Baker Barbell Podcast

In today's episode Coach Andy Baker discusses the most common injuries he sees in barbell training and his strategies for reducing the likelihood of their occurence. The key word in the title is "mitigating" injuries, not preventing them! If you train hard for years, chances are you will deal with an injury at one point or another. While barbell training is a very safe activity, injuries do happen, regardless of how good your technique, programming, and recovery are. That said, with some preparation and attention to detail, you can reduce your chance of injury during trainign and maintain longer, sustained periods of productive training.   Andy focuses on a few key areas of injury mitigaton: technique, programming, and recovery. Technique is important, and Andy breaks down the most common technique errors he sees that can potentially lead to injury. Many injuries can't be traced to a technique issue, however, and are more likely the result of poor programming -- accmulating too much fatigue for too long with no strategies for adjusting the exercise selection, load, and volume during high stress times. Likewise, recovery can play a huge role in the time it takes to recover from heavy bouts of training, and inattention to quality food, sleep, and outside stressors can increase the chance for injury.   No one likes to talk about injuries, but they are a reality for people engaged in hard physical training. Armed with a little knowledge, however, you can minimize your chances for injuries, and down-time, significantly.   Andy Baker Web: www.AndyBaker.com IG: @bakerbarbell Owner of Kingwood Strength & Conditioning Co-author of Practical Programming for Strength Training Co-author of The Barbell Prescription: Strength Training for Life After 40

At some point in a lifter's career, typically after the novice or early intermediate phase, the most reliable way to get stronger is to become more muscular, i.e. build muscle mass. To that end, the term "powerbuilding" has emerged to describe a hybrid approach of training the main barbell lifts (like a powerlifter) alongside a selection of supplemental lifts done for higher reps aimed at increasing muscular size (like a bodybuilder). While some people knock powerbuilding as a merely a clever marketing term, but a suboptimal way to train, the fact is that many of the strongest powerlifters of all time have trained with this approach: Ed Coan, Dan Green, Kirk Karwoski, and many others. In today's episode, Andy lays out his "KSC Method for Powerbuilding" using an 8/5/2 scheme for progressing the main lifts in the context of a five day body part split.   KSC Method for Powerbuilding Program: https://www.andybaker.com/product/the-ksc-method-for-power-building/   Kirk Karwoski squats 600x8 (beltless!) https://youtu.be/-hd8mN765KQ?si=kITPibMEylwqZAvE   Louie Simmons podcast with Dan Green: https://youtu.be/4e7LxkyR010?si=42N135_VFSiemGFi   Andy Baker Web: www.AndyBaker.com IG: @bakerbarbell Owner of Kingwood Strength & Conditioning Co-author of Practical Programming for Strength Training Co-author of The Barbell Prescription: Strength Training for Life After 40

In today's episide, show producer Trent Jones chats with Andy about his wide array of coaching and programming services. If it wasn't obvious from the variety of topics on the podcast thus far, Andy has a wide range of interests in fitness and he draws from a deep well of knowledge and practical experience when writing his programs. Whether you are looking for general strength and fitness, chasing numbers on the big barbell lifts, or building the best physique you can, Andy has a program for you, and a service level to fit your needs: Detailed training templates, with everything you need to build a program Affordable online group coaching (only $27/mo), with access to three training tracks and access to Andy through a private Facebook group and forum.  Basic Barbell Track, for pure strength development with minimal gym equipment (all you need is a rack and a barbell) Conjugate Training Track, based on the Westisde principles of max effort and dynamic effort days Bodybuilding/Phyisque Track, a comprehensive body part split designed to maximize muscular development with short, intense, and easy to recover from workouts Intensive 1-on-1 online coaching, where Andy delivers tailored programming to you weekly and you have unlimited access to ask questions   You can find details of all the training options on Andy's website: https://www.andybaker.com   Andy Baker Web: www.AndyBaker.com IG: @bakerbarbell Owner of Kingwood Strength & Conditioning Co-author of Practical Programming for Strength Training Co-author of The Barbell Prescription: Strength Training for Life After 40

As the pendulum swings in the fitness world, the body part split or "bro split" has gone through it's ups and downs. For many years it was accepted as a classic way to train for physique, with many notable golden-era bodybuilders splitting up their weekly workload into various body part specific days. Then as evidence-based training came into vogue, the idea came under attack, with proponents going back and forth on whether the bro split was effective or a suboptimal waste of time. Various alternate ideas were proposed such as timing your workouts around the muscle protein synthesis window, spread loading stress on body parts, high frequency full body training, and so on, but over time as the research evolved the bro split has regained its status in the evidence based world. Many questions about it remain, however, and Andy wades through the controversy in today's episode.   Andy Baker Web: www.AndyBaker.com IG: @bakerbarbell Owner of Kingwood Strength & Conditioning Co-author of Practical Programming for Strength Training Co-author of The Barbell Prescription: Strength Training for Life After 40

The pendulum swings on in the fitness industry, and right now "hypertrophy" is the hot topic (or as Andy likes to call it, bodybulding with a small "b"). Many people who got into powerlifting over the last decade and half, and subsequently retired from competition, have started looking for ways to train hard beyond the squat, bench, and deadlift, and bodybuilding is a natural progression. Influencers on YouTube and social media have jumped in, detailing their transition from powerlifting and basic strength training programs to more advacned bodybuilding routines. While these routines may be a good fit for the developed strength athlete, the constant shift in attention from the leading fitness influencers has left many newer trainees confused.   So what's the big deal about hypertrophy? Andy outlines three main factors that drive strength development. One of those is hypertrophy. Once a trainee has acquired sufficeint technique and inter/intramuscular coordination, adding more muscle mass is the most reliable way to get stronger. As Andy notes, many of the successful powerlifters today are the most muscular ones. Not necessarily the heaviest, but the most muscular (for their height and weight class).   Andy explains how he evaluates new trainees by identifying their biggest gaps and weaknesses, and working on that. Many youth athletes spend a lot of time practicing, and therefore display high levels of cooridination and skill in their sport, but they are small and light. For these athletes, strength and size are a clear weakness, and they need to devote a lot of time to getting big and strong. A college level sprinter, on the other hand, weighing 185-215lbs and squatting in the 400-500's, probably needs to devote the most time toward technique, not driving his squat up.   Before you choose your next program, think about where your own weaknesses lie. Answering that question makes programming decisions a lot clearer, and will give you a faster path to progress.     Andy Baker Web: www.AndyBaker.com IG: @bakerbarbell Owner of Kingwood Strength & Conditioning Co-author of Practical Programming for Strength Training Co-author of The Barbell Prescription: Strength Training for Life After 40  

Continuing the discussion from last week, Andy interviews Starting Strength Coach and nutrititonist Robert Santana about the effect of low carb diets on training and fat loss. They also discuss the role of insulin sensitivity in training, particularly for endormorphic body types, and how carb intake can be manipulated to keep energy in the gym while producing weight loss for "hard losers."   Weights & Plates Podcast Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weights-and-plates-podcast/id1557830248 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4ChDOVS5Hmm9Uu0hOiEp3i?si=350bb32050e443b4   Weights & Plates: https://weightsandplates.com Robert Santana on Instagram: @the_robert_santana Articles and Videos for Starting Strength: https://startingstrength.com/author/robert-santana     Join the Baker Barbell Club Online for just $27/mo: https://www.andybaker.com/landing-page/   Andy Baker Blog: www.AndyBaker.com IG: @bakerbarbell Owner of Kingwood Strength & Conditioning

This week we're flipping things around and inviting Dr. Robert Santana, Starting Strength Coach and PhD Nutrition, onto the show to talk about all things nutrition, diet, and macros as they relate to training for strength and physique. In addition to his extensive academic training, Dr. Santana has spent over twenty years in the weight room and over a decade as a strength coach.  Thousands of hours of practical experience getting people strong, muscular, and lean have given him a unique perspective on the things that actually work for average, natural (no steroids or other PEDs) lifters as well as the limitations of scientific research.   This interview is broken into two parts. In Part One, Dr. Santana answers the age old question: how much protein do we really need? He breaks down the thinking behind the standard one gram per pound of bodyweight protein recommendation, and discusses whether protein timing is important for optimizing muscle mass. He also discusses the role of carbohydrates in fueling performance and building muscle.   You can follow Dr. Santana and the Weights & Plates Podcast here:   Weights & Plates Podcast Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weights-and-plates-podcast/id1557830248 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4ChDOVS5Hmm9Uu0hOiEp3i?si=350bb32050e443b4   Weights & Plates: https://weightsandplates.com Robert Santana on Instagram: @the_robert_santana     Join the Baker Barbell Club Online for just $27/mo: https://www.andybaker.com/landing-page/   Andy Baker Blog: www.AndyBaker.com IG: @bakerbarbell Owner of Kingwood Strength & Conditioning

Today's show is a simulcast with the Weights and Plates podcast. Andy was recently a guest on the Weights and Plates show, and as part of a podcast swap, we are airing Andy's interview from the show on both Weights and Plates and Baker Barbell Podcast. In the coming weeks, Andy will invite Dr. Robert Santana on the Baker Barbell Podcast to discuss nutrition issues related to training.   In the interview Andy addresses the difference between strength training and hypertrophy training, a frequent point of contention amongst powerlifters, bodybuilders, and the "gym bro" crowd. He explains how strength and physique are the products of performance-based training, lays out his keys to hypertrophy, and shares some of his favorite movements for growing the upper body.     Andy Baker Blog: www.AndyBaker.com IG: @bakerbarbell Owner of Kingwood Strength & Conditioning Co-author of Practical Programming for Strength Training Co-author of The Barbell Prescription: Strength Training for Life After 40  

Coaching can be a fun and highly rewarding profession, because you get to help people become better versions of themselves, gain confidence, and build more resilient bodies. One of the quickest ways to burn out from the profession, however, is to make financial mistakes. There are a number of financial pitfalls young coaches fall into when leaving their W-2 jobs and going into business for themselves, including saving for quarterly taxes, managing bank accounts, and setting aside money for retirement.   In this episode, Andy Baker offers simple and practical advice for young coaches (or people going into business for themselves for the first time) to avoid the most common money mistakes. He lays out a strategy to set aside money from every payment for taxes and retirement savings, and explains how you can use multiple bank accounts to ensure you always have enough money to cover quarterly tax payments and unforeseen business expenses that may come up as you grow your income.   Want to work with Andy one-on-one to solve your business problems? Book a consulation at https://www.andybaker.com/phone-consultations-training-or-business/     Andy Baker Blog: www.AndyBaker.com IG: @bakerbarbell Owner of Kingwood Strength & Conditioning Co-author of Practical Programming for Strength Training Co-author of The Barbell Prescription: Strength Training for Life After 40  

After a brief hiatus, Andy is back! Today he breaks down the training program he used to help 71 year old powerlifter Shelly Stettner win the 2022 IPF World Championship in the Masters 4 division, 63kg weight class. Shelly has an unusual background for an elite powerlifter, first discovering the barbell at age 65. Despite her late start, she has trained diligently and consistently, setting regular PR's for years, including Master's World Records in the squat, bench press, deadlift, and total. Andy attributes her athletic success to good genetics, determination, consistency, and attention to detail. After all, you don't become champion without the mindset of a champion, as Andy points out. Shelly has continually looked for ways to push her limits, while also staying on script with the training program. She also watches her nutrition closely, adhering to a custom nutrition plan from Nathan Payton, nutritionist to a number of elite strongmen and powerlifters.   Andy's programming certainly didn't hurt either! Andy breaks down his programming approach for Shelly, which consisted of a typical 4-day split albeit customized over the years to Shelly's individual needs. He discusses how he varied exercise selection to keep Shelly's joints happy and manage lingering arthritis issues, and how they modified her lifting technique to work around some tweaks late in her prep for Worlds.   Andy also details their attempt selection strategy at the meet. While Shelly did not set any PR's on individual lifts at the meet, she did PR her total and set World Records on each lift, which was part of the strategy. Shelly also chose to waive her third squat attempt to preserve her energy for the deadlift, where she knew she could pick up more pounds for her total than she could by taking a third squat attempt (and thus risk missing a bigger third attempt deadlift due to fatigue). This was another conscious decision, Andy explains, and one that he often makes for lifters during a meet.   You can follow Shelly and her training on Instagram: @shelly_ann_28     Join the Baker Barbell Club Online for just $27/mo: https://www.andybaker.com/landing-page/   Cox Sauce BBQ Sauce -- Get One Free When You Buy Three! https://coxsaucebbqsauce.com   Andy Baker Blog: www.AndyBaker.com IG: @bakerbarbell Owner of Kingwood Strength & Conditioning Co-author of Practical Programming for Strength Training Co-author of The Barbell Prescription: Strength Training for Life After 40