Nutrition Psychology for Lifters: Mindset for Mastery with Marcus of Strong not Starving
Beast over Burden powered by Barbell Logic
Release Date: 03/18/2025
Do You Really Need to Power Clean? Rethinking Explosive Lifts for Lifters Who Train for Life
Beast over Burden powered by Barbell Logic
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. ✅ What You’ll Learn Why the power clean...
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Is the Overhead Press Worth It? Rebuilding the Most Skipped Lift
Beast over Burden powered by Barbell Logic
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. ✅ What You’ll Learn Why the...
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Does the Deadlift Still Matter? How to Make It Work for Your Life
Beast over Burden powered by Barbell Logic
Does the deadlift still matter in your training? If you’ve ever felt beat up by barbell pulls or unsure how to keep deadlifting as your goals and body evolve, this episode is for you. Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson unpack how the deadlift should serve you—not wear you down. From trap bars to kettlebells, from smart programming to pain management, this is a no-nonsense guide to making the deadlift work for life—not just your PR sheet. 🎧 This is part of the Rethinking the Big Lifts series—where we challenge conventional thinking to build training that’s smarter, sustainable, and...
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Is the Bench Press Overrated? Rethinking Its Role in Your Training
Beast over Burden powered by Barbell Logic
Is the bench press overrated—or just misunderstood? In this episode of Beast Over Burden, Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson challenge the default status of the bench press in most lifters’ routines. Whether you’re trying to get stronger, avoid pain, or train for the long haul, this conversation will help you rethink the bench’s role in your program—and whether it’s serving your goals. This is part of the Rethinking the Big Lifts series, where we explore how foundational barbell movements evolve over time and how to train smarter, not just harder. ✅ What You’ll Learn Why the bench...
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What is a Squat? How it Evolves with You for Life
Beast over Burden powered by Barbell Logic
What is a squat—really? In this first episode of our new Big Lifts series, strength coaches Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson ask the question many lifters overlook: what are you actually trying to get out of your squat? Whether you’re chasing PRs, trying to age with strength, or just want to move better, this conversation breaks down why your squat should evolve with your goals, your body, and your season of life. Let go of the dogma—and train for you. 💡 What You’ll Learn Why “the squat” isn’t one fixed movement How to define a squat based on your goals What matters more...
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You’re Training Hard, But Are You Progressing?: Why Doing Everything Might Be Slowing You Down
Beast over Burden powered by Barbell Logic
Are you training nearly every day—strength, cardio, HIIT—and still not seeing the results you want? In this episode of Beast Over Burden, strength coaches Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson tackle a common question: Are you progressing, or just working hard? They break down the sneaky signs of overtraining, the truth about cardio intensity, and how recovery—not more effort—is often the bottleneck to strength, muscle, and long-term health. 💡 Key Takeaways Training hard ≠ guaranteed progress Doing too much can stall strength and muscle gains Most “HIIT” is just moderate...
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The Perfect Program Won't Save You: Train Smarter, Not Harder
Beast over Burden powered by Barbell Logic
Still searching for the perfect program to fix your fitness? In this episode of Beast Over Burden, strength coaches Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson expose why the “one right plan” mindset is keeping lifters stuck. They break down how perfectionism, rigid programming, and unrealistic expectations sabotage long-term progress—and share smarter, more sustainable ways to train for strength, health, and life. Whether you’re burned out, frustrated, or just tired of starting over, this episode will help you trade pressure for progress. 💡 Key Takeaways (Bullets) The perfect program is a...
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Overcoming the 3 Big Training Pitfalls: Snacking, All-or-Nothing Thinking, & Weak Boundaries
Beast over Burden powered by Barbell Logic
This episode tackles overcoming the 3 big training pitfalls that silently sabotage lifters: mindless snacking, all-or-nothing thinking, and poor boundaries. Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson break it down with practical tips, real-life stories, and strategies that actually work for strength, longevity, and real-life training. 💡 Key Takeaways (Bullets for Engagement & Search) Identify and overcome the 3 big training pitfalls Why snacks you don’t count still count How “perfect or nothing” leads to burnout Real-world boundary-setting tips for parties, travel, and stress ...
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From Frustrated to Free: A Realistic Guide to Long-Term Strength
Beast over Burden powered by Barbell Logic
Struggling to stay consistent with strength training? Feel like you're always starting over? In this episode, Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson deliver a realistic guide to long-term strength—not hype, not hacks—just what actually works for lasting progress, muscle, and freedom. 💡 Key Takeaways Physical freedom = the ability to adapt and train for life—not just 12-week spurts You don’t need 6 weeks—you need 18–24 months of structured training Muscle = your emergency fund for long-term independence A coach can accelerate your growth and cut years off your learning curve ...
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Training When Life Gets Messy
Beast over Burden powered by Barbell Logic
Life’s messy—but your strength doesn’t have to be. In this episode of Beast Over Burden, Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson dive into how to stay strong when life throws curveballs. From missed workouts to surprise illnesses, chaotic travel, or just busy seasons, they reveal how to adapt your training, stay consistent, and keep building strength—without falling into the all-or-nothing trap. 💥 Topics Covered: Why perfection kills progress (and what mindset to replace it with) Programming hacks for crazy schedules, travel, and low-energy days Real-life coaching stories showing how to...
info_outlineMaster nutrition psychology for lifters, building a strong mindset for muscle and meals, and achieving peak performance. Unlock the mental game of nutrition and transform your lifting journey. This episode delves into the critical role of Nutrition Psychology for Lifters, going beyond basic dietary recommendations. We welcome Marcus Kain of Strong Not Starving to explore the mindset shift needed to navigate emotional eating, build resilience, and achieve lasting peace with food. Discover practical strategies to master your mindset, enhance distress tolerance, and cultivate a healthy relationship with nutrition.
The Foundation of Nutrition Psychology for Lifters: Beyond the Plate
Nutrition Psychology for Lifters goes beyond the simple mechanics of calories and macronutrients; it delves into the complex interplay between the mind, emotions, and food choices. Marcus Caine of Strong Not Starving joins us to shed light on how this field addresses the deeper challenges individuals face with food, moving beyond basic dietary recommendations. A key concept is the "Horse & Rider" metaphor, which illustrates the dynamic between the subconscious and conscious mind. Understanding this dynamic is crucial for lifters, as nutrition decisions are often driven by emotional factors more so than training decisions, leading to lower compliance rates.
A critical aspect of Nutrition Psychology for Lifters is recognizing and eliminating unlikely solutions. This involves moving away from unsustainable dietary restrictions and focusing on building essential skills and long-term habits. It's about acknowledging that lasting change isn't about quick fixes but about cultivating a healthy relationship with food. This approach emphasizes that true mastery in nutrition isn't about the absence of difficult feelings but rather about developing the ability to navigate those feelings effectively. Numbing or distracting from emotions, such as through unhealthy food choices, is not a viable long-term strategy.
Navigating Emotional Eating and Building Resilience Through Nutrition Psychology for Lifters
Advanced emotional regulation is a cornerstone of Nutrition Psychology for Lifters. It involves moving beyond simply numbing or distracting oneself from difficult feelings and instead learning to navigate discomfort without resorting to unhealthy eating patterns. Understanding your "Window of Tolerance" for discomfort is crucial in this process. This awareness helps lifters recognize when food is being used as an emotional escape. Celebratory situations present unique challenges, and Nutrition Psychology for Lifters encourages individuals to be mindful of the diminishing returns of enjoyable food experiences. It's about learning to enjoy moments without losing sight of long-term goals and avoiding the trap of getting swept up in the moment to the point of discomfort.
Building distress tolerance is essential for developing resilience in Nutrition Psychology for Lifters. This involves consistent practice and repetition to build the ability to handle discomfort and emotional triggers effectively. It's about finding that balance of letting go and enjoying things while also being aware of when it's time to call it a day. The ability to navigate that point of "I've had enough" without feeling deprived is a skill that takes time to develop, but it's crucial for achieving lasting freedom and trust in your nutritional choices.
Practical Strategies and Habit Formation in Nutrition Psychology for Lifters
Building trust in oneself through practice is fundamental in Nutrition Psychology for Lifters. This trust comes from consistent action and self-observation, demonstrating the ability to follow through on commitments. Developing novice skills for mindful eating is a vital first step, which includes practicing non-judgmental awareness of thoughts and feelings and removing "good" and "bad" labels from food. Learning to notice and name feelings is also a crucial skill. This involves identifying and acknowledging emotions in real-time and recognizing when distress begins to arise.
Nutrition Psychology for Lifters provides practical tools to help individuals learn to tolerate discomfort, avoid emotional spirals, and practice separating emotions from identity. It's about avoiding catastrophizing, urgent decision-making, and cultivating self-compassion. By focusing on these practical strategies and habit formation, lifters can develop a sustainable and healthy relationship with food, ultimately supporting their fitness goals and overall well-being.
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