An interview with Amy Goldberg, editor-in-chief.

Cover Photo Photographer: Steve Sztricsko

As we move toward the close of another year, the Optimyz Women’s Wellness theme for November, Reflect and Reset, feels perfectly timed. It’s a moment to pause, look back at what’s worked, and reimagine what’s next. Few people embody this idea better than Susan Sztricsko, a personal trainer, model, and advocate for health and well-being at every age.

Susan is a living example of what it means to stay strong, inside and out, even when life throws you challenges. From navigating the realities of ageism to finding balance while caring for a loved one, she’s learned how to move forward with grace, grit, and an unshakable sense of purpose. I caught up with Susan to talk about strength, self-care, and why growing older can be one of the most empowering journeys of all.

Here’s our conversation; open, honest, and full of wisdom you’ll want to carry into your own next chapter.

Susan, you’ve built a life around fitness and wellness. How has your definition of “health” evolved over the years?
(Is it more physical, emotional, or spiritual now?)

My health and wellness evolution has had many faces over the years. I was taller than my peers, gangly and brutally shy in my adolescence. A perfect storm for bullying. It wasn’t until I started joining various sports teams such as soccer, basketball, cross country and track that I felt comfortable in my own skin and emotionally in a good place. The bonus was that I was good at them.

In my 20’s I hopped onto the modelling scene where it was all about running to keep slim and looking “hot”. But in the later part of my 20’s there was a shift that took me into the world of body building and more mindful eating habits. After having my son in my mid 30’s that’s when the real work took motion. Somehow having children has that effect on you. It did for me! Never have I experienced such profound joy that made me realize I not only had to show up for myself but now there was a little human involved. Through my 40’s and 50’s my views on health and wellness changed once again. More focus was placed on how I approach and nurture longevity. Now in my 60’s it’s all come together spiritually, emotionally and physically. I’m grateful for what I can do, listening to my body when I need to slow down and challenging myself through mindful movement.

You often talk about ageism, especially how it affects women. What do you think is the biggest misconception about getting older?

Probably some of the biggest misconceptions towards aging is that physical and cognitive decline along with loss of purpose and happiness are inevitable and a normal part of life. Somewhere along the way society decided that midlife and beyond must be synonymous with decline. Boy, did they get that wrong! 

Being in the fitness world I can tell you these assumptions are outdated, limiting and simply BS!

At 62, I feel stronger, wiser, and more at peace with myself than I did decades ago.

Myth #1: Memory loss is inevitable. Have I become more forgetful? Yes! But I found that staying curious and learning new things can keep the mind sharp.

Myth #2: You can’t build muscle after “50.” While it’s true that muscle declines as we age. If we simply adopt a strength training protocol with resistance training, not only can we build muscle, but we can also protect against bone loss and certainly slow down the process. This is where nutrition will play a key role in maintaining and building muscle. It will help protect muscle, regulate hormones, increase metabolism and energy. Keep it simple, repeatable and rooted whole food that supports longevity.

Myth #3: Loss of purpose and happiness. This is where mindset will dictate whether you thrive or not as you age. Focus on the things you are still able to do and that make you feel good. It will give you the confidence to explore new friendships, places, and things.

Why do you think so many people start to “give up” or slow down as they age, and what would you say to someone who feels like it’s too late to start?

The factors that cause us to “slow down” or “give up” as we age are typically not due to a single factor but rather a combination of physiological, psychological and social changes that become more prominent over time. Increased responsibilities, peak career demands, having children at an older age and caring for aging parents can lead to social isolation or lack of support. This can make it harder to stay accountable and motivated. Ultimately, aging presents a unique set of hurdles, but the slow is largely preventable.

Lean into a support network for starters. That will allow you to find yourself a trainer or recruit a friend that will get you out the door. Adopting the exercise approach focusing on functional movement, consistency over intensity and finding joy in movement to meet the body’s changing needs is a great place to start. There are plenty of role models such as Natalie Grabow who at 80 still competes in triathlons and Ernestine Shepard who is a body builder at 89. Wow! They sure knock my socks off and that’s where I keep my forward motion locked in when I’m not feeling motivated.

Bottom line, it’s never too late to start! 

From your perspective as both a model and personal trainer, how do you balance body acceptance with the desire to stay strong and fit?

As a model and a personal trainer, I have become more mindful in focusing on health, functionality, and self-compassion rather than purely aesthetic ideals. Sure, I want to look and feel my best but becoming more accepting as I age and moving through the shifts and changes in my body and how I see myself has become seriously liberating.

Now, when I think of “strong and fit” I prioritise how my body feels and what I can do versus what I can’t do. The shift in fitness is still centered around challenging my body and fostering a positive, goal oriented, mindset. It all comes down to honouring my body’s needs and focusing on healthy behaviors. 

Can you share a moment in your own life when you had to ‘reset’ mentally or physically, and what helped you get through it?

It was December 2012, and my personal training business was growing and thriving. I had great business plans for 2013 not to mention I would be celebrating my milestone 50th birthday that January. Things were looking good, and I was feeling excited and pumped when two weeks shy of the new year things took a turn for the worst. I ended up with an injury that left me with debilitating back pain, the inability to walk for nearly 2 months, and a cocktail of pharmaceuticals that put “Breaking Bad” to shame.

I was in pain, lost most of my clients, I was scared I wasn’t going to find my way out of this, and felt a slow persistent feeling of depression settling in. Exercise was my medicine, and the cocktail of pharmaceuticals was becoming a little too tempting. The birthday celebration never happened, and I was a physical and mental mess.

Fast forward, it was a long road to recovery where I had to dig deep, trust in the process with hours of physio and practise patience that I would come out of this stronger and more resilient. With support from family, friends and a library of self-help books I saw the light at the end of the tunnel. My mantra became “Don’t be a victim to your circumstances”.

You care for a loved one while trying to continue to prioritize your own health. That’s something many readers can relate to. What have you learned about caring for others without losing yourself in the process?

Always, hold space for yourself! Stay true to yourself and resist temptation to fall off the wagon. I have celebrated my sobriety for 16 months and there were times I could have easily thrown in the towel, but I didn’t. Why? I held space! I asked for help, which I’m not very good at, and let friends know that I was struggling through this difficult time. Their support with phone calls and messages of encouragement meant the world to me and kept my thoughts in the right place. Exercise is my medicine of choice and finding support from my husband was a bonus which allowed me, even if it was just 10 minutes, to get a quick workout in. Bottom line, it’s okay to feel shitty, just don’t stay in that space for too long.

When life feels overwhelming, what are your go-to grounding practices, the things that bring you back to center?

Always movement of some kind! In the past I used to lean towards endless kilometers of running and rowing leaving me exhausted. It was a short-term fix that in the end still left me overwhelmed. Now, it’s more about mindful practices of catching the first sunlight, walking barefoot or doing Qi Gong and Tai Chi inspired exercises along with guided meditation that bring me a sense of calm and pull me back to center.

Do you have any non-negotiables in your daily or weekly routine that help you maintain balance and energy?

I most certainly do! My daily non-negotiables revolve around key routines such as daily movement, nutrition rooted in whole foods, hydration, prioritizing sleep and setting firm boundaries to protect this time. Weekly scheduled workouts are also implemented that are set with intention along with days for rest and recovery and ensuring quality connection time with others such as friends and family.

It all comes down to mindset! It’s not perfect every day, or every week, but winning the balance and energy game comes down to building ‘Consistency” rather than striving for perfection which will more than likely end in failure. 

Don’t forget to have fun! That’s the big winner.

We often think of “wellness” as something we do solo, but community plays a huge role. Who or what has been part of your support network?

As much as I enjoy solo activities and feel comfortable in my own space, I do feel a pull to connect with people. It’s an energy that sparks great vibes, deep connection and usually, but not always, involves some sort of physical activity. Things like pickleball, golf, and hiking revolve around group activities and meeting new faces. Or taking up a cooking class with friends exploring a new cuisine, brings comfort and feeds my soul.

How do you approach your own reflection and reset at this time of year? Do you have a ritual or mindset shift that helps you close one chapter and begin another?

I have to say the year has been both tough from a family standpoint but at the same time there have been some real highlights. For me, it’s about mindful reflection and letting go of what no longer serves me and setting a clear roadmap for personal growth. The road might have a few twists and turns and bumps along the way but that’s okay!

You’ve become a role model for women who want to age boldly and beautifully. What do you think it truly means to age well?

To me aging well means redefining the narrative around getting older and understanding that there is no age limit to feeling and looking beautiful. Recognizing that the heavily curated images of social media of ‘What we should look like” is not a true representation of our authentic self. It’s not about avoiding wrinkles or turning back the clock. It’s about embracing who you are, living life with vitality and embracing life through every stage. I chose to dip my toes back into modelling in my late 50’s. I thought it would be something fun to explore and saw there was a void in the 50-70-year-old demographic that needed to be explored and celebrated. 

What’s one wellness myth you wish people would stop believing, especially as they hit their 40s, 50s, and beyond?

I’m going to have fun with this one, just because!

Let’s start with your 40’s and 50’s where you have the sudden urge to buy a convertible and get a questionable tattoo as you struggle to remember what you were just trying to remember.

Your life will be filled with endless aches and pains, and your bedside table has become a pharmacy of prescription pills to relieve the mysterious kink you got from sleeping the wrong way.

Menopause is the “Goliath” of emotional rollercoasters that will leave you convinced that hot flashes, body fat and mood swings have become best friends and are all headed down to the “Lost Libido and Brain Fog” convention.

Oh, and once you hit your 60’s and 70’s you’ll say goodbye to Aritzia because Pennington’s has your hot new fashion looks in beige and Victoria Secret doesn’t hold a candle to your seamless Depends.

In all seriousness, where some or all might be true, every decade holds its challenges. These stages in life hold opportunities and support to help you navigate through the challenges and embrace what’s ahead.

It’s not all downhill from here! 

And finally, when you think about the word “reset,” what does it mean for you personally, right now, in this chapter of your life?

I’d like to lean more towards the word “Reflection” versus “Reset.” To me it’s not about erasing what has happened in the past and starting new, but rather a process of self-reflection and taking action to create a more fulfilling present and future. It’s about growth and doing things that perhaps I was scared to try in the past or laugh at things that I took too seriously. It’s an opportunity to look into the future with wider eyes and a more open mind to the adventures that lie ahead. 

Thanks so much Susan. I’m grateful for you sharing your experiences with us.

This is a powerful reminder that wellness isn’t about defying age, it’s about defining how we choose to live. Susan’s honesty about resilience, reflection, and self-care offers an inspiring roadmap for anyone ready to press reset and step into the next season of life with renewed strength and purpose.

Because, as Susan shows us, health isn’t a finish line. It’s a lifelong practice, and it only gets richer with time.