Beast over Burden powered by Barbell Logic

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
Niki on Instagram
Andrew on Instagram
Connect with the show
Barbell Logic on Instagram
Podcast Webpage
Barbell Logic on Facebook
Or email [email protected]

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
Niki on Instagram
Andrew on Instagram
Connect with the show
Barbell Logic on Instagram
Podcast Webpage
Barbell Logic on Facebook
Or email [email protected]

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.
Timestamps
00:00 – 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
Niki on Instagram
Andrew on Instagram
Connect with the show
Barbell Logic on Instagram
Podcast Webpage
Barbell Logic on Facebook
Or email [email protected]

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
Niki on Instagram
Andrew on Instagram
Connect with the show
Barbell Logic on Instagram
Podcast Webpage
Barbell Logic on Facebook
Or email [email protected]

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
Why a deadlift-only meet made sense at 40

How pulling 405 in training reopened the door to competing

The training structure that stayed simple—and the one key change that mattered

How frequent travel and inconsistent gyms affected recovery and performance

What a "rough taper" actually feels like

A realistic approach to weight management without extreme cutting

Meet-day logistics, warm-up chaos, and disrupted attempts

Why missing a lift doesn't mean missing the point

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
Niki on Instagram
Andrew on Instagram
Connect with the show
Barbell Logic on Instagram
Podcast Webpage
Barbell Logic on Facebook
Or email [email protected]