Beast over Burden powered by Barbell Logic

Michael Gaudet joins Beast Over Burden to share his remarkable story of powerlifting after a heart attack, living with type 1 diabetes for 50 years, and becoming a world champion at 62.
Michael has lived many athletic lives: wrestler, competitive cyclist, sports car racer, mountaineering instructor, and competitive powerlifter. After surviving a 100% LAD "widowmaker" blockage in 2023, he returned to heavy training, competed at World Cup Masters, earned a spot on the U.S. team, and won a world championship in Seoul.
Niki, Andrew, and Michael discuss strength training after 60, training with type 1 diabetes, rebuilding after a heart attack, the value of coaching, why consistency matters more than complexity, and how strength supports a life full of adventure.
PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE. 
 
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Physical freedom does not come from constantly starting over.
In this Beast Over Burden episode, Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson discuss what it really takes to build physical freedom through strength training. They explain why freedom in training is not just doing whatever you want in the gym. It comes from building muscle, developing skill, gaining training experience, and learning how to adjust when life gets messy.
Niki and Andrew talk about why the first 18–24 months of structured strength training are so important. During that time, lifters build muscle, learn the basic lifts, create sustainable routines, work through setbacks, and begin to understand how training fits into real life.
They also discuss why coaching can accelerate this process, why many lifters plateau or keep starting over, and how long-term training helps you build confidence, independence, and peace around your physical life.
PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE. 
 
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Eric Dahl joins Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson on Beast Over Burden to share how he continues getting stronger with age, setting major PRs in his mid-40s while balancing work, family, coaching, and recovery.
Eric has been part of the Barbell Logic family since 2017 and has built an impressive strength resume, including a 507-pound bench press and a 628-pound deadlift at 46 years old. But this conversation is about more than big lifts. Eric shares how strength training became his version of a midlife crisis, why hard training provides purpose, and how he has learned to adjust recovery, competition, and programming as life has changed.
He also discusses his long-term coaching relationship with Caleb, his experience becoming a coach himself, and the powerful story of helping his mother-in-law begin strength training after an osteoporosis diagnosis.
This episode is a reminder that strength is for everyone. Whether you are chasing PRs, training for independence, or simply looking for a meaningful outlet for hard work, getting stronger with age is possible.
PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE. 
 
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Andrew on Instagram
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Or email podcast@barbell-logic.com

Feeling off after the holidays does not mean you need to panic, crash diet, or punish yourself with extra cardio.
In this Beast over Burden legacy episode, Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson talk about how lifters can reset their nutrition after the holidays while still supporting strength training, muscle, and long-term progress.
They discuss the post-holiday tipping point: feeling bloated, fluffy, tired, or ready for change after a season of more food, more alcohol, less sleep, and less consistency. Instead of overcorrecting, they explain how to stabilize first, choose better metrics, and make nutrition changes that are realistic and sustainable.
Niki and Andrew cover fat loss versus weight loss, waist measurements, rolling weight averages, alcohol, high-protein meals, single-ingredient foods, fruits and vegetables, weighing and measuring, hand-portion guidance, and why long-term body composition change requires time and consistency.
PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE. 
 
Connect with the hosts
Niki on Instagram
Andrew on Instagram
Connect with the show
Barbell Logic on Instagram
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Or email podcast@barbell-logic.com

Strength training after 70 is not about pretending age does not matter. It is about adapting, staying consistent, and refusing to quit.
In this episode of Beast Over Burden, Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson talk with Barbell Logic client Michael Taylor, a 73-year-old lifter who started strength training at 60 and has continued training through arthritis, joint pain, exercise modifications, and the normal challenges of aging.
Michael shares how his training has changed over time, why he moved from some barbell lifts to machine variations, and how coaching has helped him continue training hard while managing pain and preserving quality of life. He also explains why he no longer obsesses over the weight, even though he still trains progressively and continues to hit PRs.
This conversation is a powerful reminder that strength training for seniors is not about chasing your younger self. It is about building and maintaining the strength, muscle, discipline, and independence you need to live well.
PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE. 
 
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