Is the overhead press worth it for most lifters? In this episode of Beast Over Burden, Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson take a hard look at the most skipped lift in strength training: the overhead press.

They break down why it’s often abandoned, what makes it frustrating, and how to rebuild your pressing with smarter technique, variations, and programming for long-term strength and longevity. Whether you’re dealing with shoulder pain, struggling with progress, or questioning if it’s even worth your time, this episode gives you a clear, no-nonsense answer.

• Why the overhead press gets skipped—and whether that’s a mistake

• How to modify the press to fit your body and goals

• Variations like landmine and dumbbell presses that reduce pain and boost results

• How to think of the press as a movement skill, not just a lift

• Strategies for programming vertical pressing into a long-term training plan

• When to rotate, reduce, or temporarily remove the press
  
  

00:00 – Intro: Is the overhead press worth it?
02:10 – Why lifters skip the press
05:45 – Making pressing work for your body
08:25 – Smarter variations: landmine, dumbbell, incline
12:40 – The press as a skill-based lift
15:10 – Programming adjustments for recovery and sustainability
18:00 – Giving the press a second chance

#overheadpress #rethinkingthebiglifts #beastoverburden #barbelllogic #shouldertraining #smartlifting #deadliftalternatives #strengthafter40 #fitnesspodcast #strengthtraining #trainforlife #presswithoutpain #dumbbellpress #landminepress #liftinglongevity #trainingsustainably #liftingafterinjury #functionalstrength #liftingsmarter #barbellpress

PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE.

• Niki on Instagram
• Andrew on Instagram

• Barbell Logic on Instagram
• Podcast Webpage
• Barbell Logic on Facebook
• Or email podcast@barbell-logic.com

Does the deadlift still matter in your training? If you’ve ever felt beat up by barbell pulls or unsure how to keep deadlifting as your goals and body evolve, this episode is for you. Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson unpack how the deadlift should serve you—not wear you down.

From trap bars to kettlebells, from smart programming to pain management, this is a no-nonsense guide to making the deadlift work for life—not just your PR sheet.

🎧 This is part of the Rethinking the Big Lifts series—where we challenge conventional thinking to build training that’s smarter, sustainable, and aligned with what matters most.

• Why the deadlift is more than just a max-effort pull from the floor

• When it’s time to modify—or skip—the conventional deadlift

• The benefits of trap bar and other variations

• How to manage fatigue and avoid overtraining

• What to do when the deadlift causes pain or stress

• How to deadlift for longevity, not just numbers

00:00 – Intro: Does the deadlift still matter?
01:58 – What is the deadlift really for?
04:30 – Trap bars, kettlebells, and why they’re not cheating
08:45 – Programming the deadlift without burning out
13:10 – When to modify, reduce, or skip barbell deadlifts
16:35 – If it hurts: programming fixes vs. ego traps
20:30 – Long-term lessons: deadlifting for life, not just PRs

#deadlifttraining #beastoverburden #rethinkingthebiglifts #barbelllogic #trapbardeadlift #strengthtrainingpodcast #longevityfitness #smarttraining #trainforlife #strengthoverego #liftingafter40 #backfriendlydeadlift #functionalstrength #barbelltraining #fitnesspodcastforlifters #customtraining #deadliftpainfix #liftinglongevity #coachedstrength #strengththatlasts

PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE.

• Niki on Instagram
• Andrew on Instagram

• Barbell Logic on Instagram
• Podcast Webpage
• Barbell Logic on Facebook
• Or email podcast@barbell-logic.com

Is the bench press overrated—or just misunderstood? In this episode of Beast Over Burden, Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson challenge the default status of the bench press in most lifters’ routines. Whether you’re trying to get stronger, avoid pain, or train for the long haul, this conversation will help you rethink the bench’s role in your program—and whether it’s serving your goals.

This is part of the Rethinking the Big Lifts series, where we explore how foundational barbell movements evolve over time and how to train smarter, not just harder.

• Why the bench press is one of the most misunderstood lifts

• The real answer to “Is the bench press overrated?”

• How your goals determine whether and how to bench

• When the bench press might not be worth it

• Smarter alternatives to traditional benching

• How the bench press can evolve with you over your training life

• Why intention matters more than tradition in your programming

00:00 – Intro: Is the bench press overrated?
02:10 – Chest day myths and gym culture
04:45 – The bench as a useful tool—when used with intention
08:00 – Adapting the bench for your goals and body
11:20 – Alternatives to traditional bench pressing
14:15 – The bench press through different life stages
18:00 – Final thoughts: use the bench, don’t worship it

#benchexercise #barbellbenchpress #benchpressform #isbenchpressoverrated #beastoverburden #barbelllogic #strengthtraining #trainforlife #smarttraining #fitnessover30 #rethinkyourtraining #bigliftsseries #lifestylelifting #pressprogress #upperbodystrength #longtermfitness #liftingover40 #coachchat

PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE.

• Niki on Instagram
• Andrew on Instagram

• Barbell Logic on Instagram
• Podcast Webpage
• Barbell Logic on Facebook
• Or email podcast@barbell-logic.com

What is a squat—really? In this first episode of our new Big Lifts series, strength coaches Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson ask the question many lifters overlook: what are you actually trying to get out of your squat?

Whether you’re chasing PRs, trying to age with strength, or just want to move better, this conversation breaks down why your squat should evolve with your goals, your body, and your season of life.

Let go of the dogma—and train for you.

• Why “the squat” isn’t one fixed movement

• How to define a squat based on your goals

• What matters more than bar placement or depth

• When and how to evolve your squat over time

• How to train the squat for long-term health and freedom

• The difference between strength for performance and for life

00:00 – Intro: Why defining a squat isn’t as simple as you think
02:35 – Squats for life vs. squats for competition
05:50 – Does everyone need to low-bar squat?
09:20 – The squat isn’t just one movement
13:40 – Your squat should reflect your goals
18:10 – Why squats evolve over time
21:45 – Summary: What is a squat… for you?

#whatisasquat #squatform #squatdepth #squattechnique #barbelllogic #beastoverburden #strengthtraining #bigliftsseries #howtosquat #strengthforlife #longevitytraining #liftingover30 #trainforlife #barbellbasics

PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE.

• Niki on Instagram
• Andrew on Instagram

• Barbell Logic on Instagram
• Podcast Webpage
• Barbell Logic on Facebook
• Or email podcast@barbell-logic.com

Are you training nearly every day—strength, cardio, HIIT—and still not seeing the results you want? In this episode of Beast Over Burden, strength coaches Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson tackle a common question: Are you progressing, or just working hard?

They break down the sneaky signs of overtraining, the truth about cardio intensity, and how recovery—not more effort—is often the bottleneck to strength, muscle, and long-term health.

• Training hard ≠ guaranteed progress
  
  

• Doing too much can stall strength and muscle gains
  
  

• Most “HIIT” is just moderate cardio—know the difference
  
  

• Fat loss requires recovery-conscious training, not chaos
  
  

• Are you progressing? Ask yourself… or your recovery markers
  
  

• Consistency and adaptation > complexity and overexertion

00:00 – Intro: Are you progressing, or just doing more?
01:45 – Meet the lifter who’s doing everything
04:00 – Why “HIIT” isn’t what most people think it is
07:25 – Recovery capacity vs. training volume
10:40 – Red flags that your recovery is compromised
14:15 – How to lose fat without losing muscle
18:10 – When doing less helps you gain more
22:00 – Wrap-up: Train smarter, recover harder

#strengthtraining #trainingprogress #overtraining #recoverymatters #barbelllogic #fitnesspodcast #hypertrophytraining #trainforlife #areyouprogressing #smarttraining #beastoverburden

PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE.

• Niki on Instagram
• Andrew on Instagram

• Barbell Logic on Instagram
• Podcast Webpage
• Barbell Logic on Facebook
• Or email podcast@barbell-logic.com

Still searching for the perfect program to fix your fitness? In this episode of Beast Over Burden, strength coaches Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson expose why the “one right plan” mindset is keeping lifters stuck. They break down how perfectionism, rigid programming, and unrealistic expectations sabotage long-term progress—and share smarter, more sustainable ways to train for strength, health, and life. Whether you’re burned out, frustrated, or just tired of starting over, this episode will help you trade pressure for progress.

• The perfect program is a myth—it doesn’t exist

• Progress comes from consistency, not perfection

• Life isn’t a lab: your training plan should adapt

• Burnout often comes from overreaching, not underworking

• Sustainable training = systems that flex with your lifestyle

• Missed workouts aren’t failure—they’re part of the process

• Let go of ego and build physical freedom through awareness

00:00 – Intro: Why chasing “the perfect program” doesn’t work
02:10 – Pitfall #1: Perfectionism disguised as discipline
05:45 – When the plan doesn’t fit your life
09:20 – How to train smarter with flexible systems
13:00 – Real life > theoretical programming
18:40 – All-or-nothing thinking and why it fails
22:30 – What actually works: adaptable, goal-driven systems
26:10 – Wrap-up: Train smarter, not harder

#strengthtraining #fitnesspodcast #barbelltraining #theperfectprogram #trainingmindset #trainforlife #barbelllogic #fitnessconsistency #longevityfitness #sustainabletraining #beastoverburden

PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE.

• Niki on Instagram
• Andrew on Instagram

• Barbell Logic on Instagram
• Podcast Webpage
• Barbell Logic on Facebook
• Or email podcast@barbell-logic.com

This episode tackles overcoming the 3 big training pitfalls that silently sabotage lifters: mindless snacking, all-or-nothing thinking, and poor boundaries. Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson break it down with practical tips, real-life stories, and strategies that actually work for strength, longevity, and real-life training.

• Identify and overcome the 3 big training pitfalls
  
  

• Why snacks you don’t count still count
  
  

• How “perfect or nothing” leads to burnout
  
  

• Real-world boundary-setting tips for parties, travel, and stress
  
  

• Choose awareness over reactivity in your lifting lifestyle
  
  

• Training for strength, longevity, and health starts in daily habits

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro: Why these 3 pitfalls matter more than you think

02:10 – Pitfall 1: Mindless snacking and invisible calories

08:22 – Pitfall 2: All-or-nothing thinking and rigid training

16:48 – Pitfall 3: Boundary-setting in real life (social eating, time)

24:35 – Conscious choice vs reactivity

28:40 – Final thoughts: Build freedom through awareness, not perfection

#strengthtraining #fitnesspodcast #barbelltraining #mindlesssnacking #trainingconsistency #physicalfreedom #barbelllogic #healthylifestyle #longevitytraining #realworldfitness #overcomingpitfalls

PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE.

• Niki on Instagram
• Andrew on Instagram

• Barbell Logic on Instagram
• Podcast Webpage
• Barbell Logic on Facebook
• Or email podcast@barbell-logic.com

Struggling to stay consistent with strength training? Feel like you're always starting over? In this episode, Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson deliver a realistic guide to long-term strength—not hype, not hacks—just what actually works for lasting progress, muscle, and freedom.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Physical freedom = the ability to adapt and train for life—not just 12-week spurts

• You don’t need 6 weeks—you need 18–24 months of structured training

• Muscle = your emergency fund for long-term independence

• A coach can accelerate your growth and cut years off your learning curve

• Training through life (injury, kids, stress) is a skill you can build

• You’re not “off the wagon”—you’re always training, just in different seasons

• Stop starting over. Build habits and systems that stick.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Intro – Why $20 worth of value isn’t enough

1:45 What is physical freedom, and how do you earn it?

5:00 The 18–24 month training window that changes everything

10:50 Why most lifters plateau, quit, or burn out

15:20 How to train through chaos, injury, or parenthood

23:30 The mindset shift: discipline vs. peace

30:00 The “starting over” cycle and how to break it

33:00 How to actually prove physical freedom to yourself

#strengthtraining #longevity #fitnessjourney #barbelltraining #muscleforlife #beastoverburden #barbelllogic #physicalfreedom #healthylifestyle #onlinecoaching #trainforlife

PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE.

• Niki on Instagram
• Andrew on Instagram

• Barbell Logic on Instagram
• Podcast Webpage
• Barbell Logic on Facebook
• Or email podcast@barbell-logic.com