Beast over Burden powered by Barbell Logic

Strength makes us healthier and more capable.  The process of getting stronger refines us.  Sometimes, though, it's fun and motivating to just chase numbers.  If you're hungry to hit some PRs, listen on. When we chase numbers, we're prioritizing strength.  To truly prioritize big PRs, we have to adjust our life to support training.  We may have to dedicate more time to training.  We have to ensure...

Lifters typically complete LP on a 3-day-a-week total body program.  At some point, it makes sense for most lifters to move to a 4-day-a-week program, with one day emphasizing the primarily lower body lifts (squat and deadlift) and the other day emphasizing the primarily upper body lifts (bench and press).   The 4-day split increases the frequency of the upper body lifts from an average of 1.5 tim...

Old Man Texas Method serves as a post-novice program.  It differs from the typical Texas Method in that the volume is decreased, usually to 3 or 5 sets of 5 as opposed to the stereotypical 5 sets of 5.   Matt and Scott also discuss driving up the volume stress and intensity stress and how those two stresses differ.  Finally, they discuss not advancing too quickly--use one tool at a time, enjoy the...

Matt and Scott talk with Andy Baker about a variety of topics including HLM, why LP ends, the relationship between volume and intensity, and more.  Enjoy this wide-ranging conversation.   Get Matched with a Professional Strength Coach today for FREE! No contract with us, just commitment to yourself: Start experiencing strength now:  https://store.barbell-logic.com/match/ Special offers from BLOC a...

Wendler 5/3/1 is one of the most popular strength programs around, with dozens if not hundreds of variants.  In this episode, Scott and Matt discuss Matt's variation on it, which increases the volume and uses supplemental lifts.   Get Matched with a Professional Strength Coach today for FREE! No contract with us, just commitment to yourself: Start experiencing strength now:  https://store.barbell-...

A common question lifters ask is, "Do I need a deload."  The answer is usually, "No," but when and why should you deload, and what is a deload? A deload is a programmed decrease in stress--usually lasting a week--that allows fatigue to dissipate without detraining.  Potential indicators that a deload is warranted include a decrease in libido, bar speed, or desire to train. Without a coach, people...

Matt and Scott talk all things supplemental lifts:  how do they differ from accessory lifts, what are their favorites for the big 4 lifts, when to use them, and different types. Supplemental lifts are variations on the big 4 lifts.  They generally increase the intensity by decreasing the range of motion or increase the time under tension and decrease the intensity.  They are more specific to the b...

For many people, the biggest change during LP is not physical but mental.  Overcoming truly heavy weights improves mental toughness and builds confidence.  Once the initial novelty wears off and the weights grow heavy and move slowly, people often quit on doable lifts.  To complete PRs, to learn what you are capable of, and to undergo the refining process of voluntary hardship, you need to embrace...

Some say that linear progression (LP) only works for lifters who have never trained before.  Others think that they'll only do LP once, but this isn't the case.   Intermediate and advanced clients who have never completed LP find that an abbreviated LP leads to PRs, as the simplicity and intensity of adding weight each session drives rapid progress.   Following an injury, a break from training, or...

To increase our strength, we follow the stress recovery adaptation cycle.  If you complete your programmed training, you receive stress.  As LP gets harder, how do you maximize recovery?   adequate sleep enough calories and protein rest between sets reduce weight jumps account and try to minimize stress from life GET STARTED with one-on-one online coaching FOR FREE! Get Matched with a Professional...

Why study biomechanics?  Biomechanics allows us to understand what constrains our lifting (gravity, center of mass, center of balance, limb lengths) and helps offer solutions.  It explains why lifters with different anthropometries will have different back angles for the same lift and why a lifter might be better at the squat than the deadlift.  It helps explain why certain errors might occur and...

Times below are times FOLLOWING the pre-roll ad:   2:25:  Have you found it more effective to rotate the supplemental lifts in waves or run them out? 4:40:  What do you mean when "the deadlift slows down" or "a lift slows down?"  Especially how do you do this without a coach?   6:45:  Any recommendations for buying a rack and platform for outside?  How do you maintain the equipment outside?   10:4...

Matt and Dr. David Puder discuss how barbell training can improve mental health and assist those combating depression and other psychological struggles. Rebroadcast from Dr. Puder's podcast Psychiatry and Psychotherapy.

Guest hosts:  Jonathan Sullivan and Noah Hayden with Jaime Collins You're an athlete.  You're not a victim.  You're not a patient.  You're training.  You're changing your habits, you're owning your health and fitness, you're putting in work and getting better.  You know why you're training.  You're an athlete, and you have an athlete's mindset and approach.   Beyond the athletic mindset, there is...

Guest hosts:  Jonathan Sullivan and Noah Hayden with Ann Buszard Dr. Sullivan, Noah, and Ann discuss the most-undervalued step of the stress-recovery-adapation process:  recovery.  The further examine sleep, the often underexamined contributor to recovery.  They discuss recommended sleep hygiene habits to get asleep quickly, stay asleep, and get quality sleep.  They also examine nutrition, with a...

Guest hosts:  Jonathan Sullivan and Noah Hayden with Debbie Wrotslavsky Dr. Sullivan, Noah, and Debbie discuss how she came to Greysteel and how it differed from her previous fitness experiences.  Her friends noticed her improved posture and she felt better throughout the day.   They discuss, first and foremost, how training females and males is mostly the same.  Certain patterns and choices seem...

Guest hosts:  Jonathan Sullivan and Noah Hayden with Laura Welcher Dr. Sullivan, Noah, and Laura discuss both the underlying programming principles and then some of the specifics of programming for masters athletes.  Laura discusses her programming and experience with coaching at Greysteel and through Barbell Logic.  They discuss some of the specific rep ranges and programming methods that have wo...

Guest hosts:  Jonathan Sullivan and Noah Hayden with John Claassen An expectation exists in many people that as we age we lose capabilities.  This message gets promulgated by much of the medical community.  "You have a bad knee" or "you have a bad back" and you can have surgery or take medication to manage it, but that is all you can do.  John Claassen--a 93-year old athlete of aging--is an exampl...

Guest Hosts:  Jonathan Sullivan and Noah Hayden Dr. Sullivan and Noah discuss the importance and uniqueness of strength compared to other physical attributes.  They address how older clients know the importance of strength and understand it allows them to function in everyday life and combat the sick aging phenotype.   They discuss the exercise selection criteria and the exercise medicine criteria...

Guest hosts:  Jonathan Sullivan and Noah Hayden with Ann Buszard Dr. Sullivan and Nurse Ann Buszard discuss their medical careers, observations of the "sick aging phenotype," and the failures of the medical industry to confront the underlying causes of this cluster of sicknesses and symptoms.  They discuss how strength training directly addresses the causes of the sick aging phenotype.  They talk...

How do we program the Olympic lifts if we want to add Olympic lifting or potentially compete in an Weightlifting meet?  Andrew, Matt, and Niki discuss how to add Olympic lifting to a more traditional program with a focus on the Big 4 lifts.   Andrew recommends adding the power variants first--usually the power clean.  The cleans can replace the volume deadlift slot and move to the first exercise o...

People often sabotage their training and grow frustrated by the lack of progress.  Delivering too much stress, not taking proper steps for recovery, not protecting training, and having too much variability in their training prevent the stress-recovery-adaptation cycle from successfully occurring and driving progress toward our goals. You may deliver too much stress, from which you cannot recover a...

Matt and Scott talk to Professor Paul at two different points in his cancer struggle —while he was receiving cancer and following his successful defeat of cancer. They discuss not only how strength training helped him during his fight against cancer but how building a base of strength and muscle mass helps in the case of a future diagnosis. Life throws curveballs, and unexpected obstacles arise. Y...

Everyone faces difficulties in life and must confront how and if to overcome them. Some —for whatever reason—have to overcome larger difficulties.    Learn the story of Miles "Smiles" Taylor, the man whose inspiring story has garnered the attention of Arnold Schwarzenegger and others. Hear about his hard work, perseverance, and determination to not accept false limitations. BLOC sales and special...

Scott, Matt, and David discuss practical legal experiences —good and bad —and how people and business owners should approach legal matters and protect themselves. Whether you're considering a small business, are an inspiring strength coach, or simply want to better understand the law through some entertaining yet educational stories, this is the podcast for you. BLOC sales and special offers:  htt...