Active for Life with Dr. Susan Bozeman, DVM

A health scare nearly two decades ago was the catalyst for a lifestyle change for Susan. After a severe esophageal stricture left her unable to eat for weeks and dangerously underweight, she realized she needed to take control. Rather than rely on medications, she made a bold decision: she would get strong.

“It was going to hurt, but I was going to the gym,” she recalls. That action changed everything. At first, she was given the same repetitive routines by inexperienced trainers, but her persistence paid off when she crossed paths with Coach Denise Rose—an IFBB professional and fitness mentor who inspired Susan to embrace strength training.

From then on, Susan committed herself not just to exercise, but to a new way of life.

Today, Susan trains daily alongside a group of friends at the gym ranging in age but united in camaraderie. For her, fitness is more than muscles; it’s about living with independence, confidence, and resilience.

“If you fall down and you can’t get up, you’re going to die,” Susan says frankly. “I want to be able to get up. That’s my why.”

Strength training, she explains, isn’t just about appearance, it’s about protection from arthritis, osteoporosis, falls, and the chronic diseases that rob so many seniors of quality of life. It’s also about proving doubters wrong. When Susan entered veterinary school decades ago, she was told women couldn’t succeed. Later, she was told women “should be soft and squishy.” Instead, she chose strength, physically and mentally.

“People have written us off,” she says. “I’m here to tell you—you can. We all can.”

Susan’s dedication to the gym has carried her through multiple surgeries—knee replacements, shoulder repairs, and foot reconstruction. Each time, her pre-existing strength helped her recover faster. Just days after knee surgery, she was back on her bike.

“You can’t wait until you’re weak to decide to get strong,” she says. “Muscle protects your joints, helps you heal, and keeps you moving.”

She laughs about squatting heavier weights than some men at the gym, riding horses with confidence, or flipping an 80-pound water tank on her farm. For Susan, these everyday victories are proof that strength is medicine.

Susan is quick to point out that health isn’t just about exercise. It’s about community, nutrition, and mindset. She encourages her peers to:

1. Quit one harmful habit. (“For me, it was Dr. Pepper.”)
2. Do something new. Step outside your comfort zone and take action, even in small steps.
3. Get support. Whether through a local gym or AMAC’s Fit Foundations program, having a coach makes all the difference.

Her advice for anyone who feels “too old” to start? “Just do it. Action creates motivation. You don’t have to be motivated first, just start moving.”

Even with a full career and active lifestyle, Susan is still setting new goals. This fall, she plans to compete in a natural fitness competition, proving that strength and vitality belong to every age group. She’s also preparing for a week of horseback riding in the New Mexico mountains and celebrating the arrival of her first grandchild.

For Susan, staying active isn’t about chasing youth, it’s about living fully in the years she’s been given.

“I don’t know when I’ll die,” she says with a smile, “but I don’t want to go weak. I want to go strong.”

Susan Bozeman’s story is a reminder to all AMAC members: it’s never too late to take the first step toward better health. Strength, independence, and joy in movement are within reach—at any age.

???? Susan’s coaches at Beyond Fit Coach have designed a custom program exclusively for AMAC members. It’s called Fit Foundations. You can find it today in the AMAC Active Pro Shop at a special member discount: amac.us/active.