Sleep-deprived? Burned out? Dragging yourself to the gym with zero energy? In this episode of Training Oh No’s, coaches Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson break down what to do when you're too tired to train.

You’ll learn how to recognize recovery red flags, adjust your training without guilt, and keep making progress—even when life, sleep, and stress aren’t on your side.

• Signs that your body needs rest—not more volume

• When to skip, when to pivot, and when to push through

• How poor sleep and stress kill your recovery

• What “minimum effective dose” training looks like

• The difference between lazy and overtrained

• Real strategies for tired, busy lifters

00:00 – Intro: Training when you're not at your best
01:30 – You're not lazy—you're exhausted
03:45 – Why poor sleep wrecks your training
06:25 – Warning signs that you're under-recovered
09:10 – What to do instead: smart training pivots
12:42 – Niki's personal examples of training tired
15:08 – Rest IS training
17:40 – Wrap-up: Lifters who last know when to adjust

#trainingohnos #toosleeptotrain #trainingfatigue #restdaywisdom #liftingforsanity #strengthafter30 #recoverymatters #barbelllogic #beastoverburden #sleepandstrength #fitnesstips #gymburnout #stressrecovery #smarttraining #minimumeffectivedose #strengthforlife

PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE.

• Niki on Instagram
• Andrew on Instagram

• Barbell Logic on Instagram
• Podcast Webpage
• Barbell Logic on Facebook
• Or email podcast@barbell-logic.com

Do you really need to power clean to be strong and explosive? For most lifters training for longevity, hypertrophy, and health—not competition—the answer might surprise you.

In this episode of Beast Over Burden, part of the Rethinking the Big Lifts series, coaches Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson break down the real purpose of the power clean, who it's actually for, and why there are better options for developing explosive strength without the technical headaches or injury risks. If you’re lifting for life—not for sport—this one’s for you.

• Why the power clean is often overprescribed

• Who actually benefits from doing power cleans (and who doesn’t)

• What to do instead of cleans for explosive strength

• How to rethink power training as you age

• Smarter programming for lifters who value longevity and health

• Why you don’t have to power clean to be strong
  
  

00:00 – Intro: Do you really need to power clean?
01:44 – Why cleans became a thing in general strength training
04:20 – Who actually needs to do them
07:15 – Technical demands vs. actual benefits
10:42 – Explosive alternatives that make more sense
13:37 – Programming cleans (or not) for longevity
16:05 – Final thoughts: do what fits your goals, not someone else’s

#powerclean #doYouReallyNeedToPowerClean #strengthtraining #explosivetraining #barbelllogic #beastoverburden #olympiclifting #smartstrength #liftingafter30 #traininglongevity #functionalfitness #kettlebelltraining #medballtraining #liftforlife #trainingsustainably #fitnesspodcast #strengthafter40 #bigliftsrethought #strengthpodcast

PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE.

• Niki on Instagram
• Andrew on Instagram

• Barbell Logic on Instagram
• Podcast Webpage
• Barbell Logic on Facebook
• Or email podcast@barbell-logic.com

Is the overhead press worth it for most lifters? In this episode of Beast Over Burden, Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson take a hard look at the most skipped lift in strength training: the overhead press.

They break down why it’s often abandoned, what makes it frustrating, and how to rebuild your pressing with smarter technique, variations, and programming for long-term strength and longevity. Whether you’re dealing with shoulder pain, struggling with progress, or questioning if it’s even worth your time, this episode gives you a clear, no-nonsense answer.

• Why the overhead press gets skipped—and whether that’s a mistake

• How to modify the press to fit your body and goals

• Variations like landmine and dumbbell presses that reduce pain and boost results

• How to think of the press as a movement skill, not just a lift

• Strategies for programming vertical pressing into a long-term training plan

• When to rotate, reduce, or temporarily remove the press
  
  

00:00 – Intro: Is the overhead press worth it?
02:10 – Why lifters skip the press
05:45 – Making pressing work for your body
08:25 – Smarter variations: landmine, dumbbell, incline
12:40 – The press as a skill-based lift
15:10 – Programming adjustments for recovery and sustainability
18:00 – Giving the press a second chance

#overheadpress #rethinkingthebiglifts #beastoverburden #barbelllogic #shouldertraining #smartlifting #deadliftalternatives #strengthafter40 #fitnesspodcast #strengthtraining #trainforlife #presswithoutpain #dumbbellpress #landminepress #liftinglongevity #trainingsustainably #liftingafterinjury #functionalstrength #liftingsmarter #barbellpress

PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE.

• Niki on Instagram
• Andrew on Instagram

• Barbell Logic on Instagram
• Podcast Webpage
• Barbell Logic on Facebook
• Or email podcast@barbell-logic.com