Beast over Burden powered by Barbell Logic

What kind of training are we talking about? ARMY TRAINING, SIR!

Niki talks to Nikki Burman, Barbell Logic's Director of Client Experience, and Jerett Burman, Military Police Major in the United States Army National Guard, about the physical demands of the Army and the challenges of staying fit--at home and while deployed throughout the world.

Jobs in the Army--as with all services--put different physical demands on service members, but almost all Soldiers will have to pick things up and carry heavy loads, and, of course, all Soldiers must prepare for the realities of combat, including "putting things in certain places."

Nikki & Jerett share the experience of seeing a cultural shift occur in fitness centers and gyms on Army posts. For a time, Jerett served in Kansas, and from the time he arrived to the time he left, both Jerett and Nikki saw more people training with barbells, as the realities of the new Army Combat Fitness Test, and the Army's new fitness program, changed how Soldiers had to prepare for not only the test but also how they improved combat readiness.

One common they see is Soldiers misunderstanding programming, so--without guidance--many Soldiers go SUPER HEAVY immediately, leaving little to no room for progress. Furthermore, the spirit of competition creates an urge to immediately beat the person next to them, when the more intelligent method would be to add weight over time.

Niki asks Nikki & Jerett how they would change Army PT, and they give their answer. They would incorporate the big compound lifts--the squat, deadlift, bench press, and press, along with some other supplemental and accessory lifts--and prioritize shorter sprints and intervals over longer, slower runs.

The other consideration, however, is the need to perform event after event. To some degree this is endurance, but it may be better be called stamina. The need to go from event to event and perform, and then, potentially, perform a watch or a desk job while sleep deprived. It's not so much the same things as continuing to run during a marathon, but the ability to keep going despite the sleep deprivation, food deprivation, aches and pains, and other growing fatigue and exhaustion.

Often times, Soldiers can train better and more consistently when they are deployed, though that is not the case in more expeditionary situations--where Soldiers and units cannot return to bases with gyms.

"You're either getting better or getting worse, there is no staying the same."

The views expressed do not necessarily represent the Department of Defense or the United States Government.

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Niki talks to Colin Slade, Air Force Captain, about physical requirements, physical training, and physical fitness tests for the Air Force, Space Force, air crews, and pilots.

The demands for Airmen and Guardians differ greatly between jobs and from day-to-day. While people tend to think of pilots when they think about the Air Force, pilots represent a relatively small percentage of people who serve in the Air Force.

Pilots--especially fighter pilots--face extreme physical requirements from the speeds and demands of "pulling Gs." The Air Force has created technology to help pilots meet those demands, but physical readiness can help the service member meet the demands.

There is a growing recognition that the "industrialized PT model" isn't working, and many services are bringing in license physical trainers to help plan and lead physical training programs.

And, what is the 1 MED change Colin would make to the Air Force PT program? Listen to find out!

The views expressed do not necessarily represent the Department of Defense or the United States Government.

GET STARTED with one-on-one online coaching FOR FREE!

Get your FIRST MONTH FREE on all strength and nutrition coaching plans. No discount code needed and includes a 10-day, no obligation trial. https://bit.ly/2MKeOoh

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Matt talks to Colonel Scott Conway--this time about leadership and resilience, and how strength training--and physical training in general--can make people better leaders, managers, and parents and help them better face difficult situations and events.

Scott discusses his early experience through the Marine Corps' schools to screen and develop officers--Marines given the rank and position and authority to lead and command other Marines. He also discusses returning to some of these as a leader, evaluating and helping shape leaders.

Officer and leader development pushes officer candidates to adapt in stressful, difficult situations. The candidates will fail and make mistakes. They ultimately have to prove up to the task of leadership in duress while falling short of making the "perfect" decisions. You have to learn, you have to keep pushing forward and take the burden and run with it.

As an instructor--something that seems easier often--you must be constantly "on," because the candidates are looking to you as the example while also--despite their inexperience--being able to identify when the instructors are falling short of their espoused ideals--the Marine Corps' standards.

Ultimately, as leaders, and employees, and managers, as parents--as human beings--we should become wiser as we experience more and reflect and learn from our experience--success and failures. Despite this, we can't rely on our past successes or our resume. In whatever position we find ourselves, we ultimately get evaluated by what we offer now.

The experience of being a junior officer is in some senses both unique but also relatable to leaders in many situations. You're new to the military, yet entrusted with authority and rank. You have to make decisions and lead, but you also have to learn and rely on the experience and recommendations of those around you. You have to accept the responsibility of leadership put on you, but you can't let it go to your head. You likely feel like an imposter as your experience and authority seem at odds, but you can't be racked by doubt. Many people can relate to suddenly being thrust with power and responsibility and authority--parenting anyone--and not feeling up to the task. People experience being new to a job and feeling like they're not prepared, yet they have to ultimately go forward and do the job.

Scott shares the experience of falling short of his own expectations for himself as a junior Marine officer. He did not fail the test, but he knew he could do better. He ran often and far to overcome this. Eventually, he found CrossFit, but CrossFit was painful. Finding strength--as a senior Marine--restoked the fire of fitness while lessening the pain and stress of running and CrossFit.

Finally, Scott & Matt commiserate about their shared experience of being "exceptionally mediocre" and "painfully average" as athletes.

The views expressed do not necessarily represent the Department of Defense or the US government.

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Matt and Niki talk to Colonel Scott Conway, career Marine Officer, who shares his experiences of service, leadership, and combat.

Scott wanted to serve since he was a kid, and ultimately decided to become a Marine and attend the Naval Academy.

The Naval Academy emphasizes leadership, academics, athletics, and time management. It throws many big fish in little ponds into the ocean, so to speak, and produces many of the officers who end up serving in the US Navy and United States Marine Corps.

Scott shares his experience going through the Naval Academy, some of his service in the Marine Corps, and the experience of going through an ambush--and the emotional dump afterwards.

Scott ultimately turned to endurance during his career to bolster his fitness. He found benefits from this, but more recently combining strength and conditioning has led to a greater control than he's ever had. 30 years older than his students, he can lead by example and garner respect when he walks in a room by his image and presence.

"If you stay ready, you ain't got to get ready."

The views expressed do not necessarily represent the Department of Defense or the United States Government.

GET STARTED with one-on-one online coaching FOR FREE!

Get your FIRST MONTH FREE on all strength and nutrition coaching plans. No discount code needed and includes a 10-day, no obligation trial. https://bit.ly/2MKeOoh

Special offers from BLOC and our partners: https://barbell-logic.com/offers/

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Matt & Niki and your lifting and life questions. Topics include changing hands for mix grip deadlifts, recommended kitchen equipment for meal prep, lumbar flexion during heavy deadlifts, most important gym equipment to begin, and testicle pain after lifting. To get 50% off your first month of SteadyMD, go to steadymd.com/bloc by February 28th. SteadyMD is your personal doctor, online. It's telehealth done right. Email [email protected] to submit a question for future podcasts! 0:00 Introduction 4:34 Testicle Pain After Lifting What may be happening--and what should someone do--if they're experiencing testicle pain after lifting? 10:33 SteadyMD Log up at steadymd.com/bloc 15:56 Mixed Grip: Switch Supinated Hand? Should someone--when deadlifting with mixed grip--alternate supinated hands or just stick with one. 18:06 Coaching Feedback & Form Checking A great coach must help with form and improving form, but that cannot be ALL the coach offers. There must be a balance, and, ultimately, you need to make a good connection with clients. What does the client need right now and long term? 21:16 Recommended Nutrition Equipment What do Matt and Niki use all the time to cook and meal prep: Instapot or pressure cooker: cook stews, chicken, sweet potatoes, rice sous vide: thaw quickly or cook meat to internal temperature vacuum sealer: portion & freeze meat good knife: game changer 2+ cutting boards: to cut and prepare veggies, herbs, meats cleaned out fridge: let you see what you intend to eat clear, stackable tupper ware: see what you're going to eat consider: non-stick frying pan, high quality cast iron skillet, high quality stainless steel cookware 29:18 Flexion During Heavy Deadlifts Is it concerning if some lumbar flexion occurs during heavy deadlifts? If it happens when it's REALLY heavy & the weight it occurs at continues to increase, it's not concerning. If, however, someone rounds then pulls at lighter weights, then, yes, the lifter needs to learn how to set & maintain lumbar extension. Rack pulls, RDLs, floating deadlifts, 5 part deadlifts can help. 35:09 Gym Shenanigans What's the silliest or stupidest things you've seen in a gym? A few things: curling in a smith machine, bouncing on a bosu ball, tying an iPod to a barbell. 37:33 Prioritizing Gym Equipment If you're on a limited budget and starting from scratch, what are the most important things to purchase? The most important thing is to get a barbell and weights.

GET STARTED with one-on-one online coaching FOR FREE!

Get your FIRST MONTH FREE on all strength and nutrition coaching plans. No discount code needed and includes a 10-day, no obligation trial. https://bit.ly/2MKeOoh

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0:00 USSF Meet Prep Update & Intro 7:12 RPE 11 Andrew 13:56 Causes & Anatomy 28:06 Cues to Correct 34:14 Supplemental Lifts 37:56 Touchpoint 40:42 Set Up & Conclusion Elbow flare is a common bench press error where the elbows flare out on the ascent. This error, much like a good morning squat, produces movement in the joints without moving the bar up. It decreases the ability of the pecs to contribute to the lift, though it reduces the horizontal moment of the bar from the glenohumeral joint. The first weapon in a lifter or coach's arsenal is corrective cues. Common cues include pinch something between your arm pits or pretend you're being tickled from behind, though these too often do not work. Some other cues are to pretend the bar is a rubber band or to shove the elbows out during the descent, for what lifters often do is find the tension where there is none. Elbow flare may be overcorrecting for lack of tension during the descent. Common supplemental lifts to help correct this error are spoto press (pause the bar 1-2 inches above the touch point; hold it; then press the bar up) or paused bench press. These emphasize tightness & control. The other things to examine are the touch point and set up for the bench press: ensure these are not only correct but optimal.

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Get your FIRST MONTH FREE on all strength and nutrition coaching plans. No discount code needed and includes a 10-day, no obligation trial. https://bit.ly/2MKeOoh

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Dr. David Puder and Brooke Haubenstricker return to discuss training with depression. How do we help those--or help ourselves--exercise and train and reap the benefits of exercise and training if they--or we--struggle to find the motivation to not just exercise but to get out of bed? Check out Dr. David Puder's podcast here: https://www.psychiatrypodcast.com/ One hurdle is that many people are overwhelmed and don't know how to begin. They either haven't lifted or--if they have lifted--they've often done "bench and bis" or some other bodybuilding style regimen, or they've done what a coach told them to do for a sport. The methodology of training we're recommending involves full body, barbell exercises to improve strength. Another obstacle is that people too often compare themselves to people in the media or social media that have access to personal chefs, personal trainers, illegal substances, all the benefits of photography and editing, and the fact that they chose a specific time to take the photo--they're presenting they're best, edited self, with the benefits of resources we likely don't have access to. Another difficulty to overcome is that too many people focus on their body and body image. How much time do you want to think about how your body looks? Let's transition to a more functional idea: strength helps us accomplish things, beyond overcoming the weight of the barbell. It takes the focus off something that too often produces unhealthy thoughts and onto something that gives us agency. Finally, they need to be kind to themselves and not so critical. If they assess their selves, it needs to be with charity and patience and love.

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Get your FIRST MONTH FREE on all strength and nutrition coaching plans. No discount code needed and includes a 10-day, no obligation trial. https://bit.ly/2MKeOoh

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Peaking for an online meet provides more choices and thus greater room for strategy (and mistakes) for how lifters peak and complete their attempts. Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson explore how to peak for an online meet (or simply complete PR attempts). United States Strengthlifting is putting on an online event. Whereas in an in-person meet, all lifts need to be peaked on the same day and many factors are simply out of the coaches and lifters' control (rest between attempts, equipment, etc.) for this online meet, the lifters have two weeks and three submittals for the squat, bench press, and deadlift. This allows for more control and choice, but with greater choice comes, well, more choices to make. More choices to make means more ways to increase performance but also more ways to screw up. Some lifters may mimic a powerlifting meet and attempt all their attempts at their favorite gym with friends and other lifters present to cheer them on. Others may complete their lifts by themselves, in private, with total control over the atmosphere. Some lifters may take the entirety of the time to peak, making their attempts later on in the 2 weeks. Others may make safer attempts that first weak and then reattempt 1, 2, or 3 of the lifts that second week. Many of these decisions come down to personal preference. Some lifters care more about one lift than another. Some lifters may have a poor performance on one lift tank all their other attempts. Some lifters may want to get things done with, whereas others enjoy only having to go for one lift at a time. Some lifters may have an awesome gym with great lifters who they want to compete with, while others may want to not have to deal with other people. Regardless of how you compete, or whether you even sign up for an online meet, this podcast investigates the mental and physiological aspects of attempting PRs.

GET STARTED with one-on-one online coaching FOR FREE!

Get your FIRST MONTH FREE on all strength and nutrition coaching plans. No discount code needed and includes a 10-day, no obligation trial. https://bit.ly/2MKeOoh

Special offers from BLOC and our partners: https://barbell-logic.com/offers/

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COVID has disrupted our lives and led to isolation and fear for many people. There are the twin fears of getting sick and losing loved ones, and then the fear of losing one's job and other economic consequences.

In difficult times, it often helps to read or observe the writings and experiences of those who have experienced harder times than you. Dr. Puder and Matt cover some of Victor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning and how Victor Frankl, a psychiatrist and Jewish person, survived the holocaust and ultimately worked to find meaning in the worst of times.

Ultimately, the best way is to find ways to build order amidst the chaos--whether it be making your bed, doing your dishes, getting dressed despite staying home, and building habits and routines whether you're working or suddenly find yourself working from home.

This podcast originally aired soon after many things shut down due to COVID, but it applies today as much as then.

Check out Dr. David Puder's podcast here: https://www.psychiatrypodcast.com/

GET STARTED with one-on-one online coaching FOR FREE!

Get your FIRST MONTH FREE on all strength and nutrition coaching plans. No discount code needed and includes a 10-day, no obligation trial. https://bit.ly/2MKeOoh

Special offers from BLOC and our partners: https://barbell-logic.com/offers/

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• Matt on Instagram
• Niki on Instagram
• [email protected]

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COVID has disrupted our lives and led to isolation and fear for many people.  There are the twin fears of getting sick and losing loved ones, and then the fear of losing one’s job and other economic consequences.  

In difficult times, it often helps to read or observe the writings and experiences of those who have experienced harder times than you.  Dr. Puder and Matt cover some of Victor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning and how Victor Frankl, a psychiatrist and Jewish person, survived the holocaust and ultimately worked to find meaning in the worst of times.  

Ultimately, the best way is to find ways to build order amidst the chaos--whether it be making your bed, doing your dishes, getting dressed despite staying home, and building habits and routines whether you’re working or suddenly find yourself working from home.  

This podcast originally aired soon after many things shut down due to COVID, but it applies today as much as then.  

Check out Dr. David Puder’s podcast here:  https://www.psychiatrypodcast.com/ 

GET STARTED with one-on-one online coaching FOR FREE!

Get your FIRST MONTH FREE on all strength and nutrition coaching plans.  No discount code needed and includes a 10-day, no obligation trial.  https://bit.ly/2MKeOoh

Special offers from BLOC and our partners:  https://barbell-logic.com/offers/

Connect with the hosts

• Matt on Instagram
• Niki on Instagram
• [email protected]   

Connect with the show

• Barbell Logic on Instagram
• The Website
• Barbell Logic on Facebook