage of pregnancy and postpartum.
Over time, I realized that fitness is only one piece of the wellness puzzle. True health is about so much more like how we eat, rest, and live day to day. That realization inspired me to become a certified health coach, so I could guide others toward a more balanced, sustainable approach to wellness – one that nurtures both body and mind.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I wouldn’t say it’s been a “struggle,” but it’s definitely been a journey of learning and self-discovery. Early on, I realized that while understanding the body and how it works is essential to helping people reach their physical goals, my real strength was in something deeper; being a coach who listens, who guides, who creates a safe space for people to grow.
Over time, I learned that connection and trust are the foundation of everything. It’s not about me or my own ego – it’s about truly being present for the person in front of me. That’s where the real transformation happens. At the end of the day, coaching is as much about relationships as it is about results.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
My business, GottHealthy, is all about meeting people exactly where they are and helping them get to where they want to go – whether that’s building strength, improving fitness, or creating healthier lifestyle habits that truly last. My approach is always a mix of tough love and grace. I believe in challenging people, but also in supporting them with compassion and understanding.
I work with people of all ages and backgrounds, from young performance athletes to more mature adults who want to stay strong and mobile. Every program I design is completely individualized, because no two bodies or journeys are the same. What sets me apart is the combination of my eclectic background with years of experience across so many areas of fitness, paired with my deep belief in connection and empowerment. Coaching isn’t just about sets and reps; it’s about helping people feel seen, capable, and proud of what their bodies can do.
I’m incredibly proud of the clients I’ve worked with over the last 26 years and the relationships that have grown from that work. I’ve trained people long enough to watch them graduate college, get married, and even come back to train through pregnancy and beyond. That kind of trust and continuity means everything to me. I still wake up every day excited to do this work, and I feel so grateful that my career continues to align with my passion.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I’ve never really thought of myself as a big risk-taker, but when I look back, that’s actually all I’ve ever done. I walked away, at least 85%, from an industry I was born into because my passion for working with people was louder. I’ve opened brick-and-mortar businesses in highly competitive markets, and my husband and I even packed up our lives and moved to Dallas after 43 years in Los Angeles to start fresh. Which was no easy thing. So, yeah… it turns out I know a thing or two about taking risks.
For me, faith is what carries me through it all. My faith has always had my back. I keep asking to be shown the way, to be guided and then I listen and follow. I try to keep my head down, trust the process, and believe that there’s a plan for me. When you live from that place, taking risks doesn’t feel reckless – it feels like alignment. And for me, that’s where the rewards really show up.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.Gotthealthy.com
- Instagram: AllysonGottHealthy
Image Credits
I own those photos.
