Hi Ladies, it's the team from Barbell Babes Brigade here (Ro, Rach, Tori, Hannah & Bro). We're a Melbourne based strength facility for women who love to lift. We believe that every woman deserves to explore her strength and that’s exactly why we do what
72. Photoshopping motherfuckers by Barbell Babes Brigade
"Can I get strong and fit at the same time?" "Can I get strong and change my body composition?" The simple answer is yes... welcome to the world of hybrid programs! What are hybrid programs? How can you be working towards different goals and outcomes at the same time? What does this look like? Tori and Rach hit all the big questions and show you the any different ways this can look.
Hands up if you've been in comp prep and you've ever spat out the answer "I can't I'm in comp prep" or the good ol' "I'm a powerlifter so I don't need to?" Hannah and Rach are here with some truth bombs that y'all need to hear... brace yourself LOL
Ro & Rach hit this episode head on with you all as they share their own unique experiences with their body image throughout the process of their pregnancies, as well as sharing how they navigated their thoughts and feelings during this time.
Deloads... what are they? Why are they important? How does one incorporate deloads into their training? Rach & Han have got you covered with all the answers to the common questions around deloads
You may not LOVEEEE conditioning but my god will your body love YOU for it. There are so many benefits to conditioning and cardiovascular fitness that are often so overlooked and can be the missing piece to you actually progressing in your strength goals. How you may ask? Tune in and Rach & Ro will hit you will all of the facts
Your guide to competition day from start to finish! We delve into what time you need to arrive, the process of weigh-ins, what on earth sessions and flights are, how the best lifter of the day is calculated and everything in between. This is a must listen episode if you're competing for the first time... we go over everything you need to know with all the common questions answered.
Tori and Rach sit down and share with you their top tips when it comes to setting yourself up for the best possible max out day. Buckle up as they hit this one rapid fire!
There are some common themes that we as coaches see time and time again between 1st, 2nd and 3rd lifting parties or even competitions for that matter. In this episode Tori and Rach delve into these nuances and how to keep yourself on the straight and narrow as you step into your 2nd, 3rd and beyond lifting party / comp.
Coaches Molly and Ro discuss RPE with a twist. Overthinking training and intensity. Why RPE for singles is different to volume. Overshooting and undershooting, who are you? How hard should you really hit it? Newbie vs experienced lifters, gaining experience
What is RPE? Does it matter? Is it for everyone? RPE is a growing tool that is so widely used when it comes to training and has sparked a lot of questions so coach Rach and Han are here to slam the juicey ones for you. Let's go!
When you start creeping up into the 75-80% of your 1RM territory we often get our queens asking us "should it feel this heavy?" The answer is yes and we're here to fire some real talk as to why
Torpedo tampon, spewing on the platform and menstrual cups... Tori, Rach and Ro go into some behind the scenes of women lifting heavy in this episode and my god is it an adventure of a listen. Buckle up!
Hands up who has a tendency to get stuck in their head when loads start to creep up and get heavy? Yep, it happens to us coaches too. It's so damn common and such a normal part of lifting and stepping out of our comfort zone, but what can you do to get OUT of your head and OUT of your own way? If this sounds like something you want to and need to know... this ones for you!
Is social media and comparison zapping you of joy in your training? While there are so many positives to social media, there are equally as many drawbacks with so much of the content on these platforms manufactured for its audience and only showing what they want you to see. Sit down and buckle up... this is a big episode!
Ego in lifting can very much help or hinder your lifting if you don't know how to channel it in a way that works best for you. So what is ego? When it is useful? And when do we need to pipe it down a little?
When stepping onto the platform there can often be this preconceived notion that there is only one way to compete... to fully max out and truly push those limits. Whilst some people love this way of competing it isn't the only way. Tori and Rach deep dive into the many different reasons why people choose to compete and discuss why it's important to find the reason that rings most true for you
When life gets hectic it can feel like a bit of a headfuck trying to maintain the same training routine with zero adjustments, leaving many of us chasing our tail and feeling worse for wear. Rest assured, it doesn't have to be that way. There are so many levers we as coaches can pull to adjust your training, meeting you with where you're currently at and have it feeling manageable within your current life.
It's that time of year where sickness is kicking so many of us. It can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking that your training is taking 10x steps back every time you get sick but this simply isn't the case.
There is so much nonsense out there when it comes to nutrition that it can feel incredibly overwhelming and leave you feeling like you don't know where to start or what to do. In this episode coach Tori and Rach delve into energy balance (calories in vs calories out) and how to tip this scale in favour of your goals.
Waking up in the pitch black and weather in the single digits can make it feel that little bit harder to get into your groove and get your training done, so what can you do to continue to push forward with your goals in these cooler months? Rach and Hannah slam this episode for y'all giving you there insights into how to keep moving during these cooler months
Finding a safe space to train can honestly be the make or break between sticking with your training or not. Bro and Rach deep dive into their experiences in commercial gyms and what it means to them to find an accessible and safe space to train
With the constant advertising of 8-week and 12-week challenges, it's no wonder so many women believe can do a complete 180 in such a short period of time. Rach and Bro make their way into your ear holes this week to delve into what body composition changes even consist of and what is actually realistic
You don't have to train 3,4,5 days a week to get results. It's all about finding what works best for you and your life. Tune in to coaches Rach and Ro who slam some goodness in this episode including an off topic tangent about a whiteboard and printer
In this episode we sit down with three of our very own queens, Michelle, Claire and Hannah, who stepped onto the platform for the very first time just a few weeks ago. We delve into all facets of their platform debuts from where the fascination to compete started for them, their biggest fears about competing and what they loved most about the entire process. This is a big episode and we're so excited for it to be in your ear holes Xx
What does getting stronger feel like? What does it look like? These are two questions that come up time and time again to those who are looking to embark on their strength training journey so Tori and Rach have hit record on this juicy episode for you.
We all get in our heads no matter whether you're a beginner or advanced lifter, but is that actually helping you move forward with your lifting?
45. Lifting with an autoimmune disease by Barbell Babes Brigade
Failing a lift is not the end of the world... in fact it's a necessary part of the process. Tune in to listen to Rach and Hannah talk all things failing from why we do it to how to do it safely.
When it comes to lifting on the platform there are so many hidden secrets when it comes to timing and nuisances. in this episode Ro and Tori break into all of the things that you need to know and things we've seen over the years in our experiences as comp handlers.
Dabbling in and out of training before she started with us, 2-years ago Lulu contacted us to get back into some structured training and now... she's stronger than she ever thought possible and about to jump into her 2nd lifting party
Secondary touches on squat, bench and deadlift. Why do we do it? What is the purpose? What are the benefits? Tune in to this episode with Rach and Tori as they slam all things secondary touches
40. Ro's lifting journey with baby #2 by Barbell Babes Brigade
After delivering a killer in-house workshop deep diving into the fundamental concepts of breathing and bracing, Rach and Hannah have taken those concepts and are hitting it here for you! They discuss "stacking", what this means, how to find it and why it's important in lifting, before discussing bracing and how the two work together. This is a juicy one and a must listen for anyone who strength trains.
From where she first started over 3-years ago, unable to bodyweight squat or lunge, to the absolute powerhouse she is today. It's been a hell of a ride and an absolute pleasure being by this queens side. Tune in to hear first hand insight into what her training has looked like over this time, the top 3x things she has achieved and so much more.
Tori, Rach and Bro delve into the concept of the four pillars of performance - training, nutrition, recovery and mindset - and the roles they each play in the pursuit of our goals along with how they all work in with one another. If you're unsure how to start taking steps forward with your goals... this episode is for you!
There is a lot of information out there targeted at women giving out the notion that you can only focus on weight loss goals and strength goals separate to one another... This is not true! We're joined by our first guest on the podcast, Jordan Di Stefano who is an accredited sports nutritionist and avid lifter, to talk all things women's nutrition when focusing on hybrid goals. We discuss what you can be focusing on to push forward with both goals simultaneously, the dangers of cutting calories too hard, expectations we as women have when it comes to weight loss including a friendly reality check to bring those expectations back down to earth, plus much much more.
The entire team sit down and round out the year with round #2 of coaches confessions... an episode full of laughter, insights and as always good banter
One thing I can tell you... you won't lose all your gains! Training is all about consistency over a long period of time
Holy moly what a weekend! In this episode Ro and Tori talk all things USAPL nationals, the lead in, the highs the lows and the strategies that were played out on the day. Tune in to find out all about it
I get it… building consistency with your movement pattern in your deadlift can be frustrating AF and sometimes there is a desire to pull the pin and try something completely different because it just seems easier. Whilst sumo is the answer for some people, it's not a fix or way out for struggling with conventional… Here's why!
Bro & Ro discuss all things prep as they lead into USAPL Nationals on the 3rd and 4th of December. 3x back to back preps under challenging conditions, Bro has had her most successful comps to date and here's why...
Refine movement, get swole (muscle building), wash out or keep building! There are so many possible avenues to pursue post maxing out. Tune in to find out more!
1-week out from Lifting Party and our queens are enjoying a well deserved deload after truly pushing over the past 10-weeks in preparation to max out this Saturday.
Ep 28. Coaches Are Human Too by Barbell Babes Brigade
In this episode, coach Rach and Bro talk all things maxing out. They discuss what it means to max out, how it can differ from person to person and what considerations there are for each individual
Ep 26. Accessories... Why The Fk Do We Do Them? by Barbell Babes Brigade
Ep 25. High Bar Vs Low Bar Squat by Barbell Babes Brigade
24. Making The Most Of Hypertrophy by Barbell Babes Brigade
23. Training Around Baby Number #2 by Barbell Babes Brigade