Feeling tired, foggy, bloated, or weak in the gym usually has a cause. The trick is knowing how far back to look.

In this episode of the "Acting Like You Care About Your Body" series, Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson explain the short-, medium-, and long-term signals your body sends, and how to use them to make better decisions.

In this episode:

• Within 24 hours: hydration, caffeine, salty meals, skipped meals, and one bad night of sleep
• Why a salty meal on the scale doesn't mean "everything's ruined"
• Eating carbs 60 to 90 minutes before training so you're ready to go
• Creatine and the extra willingness to grind out a rep
• 48 to 72 hours: alcohol, high-volume training, and a high heart rate that may mean you're getting sick
• How chronic sleep loss and frequent travel can pass for "just getting older"
• Why consistency makes it easier to see what's working, and how long to stick with a nutrition plan (usually 2 to 4 weeks) before changing it
• Andrew's rule: zoom out for perspective, zoom in for action

• Niki on Instagram
• Andrew on Instagram

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

PS - Busy mom strugging to take care of your own health with all your other responsibilities!? Get our free Strength for the Life You Love guide and start getting healthier in the life you already have.

Barbell Logic founder Matt Reynolds has cut body fat for nine straight months with no cardio. He shares how walking, lifting, quitting alcohol, and simple meals did the work.

You can lose fat without cardio. Barbell Logic founder Matt Reynolds has cut his body fat for nine straight months without any dedicated cardio. In this episode, Andrew Jackson and Matt walk through exactly what he does each day, from his walks and his training plan to the meals he eats almost every day.

In this episode:

• Why fat loss comes from a calorie deficit, not time on a treadmill
• How Matt walks twice a day to hit 10,000 to 12,000 steps
• Why quitting alcohol was his first big change, and how to cut back in steps if quitting feels like too much
• Matt's simple, high-protein meals, plus how he added fiber and uses low-calorie sauces for flavor
• His six-day push, pull, legs plan, and why he eats to fuel training instead of training to burn calories
• How he tracks progress with a smart scale and lab work, and why this plan doesn't feel like a diet

• Niki on Instagram
• Andrew on Instagram

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

PS - Busy mom strugging to take care of your own health with all your other responsibilities!? Get our free Strength for the Life You Love guide and start getting healthier in the life you already have.

Andrew Conrad has plenty of reasons not to train.

He was born with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, or RDEB, a rare skin disorder that makes his skin extremely fragile. Friction and pressure can cause blisters, wounds, and scar tissue. Even normal activities can require extra care.

But Andrew has spent his life finding ways to stay active.

He grew up playing baseball and competitive tennis. He later trained CrossFit, ran a half marathon, tried OrangeTheory, and eventually found his way to Barbell Logic. Today, he trains four days per week and continues to chase strength goals.

In this episode of Beast Over Burden, Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson talk with Andrew about growing up with RDEB, learning to manage physical limitations, and adapting his training instead of giving it up.

Andrew explains how he has modified exercises, equipment, sets, and reps around his condition. That has included gloves, tape, neoprene protection, straps, safety squat bars, different squat variations, and changes to how he deadlifts and benches.

The bigger lesson applies far beyond Andrew's rare condition.

Your training does not have to look like somebody else's training to work. Injuries, age, health conditions, recovery, and other limitations may change how you train. They do not always have to mean that you stop.

Good strength training starts with the person in front of you.

In this episode:

• Andrew's experience growing up with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa
• Staying active despite a condition that makes friction and pressure difficult
• His background in baseball, tennis, CrossFit, running, and OrangeTheory
• Why he eventually moved to

• Niki on Instagram
• Andrew on Instagram

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

PS - Busy mom strugging to take care of your own health with all your other responsibilities!? Get our free Strength for the Life You Love guide and start getting healthier in the life you already have.