Beast over Burden powered by Barbell Logic Podcast By Barbell Logic cover art

Beast over Burden powered by Barbell Logic

Beast over Burden powered by Barbell Logic

By: Barbell Logic
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Tired of fitness fads, celebrity workout programs, and quick fixes? Are you struggling to meet your fitness and health goals? We ditch one-size-fits-all plans and focus on sustainable, effective strategies that fit seamlessly into your busy life. This podcast is for real people—busy professionals, middle-aged moms, and anyone tired of gimmicks—seeking practical tools to transform their fitness and health journey. Here's what you'll discover in this fitness and health podcast: -Simple, hard-hitting approaches to deliver real results without overwhelming your schedule. -Nutrition strategies that are realistic, enjoyable, and actually work. -Mindset shifts to overcome plateaus and build lifelong health habits. -The benefits of strength training and why hiring a professional coach can change the game. Fitness is a journey, not a destination. Join us as we dive into the lifestyle of strength training, sustainable nutrition, and mindset mastery. We're here to help you take control of your health, achieve your goals, and live a stronger, healthier, and more fulfilling life. The power is in your hands—take the first step today. We've got your back.Barbell Logic 2017-2025 Exercise & Fitness Fitness, Diet & Nutrition Hygiene & Healthy Living
Episodes
  • Train Anyway: Consistency Blueprint for Strength & Fitness in Busy Seasons

    Train Anyway: Consistency Blueprint for Strength & Fitness in Busy Seasons
    Dec 9 2025
    In this episode of Beast Over Burden, Niki Sims sits down with Barbell Logic coach Nikki Burman to unpack what it really looks like to train anyway—to stay consistent in strength and fitness through pregnancy, toddlers, homeschooling, deployment, and the unpredictable rhythm of real life. Nikki shares the mindset shifts, visualization practices, planning systems, and flexible training strategies that helped her stay grounded and capable during some of the most demanding seasons of her life. This conversation is a powerful reminder that consistency doesn't come from perfection—it comes from realistic planning, compassionate self-talk, and building a training approach that supports your actual life, not your ideal one. Whether you're a busy parent, a professional navigating stressful seasons, or someone who wants to keep training without burning out, this episode lays out a practical blueprint for designing workouts that work—even when life doesn't go according to plan. If you've ever wondered how to maintain strength and fitness when you're exhausted, overwhelmed, or pulled in a hundred directions, Nikki's candid, thoughtful insights will help you reset your expectations, rethink your routines, and build a sustainable approach to training you can stick with. What You'll Learn in This Episode How visualization creates emotional buy-in and strengthens habits Why realistic expectations matter more than perfect plans How to adapt strength training during pregnancy, postpartum, and sleep-deprived phases Strategies for overlapping lifts, shortening sessions, and staying consistent How breath work and mindset shifts help you stay patient and resilient The power of being kind to yourself when life gets messy Why flexible training beats rigid programming in busy seasons How to design a week of training that fits your real life, not your ideal life The role of support systems—coaches, spouses, accountability—in staying on track Why showing up, even imperfectly, is what builds long-term progress How to train anyway when everything feels unpredictable Timestamps 00:00 – Intro: Niki welcomes Coach Nikki Burman 01:45 – Why Nikki wanted to revisit her story after the previous episode 03:20 – Visualization: the starting point for lasting habits 07:10 – From aesthetics to capability: shifting the purpose of training 10:00 – How motherhood reshaped Nikki's approach to fitness 12:40 – Realistic planning vs. ideal planning 15:02 – Why Nikki committed to only two strength sessions a week 17:20 – Training during deployment: flexibility over rigidity 20:05 – Peloton, kids' screen time, and making cardio actually doable 23:30 – Mindset work: self-talk, breath work, and emotional regulation 26:48 – Avoiding the perfection trap in busy seasons 28:55 – Nutrition, mindfulness, and resetting old habits 31:15 – Designing a weekly plan you can actually follow 34:22 – Support systems: coaching, accountability, and home environment 37:10 – How to "trick yourself" into staying consistent 40:05 – The power of seeing busy seasons as temporary 42:30 – Teaching kids by example: modeling strength and capability 44:55 – Final strategies for staying consistent through real life 46:30 – How Barbell Logic experience calls help lifters visualize their path 48:00 – Closing thoughts PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE. Connect with the hosts Niki on InstagramAndrew on Instagram Connect with the show Barbell Logic on InstagramPodcast WebpageBarbell Logic on FacebookOr email podcast@barbell-logic.com
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    30 mins
  • From Pain to Power: A Strength Training Transformation Story with Mac & Gil

    From Pain to Power: A Strength Training Transformation Story with Mac & Gil
    Dec 2 2025
    In this inspiring strength training transformation story, Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson sit down with Coach Mac McGregor and his longtime client, Gillespie Ferguson, to explore one of the most powerful journeys ever shared on Beast Over Burden. Once a self-described "unathletic" late starter plagued by chronic pain, self-doubt, and years of setbacks, Gillespie rebuilt not just his lifts but his entire understanding of what he was capable of. Through patient coaching, persistent work, and a deep friendship formed through the process, he transformed from a hesitant beginner into a confident, physically capable Coast Guard volunteer on the Isle of Skye. In this candid conversation, Mac and Gillespie walk through the early struggles of pain and insecurity, the slow technical rebuild of every lift, the psychological work of staying committed through setbacks, and the surprising breakthrough that came years into training. They also share the dramatic impact of Lyme disease, the process of starting over from scratch, and why knowing how to train is the ultimate form of resilience. This episode is a reminder that strength is not reserved for the gifted—it's for anyone willing to start, struggle, and keep showing up. Whether you're a beginner, someone returning from pain, a coach working with complex clients, or simply someone who needs to hear that transformation is possible at any age, this is an episode you don't want to miss. What You'll Learn in This Episode How Gillespie went from chronic pain and self-doubt to the strongest he's ever been Why rebuilding technique can feel slow—but changes everything The role of psychology, confidence, and patience in long-term coaching How Coach Mac used experimentation and customization to solve persistent pain What to do when progress stalls (sometimes for months at a time) The breakthrough moment when strength finally "clicked" How improved nutrition and mindset accelerated transformation The surprising impact of Lyme disease—and how to start over the right way Why strength training skills stay with you for life How training helped Gillespie earn a place in the Coast Guard Why this strength training transformation story is so powerful for late starters Timestamps 00:00 – Intro: Meet Mac & Gillespie 02:25 – Gillespie's beginnings: not athletic, not confident, but willing 07:40 – Early training attempts & meeting the first lifters who inspired him 11:10 – Working with Carl Schutt & the challenges that carried into lockdown 15:55 – The first in-person session with Mac & rebuilding from scratch 21:30 – Psychology of pain, fear, and believing you're "not built for strength" 26:05 – The slow technical fix: empty bar squats, 40-kg deadlifts, constant troubleshooting 30:20 – When progress finally took off: nutrition, confidence, and consistency 35:42 – Hitting big PRs: 187.5 kg deadlift, 140 kg squat, and more 39:55 – Disaster strikes: the onset of Lyme disease 43:20 – Starting over with a fresh LP after treatment 47:00 – Becoming Coast Guard–ready: strength meets service 50:25 – What Gillespie wishes he could tell his younger self 54:10 – Mac and Gillespie reflect on friendship, persistence, and purpose 58:00 – Final thoughts & how coaching changes lives PS: Get early access to Black Friday Sales > https://bit.ly/3LmWhx2 - Save 50% on Online Coaching and Nutrition - Save up to 50% on the Barbell Academy - Gift Strength and get a bonus month Connect with the hosts Niki on InstagramAndrew on Instagram Connect with the show Barbell Logic on InstagramPodcast WebpageBarbell Logic on FacebookOr email podcast@barbell-logic.com
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    50 mins
  • Strength Training for Moms: Nikki's Journey through Pregnancy, Postpartum, & Unstoppable Consistency

    Strength Training for Moms: Nikki's Journey through Pregnancy, Postpartum, & Unstoppable Consistency
    Nov 25 2025

    In this inspiring episode, Nikki Sims and Andrew Jackson sit down with two of Barbell Logic's most recognizable names: Nikki Berman (Director of Client Experience) and Coach Bekah Creek (PT and longtime BLOC coach). Together, they dive deep into what strength training for moms really looks like—during pregnancy, postpartum, deployments, sleepless nights, and every chaotic season in between.

    Nikki shares the full arc of her journey: from chasing "skinny" through extreme dieting and cardio, to discovering barbell training, to becoming a mother of four and finding her strongest, most capable self along the way. Her candid stories—including training through nausea, the realities of relaxin, managing back-to-back pregnancies, and an unexpected home birth—offer a rare, empowering look at motherhood through the lens of strength.

    Coach Bekah walks through the coaching side: how to modify programming for pregnant or postpartum clients, when to push, when to pull back, and why the marathon mindset of "something is better than nothing" can be transformational for busy moms. Together, they illustrate how strength training can anchor a woman through the most demanding phases of life.

    Whether you're a mother, a future mother, a coach working with pregnant/postpartum clients, or simply someone looking for hope and consistency, this conversation highlights the resilience and adaptability that define strength training for moms.

    What You'll Learn in This Episode

    • Why strength matters so much for pregnant and postpartum women

    • How to modify training through each trimester

    • The surprising benefits of tonnage-based and RPE-based programming

    • How to navigate fatigue, nausea, sleep deprivation, and childcare

    • Why "all or nothing" breaks moms—and how to replace it with a sustainable mindset

    • The physical and emotional realities of postpartum recovery

    • How coaching support changes everything for new moms

    • The story behind Nikki's unplanned, fast home birth

    • Why taking up space—not shrinking—is the real goal

    • How strength training helps moms show up better for their kids and themselves

    PS: Get early access to Black Friday Sales > https://bit.ly/3LmWhx2
    - Save 50% on Online Coaching and Nutrition
    - Save up to 50% on the Barbell Academy
    - Gift Strength and get a bonus month 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 podcast@barbell-logic.com
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    1 hr and 3 mins
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