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From Pain to Power: A Strength Training Transformation Story with Mac & Gil

In this inspiring strength training transformation story, Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson sit down with Coach Mac McGregor and his longtime client, Gillespie Ferguson, to explore one of the most powerful journeys ever shared on Beast Over Burden. Once a self-described "unathletic" late starter plagued by chronic pain, self-doubt, and years of setbacks, Gillespie rebuilt not just his lifts but his entire understanding of what he was capable of. Through patient coaching, persistent work, and a deep friendship formed through the process, he transformed from a hesitant beginner into a confident, physically capable Coast Guard volunteer on the Isle of Skye. In this candid conversation, Mac and Gillespie walk through the early struggles of pain and insecurity, the slow technical rebuild of every lift, the psychological work of staying committed through setbacks, and the surprising breakthrough that came years into training. They also share the dramatic impact of Lyme disease, the process of starting over from scratch, and why knowing how to train is the ultimate form of resilience. This episode is a reminder that strength is not reserved for the gifted—it's for anyone willing to start, struggle, and keep showing up. Whether you're a beginner, someone returning from pain, a coach working with complex clients, or simply someone who needs to hear that transformation is possible at any age, this is an episode you don't want to miss. What You'll Learn in This Episode * How Gillespie went from chronic pain and self-doubt to the strongest he's ever been * Why rebuilding technique can feel slow—but changes everything * The role of psychology, confidence, and patience in long-term coaching * How Coach Mac used experimentation and customization to solve persistent pain * What to do when progress stalls (sometimes for months at a time) * The breakthrough moment when strength finally "clicked" * How improved nutrition and mindset accelerated transformation * The surprising impact of Lyme disease—and how to start over the right way * Why strength training skills stay with you for life * How training helped Gillespie earn a place in the Coast Guard * Why this strength training transformation story is so powerful for late starters Timestamps 00:00 – Intro: Meet Mac & Gillespie 02:25 – Gillespie's beginnings: not athletic, not confident, but willing 07:40 – Early training attempts & meeting the first lifters who inspired him 11:10 – Working with Carl Schutt & the challenges that carried into lockdown 15:55 – The first in-person session with Mac & rebuilding from scratch 21:30 – Psychology of pain, fear, and believing you're "not built for strength" 26:05 – The slow technical fix: empty bar squats, 40-kg deadlifts, constant troubleshooting 30:20 – When progress finally took off: nutrition, confidence, and consistency 35:42 – Hitting big PRs: 187.5 kg deadlift, 140 kg squat, and more 39:55 – Disaster strikes: the onset of Lyme disease 43:20 – Starting over with a fresh LP after treatment 47:00 – Becoming Coast Guard–ready: strength meets service 50:25 – What Gillespie wishes he could tell his younger self 54:10 – Mac and Gillespie reflect on friendship, persistence, and purpose 58:00 – Final thoughts & how coaching changes lives PS: Get early access to Black Friday Sales > https://bit.ly/3LmWhx2 [https://bit.ly/3LmWhx2] - Save 50% on Online Coaching and Nutrition - Save up to 50% on the Barbell Academy - Gift Strength and get a bonus month Connect with the hosts * Niki on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/niki.in.the.gym/] * Andrew on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/andrewbarbender/?hl=en] Connect with the show * Barbell Logic on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/barbell_logic/] * Podcast Webpage [https://barbell-logic.com/podcast/] * Barbell Logic on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/barbelllogiccoaching] * Or email podcast@barbell-logic.com [podcast@barbell-logic.com]

Strength Training for Moms: Nikki's Journey through Pregnancy, Postpartum, & Unstoppable Consistency

In this inspiring episode, Nikki Sims and Andrew Jackson sit down with two of Barbell Logic's most recognizable names: Nikki Berman (Director of Client Experience) and Coach Bekah Creek (PT and longtime BLOC coach). Together, they dive deep into what strength training for moms really looks like—during pregnancy, postpartum, deployments, sleepless nights, and every chaotic season in between. Nikki shares the full arc of her journey: from chasing "skinny" through extreme dieting and cardio, to discovering barbell training, to becoming a mother of four and finding her strongest, most capable self along the way. Her candid stories—including training through nausea, the realities of relaxin, managing back-to-back pregnancies, and an unexpected home birth—offer a rare, empowering look at motherhood through the lens of strength. Coach Bekah walks through the coaching side: how to modify programming for pregnant or postpartum clients, when to push, when to pull back, and why the marathon mindset of "something is better than nothing" can be transformational for busy moms. Together, they illustrate how strength training can anchor a woman through the most demanding phases of life. Whether you're a mother, a future mother, a coach working with pregnant/postpartum clients, or simply someone looking for hope and consistency, this conversation highlights the resilience and adaptability that define strength training for moms. What You'll Learn in This Episode * Why strength matters so much for pregnant and postpartum women * How to modify training through each trimester * The surprising benefits of tonnage-based and RPE-based programming * How to navigate fatigue, nausea, sleep deprivation, and childcare * Why "all or nothing" breaks moms—and how to replace it with a sustainable mindset * The physical and emotional realities of postpartum recovery * How coaching support changes everything for new moms * The story behind Nikki's unplanned, fast home birth * Why taking up space—not shrinking—is the real goal * How strength training helps moms show up better for their kids and themselves PS: Get early access to Black Friday Sales > https://bit.ly/3LmWhx2 [https://bit.ly/3LmWhx2] - Save 50% on Online Coaching and Nutrition - Save up to 50% on the Barbell Academy - Gift Strength and get a bonus month Connect with the hosts * Niki on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/niki.in.the.gym/] * Andrew on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/andrewbarbender/?hl=en] Connect with the show * Barbell Logic on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/barbell_logic/] * Podcast Webpage [https://barbell-logic.com/podcast/] * Barbell Logic on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/barbelllogiccoaching] * Or email podcast@barbell-logic.com [podcast@barbell-logic.com]

Strength Training for Couples: Kayleigh's & Jeff's Journey Through Weight Loss, Burnout, & Renewal

In this inspiring Beast Over Burden episode, Nikki Sims and Andrew Jackson sit down with Kayleigh and Jeff to explore strength training for couples, overcoming burnout, building sustainable routines, and transforming body composition with intention and patience. What This Episode Is About When Kayleigh and Jeff started lifting together, they didn't just change their strength — they changed their lives. What began with a difficult vacation photo became a powerful journey of discipline, weight loss, personal growth, and deep partnership. Today, they train together four days per week in their garage, navigate nutrition together, problem-solve injuries, and continue to grow stronger as individuals and as a team. Whether you lift with your spouse, want to lift with your spouse, or simply want to build more consistency in your own training, this episode offers real-life insight into what it takes to create sustainable, long-term change. Key Topics Covered * How Kayleigh went from intimidated by barbells to topping the leaderboard at her gym * Why weight loss required lifestyle change—not just training * The power of a simple daily checklist * Jeff's early strength training background and how he introduced Kayleigh to lifting * Why many couples struggle training together—and how these two made it work * Navigating burnout, under-recovery, and shifting priorities * Training through shoulder pain and building the patience to modify training * Sustainable weight loss strategies, including eating the same meals, tracking, and taking breaks * Why "strength training for couples" works only when each partner maintains ownership of their own journey * Using constraints to simplify nutrition and decision-making * The importance of deliberate maintenance phases during long cuts * Building a family culture of fitness, sustainability, and consistency Why You Should Listen If you're navigating motivation challenges, recovery issues, weight loss plateaus, training with a spouse, or simply trying to build better habits, this conversation gives you a grounded, honest look at what it truly takes to change your life—slowly, consistently, and together. PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE. [https://barbell-logic.com/experience] Connect with the hosts * Niki on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/niki.in.the.gym/] * Andrew on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/andrewbarbender/?hl=en] Connect with the show * Barbell Logic on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/barbell_logic/] * Podcast Webpage [https://barbell-logic.com/podcast/] * Barbell Logic on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/barbelllogiccoaching] * Or email podcast@barbell-logic.com [podcast@barbell-logic.com]

Lifting Through Setbacks: How Scott Came Back Stronger Through Injury & Loss

Life doesn't stop for your training — but your training can help you survive life. In this episode, we sit down with Scott & Coach Jamal to explore what it really looks like to keep lifting through setbacks while raising kids, grieving a parent, and rebuilding after injury. This is not a highlight-reel story — it's real-life resilience, one rep at a time. What You'll Learn * Why strength matters most in life's hardest seasons * Training through nerve pain and rebuilding confidence * How parents can fit training into chaotic schedules * The value of flexible, customized programming * Coaching as accountability, encouragement, and partnership * Why showing up imperfectly matters more than perfection PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE. [https://barbell-logic.com/experience] Connect with the hosts * Niki on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/niki.in.the.gym/] * Andrew on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/andrewbarbender/?hl=en] Connect with the show * Barbell Logic on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/barbell_logic/] * Podcast Webpage [https://barbell-logic.com/podcast/] * Barbell Logic on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/barbelllogiccoaching] * Or email podcast@barbell-logic.com [podcast@barbell-logic.com]

Lifting Through Chemo: Motherhood, Strength, and Beating Breast Cancer

When Elizabeth Blair began lifting postpartum, she had no idea that strength training would one day become one of her most important tools in fighting cancer. In this powerful episode, Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson sit down with coach Nikki Berman and her client Elizabeth to explore the transformation that comes not from chasing PRs, but from choosing to show up when life hits hardest. Elizabeth shares her journey from new mom learning to deadlift, to receiving a diagnosis of aggressive triple-negative breast cancer, to lifting through chemo, surgery, and recovery. She and Nikki walk us through adapting training around a chemo port, managing energy and nausea, and redefining what "success" looks like when your goal shifts from performance to survival — and then back again. This conversation is about strength in every sense: physical, emotional, maternal, and human. It's a story of refusing to quit, of lifting through chemo to maintain dignity and control, and of building a body and mindset capable of meeting life's hardest challenges. Whether you're a lifter, a parent, or someone navigating your own fight, this episode shows that the path forward is through the obstacle — one rep, one day at a time. What You'll Learn * How strength training supported postpartum recovery * Why small wins and consistency matter more than perfect programming * Adapting training around chemo ports, nausea, fatigue, and post-surgery rules * The emotional and mental resilience built through training * How lifting can be an anchor during uncertainty and fear * Returning to the barbell after treatment — and hitting new milestones PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE. [https://barbell-logic.com/experience] Connect with the hosts * Niki on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/niki.in.the.gym/] * Andrew on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/andrewbarbender/?hl=en] Connect with the show * Barbell Logic on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/barbell_logic/] * Podcast Webpage [https://barbell-logic.com/podcast/] * Barbell Logic on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/barbelllogiccoaching] * Or email podcast@barbell-logic.com [podcast@barbell-logic.com]