Barbell Logic

In the first official season of Barbell Logic, we are revisiting the earliest episodes of the show in which Matt and Scott first put the "logic" into barbells.

As we frequently preach at Barbell Logic, consistency is the key to getting stronger, leaner, and healthier. And that means that, in the course of your training life, a lot of workouts will be a blue collar, punch-the-clock affair, and that can be a drag sometimes. What do you do to rediscover the training spark? Andrew and Niki share their experiences over years of lifting, and how they stay motivated to train so consistently.

Matt and Niki discuss the fun stuff today, the "bonus" equipment that you can start to think about getting after you have the basics like a rack, plates, barbell, and platform. Most of this equipment will be appropriate for the intermediate and advanced lifter, where supplemental lifts and accessory work play a significant role in the training program.

Ben Franklin knew what he was talking about. Waking up early, pouring a cup of coffee, and getting to work while your brain is fresh and the world is quiet is a simple joy that Matt and Chris share, and you should too.

BLOC Coaches Matt Reynolds and Niki Sims discuss how they've been cueing their clients over the last couple years, in particular how their cues tend to change during the course of a set.

Now, more than ever, the ability to de-escalate tense situations and bring reconciliation and understanding to hostile parties is a valuable skill. Some people are natural peacemakers, having learned from a young age how to maneuver volatile interactions between family members, while others of a more disagreeable nature struggle in conflict. Matt and Chris discuss how they have each occupied these differing roles during childhood, and how they have learned to deescalate interactions as adults.

When it's time to get jacked, and feel "da pump," there are a handful of exercises that Matt and Niki continually go back to for their simplicity and effectiveness. Throughout their years of coaching, they have also started to break with the traditional bodybuilding approach of high reps = hypertrophy, preferring instead to accumulate volume and time under tension via increased frequency (performing accessory lifts more often throughout the training week) and lower rep sets.

Matt and Chris discuss the value of hard work, specifically hard physical labor. For the technology-addled knowledge worker of the 21st century, there is something particularly rewarding about taxing physical labor, beyond the result of the labor. As Matt says, there is value in the work itself.

BLOC coach and Physical Therapist Bekah Krieg returns to the podcast to discuss the Barbell Logic Anatomy Masterclass and how she has developed the curriculum for aspiring coaches and busy professionals alike.

In honor of Father's Day, Matt and Chris reminisce about childhood memories with their Dad and the important lessons he taught them along the way.

Matt and Scott are back with another round of Thursday Q&A. If you'd like to ask Matt and Scott a question, email questions@barbell-logic.com and we'll feature you on a future Q&A episode!

BLOC coach and pit master (he claims he's more of a staff sergeant than pit master) Cameron Cox joins the show to talk about one of his favorite subjects, cookouts. Cameron is a native South Carolianian and avid cook, having spent several years cooking professionally before becoming a barbell coach. Cameron shares a few of his favorite recipes, his grilling and smoking weapons of choice, and educates on the distinct regional flavors of Carolina barbecue.

Matt and Chris have talked at length about good habits and how to acquire them, but what about bad habits? Today they discuss some bad habits they have struggled with over the years, and how they have successfully broken them.

Matt and Scott are back with another round of Thursday Q&A. If you'd like to ask Matt and Scott a question, email questions@barbell-logic.com and we'll feature you on a future Q&A episode!

Matt, Andrew, and Niki continue their roundtable discussions in Matt's library and whiskey sanctuary (or is it a whiskey sanctuary with a library?), today addressing the concept of percentage-based programs.