Barbell Logic
Barbell Logic
Join expert voices from Barbell Logic and others from the world of strength for resources to help you get strong for life. Get coaching options and more educational content at barbell-logic.com.
- 45 minutes 18 secondsWhy People Quit Their Fitness Goals (And How to Stop)
Every year starts the same way: new goals, new motivation, and a fresh commitment to fitness. But within a few months, many people feel like they're starting over again. If you've ever wondered why people quit their fitness goals, this episode is for you.
In this episode of Beast Over Burden, Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson break down the real reasons motivation fades and why extreme goal-setting often leads to burnout instead of long-term progress. They explore the common cycle of starting strong, losing momentum, and restarting over and over — and how to finally break that pattern.
You'll learn why motivation isn't the problem, how all-or-nothing thinking sabotages progress, and why sustainable habits matter more than short bursts of intensity. This conversation dives into practical strategies for building routines that fit real life, reducing decision fatigue, and making consistency easier to maintain year-round.
If you've ever struggled with staying consistent or felt frustrated by restarting your fitness journey, this episode will help you understand why people quit their fitness goals and how to build a plan that actually lasts.
In this episode, we cover:• Why motivation fades after the New Year • The hidden problem with extreme fitness challenges • How "all-or-nothing" thinking leads to burnout • The power of small decisions and sustainable habits • How to stop restarting your fitness journey
This episode is about building a fitness lifestyle that lasts — not another short-term burst of motivation.
PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE. Connect with the hosts Connect with the show10 February 2026, 10:00 am - 25 minutes 51 secondsMake Training Fit Your Real Life: Adaptation Through Strength Training
What does it actually mean to get stronger?
In this episode of Beast Over Burden, Nikki and Andrew break down adaptation through strength training—how lifting builds muscle, bone density, and resilience over time, and why the real goal isn't just PRs.
They discuss the two sides of adaptation: using training to drive physical change, and learning how to make your training adapt to your life and schedule so it becomes a lifelong habit.
Because strength training only works long-term when it stops being a "to-do list" item…and starts being part of who you are.
If you want training that lasts for decades—not just a few motivated weeks—this episode is for you.
What You'll Learn in This Episode
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What adaptation through strength training really means
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How strength training builds muscle and bone as long-term insurance
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Why training must adapt to your goals and your life
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The tradeoffs that come with different fitness priorities
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How consistency matters more than chasing PRs
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Why strength training has to become a lifelong habit, not a short-term project
Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction and the "A for Adaptation" theme
02:30 – Adaptation through strength training: choosing the goal you want
05:20 – Why real adaptation requires consistent stress and recovery over time
08:40 – Training can't stay on the to-do list: making it a lifelong habit
13:30 – Moving beyond PRs and finding deeper meaning in strength training
PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE. Connect with the hosts Connect with the show27 January 2026, 10:00 am -
- 14 minutes 43 secondsResilience through Resistance Training: Harder to Kill, Faster to Heal
When it comes to long-term health and fitness, most people focus on performance or appearance. But one of the most important benefits of strength training has nothing to do with how you look.
It's resilience.
In this episode of Beast Over Burden, Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson continue the C.L.A.R.A. series with R is for Resilience, breaking down how resilience through resistance training makes you harder to injure, faster to heal, and better prepared for the unexpected.
They explore real-world examples of slips, falls, illness, and setbacks — and why people who consistently lift weights tend to recover faster and maintain independence longer. From carrying more muscle mass as a physical reserve, to how strength training makes fat loss and recovery easier, this episode explains why resilience isn't accidental — it's built.
You'll hear why resistance training prepares you for injuries you can't predict, why muscle mass acts like insurance you carry with you, and how making training a habit — not a temporary phase — keeps life from slipping into "hard mode" as you age.
This episode is about training for real life — not just the gym.
Timestamps
00:00 – Intro + CLARA series (R is for Resilience)
02:16 – Being "harder to kill" and recovering from falls
06:52 – Muscle mass as insurance for illness and injury
09:45 – Why more muscle improves fat loss and recovery
13:07 – Making resistance training part of your life
PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE. Connect with the hosts Connect with the show20 January 2026, 10:00 am - 32 minutes 44 secondsAccountability for Strength Training: Do What You Said You'd Do
When it comes to fitness, most people don't fail because they lack information — they fail because they don't follow through.
In this episode of the C.L.A.R.A. series, Andrew Jackson and Niki Sims break down why accountability for strength training is the real foundation of long-term success. They explore how self-trust, integrity, and consistency determine whether training becomes a lifelong habit or another thing you start and stop.
You'll hear why accountability isn't just about having someone watch you, but about becoming the kind of person who does what they say they'll do — even when life gets chaotic. Andrew also explains how accountability connects to trust, identity, and why being consistent now protects your future self.
This episode shows how to stay committed to strength training without being rigid, why flexibility doesn't mean failure, and how coaching helps filter out what actually matters so you can stay consistent for decades.
Timestamps
00:00 – Intro + CLARA series (A is for Accountability) 03:10 – Why accountability matters more than motivation 07:40 – Self-trust, integrity, and doing what you said you'd do 12:50 – Accountability to your future self 17:30 – When accountability becomes flexible instead of rigid 23:40 – Coaching, consistency, and filtering what really matters
PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE. Connect with the hosts Connect with the show13 January 2026, 10:00 am - 26 minutes 17 secondsStrength Training for Longevity: Train Now So You Don't Become a Burden Later
When you're young, longevity doesn't feel urgent. Strength training is about PRs, aesthetics, or stress relief. But as life speeds up—and as you watch parents and peers lose independence—the real value of training becomes clear.
In Episode 2 of the C.L.A.R.A. series, Andrew and Niki explore what longevity actually means, why strength training protects quality of life, and how consistency through imperfect seasons keeps you capable for decades. They discuss Dr. Jonathan Sullivan's concept of compressing the morbidity window, the dangers of the "sick aging phenotype," and why strength training must become a non-negotiable as life changes.
This episode is about playing the long game—so you remain independent, capable, and strong for as long as possible.
Timestamps00:00 – Intro + Episode 2 of the CLARA series 03:15 – What longevity really means (and why it didn't resonate earlier) 03:45 – Compressing the morbidity window & the sick aging phenotype 06:30 – Strength, independence, and not becoming a burden later in life 09:30 – Why "mediocre" workouts still matter for longevity 13:20 – Muscle as a metabolic reservoir (blood sugar, diabetes, bone health) 17:45 – Coaching, adaptation, and training for the long haul 24:45 – Clara shoutout + "your future self will thank you"
PS - Ready to finally see real change? Lean In 12 delivers noticeable fat loss, improved strength, and unmatched consistency through expert coaching and daily support — all in one premium 12-week program. Now discounted for a limited-time. Start your transformation: https://bit.ly/4rKpkLr Connect with the hosts Connect with the show6 January 2026, 10:00 am - 31 minutes 47 secondsKeep Showing Up: Why Consistency is the Real Strength
Consistency is the foundation of strength training—but it's also the hardest part.
In the first episode of the C.L.A.R.A. series, Andrew and Niki break down why strength training consistency matters more than motivation, outcomes, or perfect programming. If you've ever struggled to stick with lifting, lost momentum after early progress, or felt discouraged by slow results, this episode explains why that's normal—and how to stay in the process anyway.
C.L.A.R.A. stands for Consistency, Longevity, Accountability, Resilience, and Adaptability. These five principles form the mental framework for lifelong strength, health, and sustainable training. This episode focuses on consistency because everything else flows from it.
You'll hear why outcomes like PRs and physique changes can become distractions, how discomfort and delayed feedback sabotage consistency, and why buy-in matters more than motivation. The conversation also explores common obstacles to staying consistent with strength training, including soreness, injury, decision fatigue, limiting beliefs, and the mental load of trying to do everything "right."
This episode kicks off a new series designed to help lifters think beyond the barbell and build strength that lasts for decades—not just months.
Timestamps
00:00 – Why this series exists and why consistency comes first 03:00 – Introducing the C.L.A.R.A. framework 06:15 – Consistency over outcomes and PR obsession 09:45 – Buy-in, churn, and why consistency drives results 14:00 – Discomfort, delayed feedback, and limiting beliefs 21:30 – Decision fatigue, friction, and the role of coaching 30:15 – Looking ahead to longevity and the long game
PS - Ready to finally see real change? Lean In 12 delivers noticeable fat loss, improved strength, and unmatched consistency through expert coaching and daily support — all in one premium 12-week program. Now discounted for a limited-time. Start your transformation: https://bit.ly/4rKpkLr Connect with the hosts Connect with the show30 December 2025, 10:00 am - 46 minutes 14 secondsDeadlift Meet at 40: Niki Sims, a Rough Taper, and What She Learned
In this episode of Beast Over Burden, hosts Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson unpack how GLP-1 medications, TRT, and peptides are changing the coaching landscape—and what that means for strength training.
Drawing from years of hands-on coaching experience, Andrew explains how GLP-1s and strength training interact, why muscle preservation becomes critical during rapid fat loss, and how tools like TRT can accelerate progress without changing the core rules of adaptation.
If you're a lifter training on GLP-1 medications, considering TRT, or a coach working with clients using these tools, this episode delivers a first-principles framework for protecting muscle, managing recovery, and training for long-term health.
Competing at 40 looks different than it did in your 20s—and that's not a bad thing.
In this episode of Beast Over Burden, Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson recap Niki's recent deadlift-only meet, breaking down why she decided to compete again, how she trained while traveling, what went wrong during the taper, and what the experience revealed about strength, perspective, and showing up at 40.
This isn't a PR story. It's an honest look at preparation, adversity, meet-day chaos, and the value of competing without tying your identity to a number on the bar.
What You'll Learn in This Episode
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Why a deadlift-only meet made sense at 40
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How pulling 405 in training reopened the door to competing
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The training structure that stayed simple—and the one key change that mattered
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How frequent travel and inconsistent gyms affected recovery and performance
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What a "rough taper" actually feels like
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A realistic approach to weight management without extreme cutting
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Meet-day logistics, warm-up chaos, and disrupted attempts
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Why missing a lift doesn't mean missing the point
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What it means to be proud of your strength at 40
Timestamps
00:00 – Intro and why this meet recap matters
02:33 – Pulling 405 and deciding to compete again
06:49 – Training approach and key program changes
10:47 – Training while traveling: 20 gyms in one year
15:08 – Getting sick, a rough taper, and reset expectations
20:35 – Weight management and attempt selection
28:24 – Meet-day chaos, warm-ups, and attempts
36:45 – What Niki learned from a deadlift meet at 40change
46:00 – Final thoughts: tools don't replace training
48:10 – How to work with a Barbell Logic coach
PS - Ready to finally see real change? Lean In 12 delivers noticeable fat loss, improved strength, and unmatched consistency through expert coaching and daily support — all in one premium 12-week program. Now discounted for a limited-time. Start your transformation: https://bit.ly/4rKpkLr Connect with the hosts Connect with the show23 December 2025, 10:00 am -
- 26 minutes 3 secondsGLP-1s, TRT, and Training: What Lifters & Coaches Need to Know
GLP-1 medications, TRT, and peptides are becoming common—but they don't change the rules of strength training. Learn how GLP-1s and strength training work together to preserve muscle, manage recovery, and train intelligently for long-term health.
In this episode of Beast Over Burden, hosts Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson unpack how GLP-1 medications, TRT, and peptides are changing the coaching landscape—and what that means for strength training.
Drawing from years of hands-on coaching experience, Andrew explains how GLP-1s and strength training interact, why muscle preservation becomes critical during rapid fat loss, and how tools like TRT can accelerate progress without changing the core rules of adaptation.
If you're a lifter training on GLP-1 medications, considering TRT, or a coach working with clients using these tools, this episode delivers a first-principles framework for protecting muscle, managing recovery, and training for long-term health.
What You'll Learn in This Episode
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How GLP-1s and strength training interact in real lifters
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Why training on GLP-1 medications increases the need for muscle preservation
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Common fatigue, nutrition, and recovery challenges with GLP-1s
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How TRT affects recovery, training frequency, and progress
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Why first principles still apply—even with hormone support
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How coaches should think about programming for clients on GLP-1s or TRT
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The role of protein, resistance training, and bone density during rapid fat loss
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Why communication between lifter and coach matters more than ever
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How peptides fit into recovery—and where their limits are
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Why long-term quality of life should guide training decisions
Timestamps
00:00 – Intro: Niki & Andrew set the stage 02:10 – The biggest shift Andrew has seen in 10 years of coaching 04:30 – What counts as hormone-influencing tools (GLP-1s, TRT, peptides) 07:20 – Why GLP-1 medications reduce appetite—and what that changes 10:45 – Training on GLP-1s: fatigue, low energy, and muscle loss risk 14:30 – Fat loss vs muscle preservation: why strength training matters 18:05 – TRT and strength training: the return of linear progress 22:40 – Recovery, frequency, and why TRT doesn't remove limits 26:15 – Peptides, recovery, and optimization myths 30:10 – Coaching clients on GLP-1s: why honesty matters 34:25 – Nutrition priorities when appetite is suppressed 38:10 – Bone density, muscle mass, and aging well 42:00 – First principles that never change 46:00 – Final thoughts: tools don't replace training 48:10 – How to work with a Barbell Logic coach
Key Takeaway
GLP-1s, TRT, and peptides may change the training landscape—but they don't change the map. Strength training, protein intake, recovery, and intelligent coaching still determine long-term results.
PS - Ready to finally see real change? Lean In 12 delivers noticeable fat loss, improved strength, and unmatched consistency through expert coaching and daily support — all in one premium 12-week program. Now discounted for a limited-time. Start your transformation: https://bit.ly/4rKpkLr Connect with the hosts Connect with the show16 December 2025, 10:00 am -
- 29 minutes 32 secondsTrain Anyway: Consistency Blueprint for Strength & Fitness in Busy Seasons
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
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How visualization creates emotional buy-in and strengthens habits
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Why realistic expectations matter more than perfect plans
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How to adapt strength training during pregnancy, postpartum, and sleep-deprived phases
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Strategies for overlapping lifts, shortening sessions, and staying consistent
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How breath work and mindset shifts help you stay patient and resilient
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The power of being kind to yourself when life gets messy
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Why flexible training beats rigid programming in busy seasons
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How to design a week of training that fits your real life, not your ideal life
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The role of support systems—coaches, spouses, accountability—in staying on track
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Why showing up, even imperfectly, is what builds long-term progress
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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 Connect with the show9 December 2025, 10:00 am -
- 50 minutes 7 secondsFrom Pain to Power: A Strength Training Transformation Story with Mac & Gil
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
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Why rebuilding technique can feel slow—but changes everything
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The role of psychology, confidence, and patience in long-term coaching
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How Coach Mac used experimentation and customization to solve persistent pain
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What to do when progress stalls (sometimes for months at a time)
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The breakthrough moment when strength finally "clicked"
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How improved nutrition and mindset accelerated transformation
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The surprising impact of Lyme disease—and how to start over the right way
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Why strength training skills stay with you for life
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How training helped Gillespie earn a place in the Coast Guard
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Why this strength training transformation story is so powerful for late starters
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 - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE. Connect with the hosts Connect with the show2 December 2025, 10:00 am -
- 1 hour 3 minutesStrength Training for Moms: Nikki's Journey through Pregnancy, Postpartum, & Unstoppable Consistency
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
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Why strength matters so much for pregnant and postpartum women
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How to modify training through each trimester
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The surprising benefits of tonnage-based and RPE-based programming
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How to navigate fatigue, nausea, sleep deprivation, and childcare
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Why "all or nothing" breaks moms—and how to replace it with a sustainable mindset
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The physical and emotional realities of postpartum recovery
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How coaching support changes everything for new moms
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The story behind Nikki's unplanned, fast home birth
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Why taking up space—not shrinking—is the real goal
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How strength training helps moms show up better for their kids and themselves
25 November 2025, 10:00 am -
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