Lifting Through Chemo: Motherhood, Strength, and Beating Breast Cancer

When Elizabeth Blair began lifting postpartum, she had no idea that strength training would one day become one of her most important tools in fighting cancer. In this powerful episode, Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson sit down with coach Nikki Berman and her client Elizabeth to explore the transformation that comes not from chasing PRs, but from choosing to show up when life hits hardest.

Elizabeth shares her journey from new mom learning to deadlift, to receiving a diagnosis of aggressive triple-negative breast cancer, to lifting through chemo, surgery, and recovery. She and Nikki walk us through adapting training around a chemo port, managing energy and nausea, and redefining what "success" looks like when your goal shifts from performance to survival — and then back again.

This conversation is about strength in every sense: physical, emotional, maternal, and human. It's a story of refusing to quit, of lifting through chemo to maintain dignity and control, and of building a body and mindset capable of meeting life's hardest challenges. Whether you're a lifter, a parent, or someone navigating your own fight, this episode shows that the path forward is through the obstacle — one rep, one day at a time.

What You'll Learn

• How strength training supported postpartum recovery

• Why small wins and consistency matter more than perfect programming

• Adapting training around chemo ports, nausea, fatigue, and post-surgery rules

• The emotional and mental resilience built through training

• How lifting can be an anchor during uncertainty and fear

• Returning to the barbell after treatment — and hitting new milestones

PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE. 

Connect with the hosts

• Niki on Instagram
• Andrew on Instagram

Connect with the show

• Barbell Logic on Instagram
• Podcast Webpage
• Barbell Logic on Facebook
• Or email [e-mail]