Prehab, Rehab, Aging, & Real Talk With Susan Niebergall

In today’s episode, we welcome back Susan Niebergall - someone who has deeply shaped our journeys and brought us all together in the first place! In this raw and wide-ranging conversation, Susan shares what it’s been like to transform her life in her fifties and sixties, how strength training prepared her for a wildly successful hip replacement recovery, and the mindset shifts that come with aging. From fad diets and Jenny Craig trays to postmenopausal HRT and machine-based workouts, we cover the full spectrum of what it means to show up for yourself—no matter your age.

You’ll hear how Susan dismantled decades of diet culture, built confidence through lifting, and discovered how "doing less" in the gym could still mean making huge progress.

Whether you're navigating perimenopause, post-menopause, or just trying to get up off the couch and move, Susan’s lived experience offers both inspiration and practical wisdom. She’s not just preaching it - she’s walking the walk, lifting the weight, and paving the way for women who want to feel powerful in their 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond.

“I’m worth having a good life where I’m not in pain, where I can sleep, where I feel good.”

- Susan Niebergall

“If I can do this, then other women can too. It’s not too late to do it, which most women think it is.”

- Susan Niebergall

This week on Here’s the Deal: Fitness, Nutrition and Mindset for People Who Don’t Want Life to Suck:

• How Susan lost ~30 pounds in her 50s without obsessing over weight
• Why prehab (before surgery) can be a total game-changer
• The mindset shift from “how much weight can I lift?” to “how well can I move?”
• What it’s like to start HRT at 65—and the hoops women face to get there
• Why joint pain and fatigue might not be “just aging” after all
• Letting go of pressure, perfection, and back squats (yes, even if you could)
• Why "just walk for five minutes" is revolutionary (yes, really)
• The emotional shift from “all or nothing” to “I can do something today”
• Why strength training is still the most functional thing you can do

Connect with Susan Niebergall:

• Susan Niebergall Fitness on Instagram
• Susan Niebergall Fitness Youtube
• Join Syatt Fitness Inner Circle

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.

Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media and tag us!

Join Iris Deadlifts on Instagram, Meri on Instagram, and Amy Rudolph on Instagram.