Training Update: Staying Productive Without Forcing the Barbell

Training’s going well right now, and in many ways it’s more of the same—in a good way. I’ve been really enjoying the machine press I have, the old Lifestyle machine, because it lets me accumulate a lot of quality volume for my pecs, shoulders, and triceps without having to constantly load up the barbell bench press. At this stage, that matters. I can still train hard, still push effort, but without unnecessary wear and tear on my joints or nervous system.

That theme—finding ways to get productive work in without forcing maximal loading—is really guiding how I’m training right now.

Warm-Ups, Core, and Movement Prep

Every session still starts with the basics. I worked through TRX rows, bird dogs, curl-ups, glute bridges, and side planks. None of that is flashy, but it’s foundational. Those movements keep my core firing, help reinforce stiffness where I want it, and set the tone for the rest of the session.

I also made sure to get my specific adductor work in early. The goal there isn’t fatigue—it’s blood flow. Flushing blood into the hamstring and adductor has been a big part of keeping things trending in the right direction, especially with how much time I spend on my feet.

Circuit-Based Upper Body Work

The main focus of the day was circuit work. I rotated between the bench press, the machine press, and skull crushers. I did catch myself on video using the wrong setting on the skull crushers—way too high—but that’s part of the process. You catch it, fix it, and move on.

What I like about this setup is how balanced it feels. There’s a lot of pressing, but it’s paired with a lot of pulling—multiple TRX row variations throughout the session. That push-pull balance keeps my shoulders feeling good and lets me keep volume high without things getting cranky.

I also worked in plenty of carries. Carries continue to be one of the most underrated tools out there for building real-world strength, trunk stability, and work capacity without beating yourself up.

Modifying Lower Body Work (On Purpose)

Right now, I’m not doing much squatting or hinging, and that’s intentional. The hamstring and adductor situation is still ongoing, but it’s clearly improving. Recovery with something like this is rarely linear. It’s usually one step back, two steps forward… then maybe one step back and three steps forward.

With the type of job I have—being on my feet a lot—it’s easy for irritation to creep back in. Sometimes that irritation travels down the leg into the calf or even the foot. It can follow a bruising-type line depending on the fascial train involved, and when that happens, things can get grumpy fast.

The key point, though, is that it’s significantly better overall. I’m not forcing lower-body loading just for the sake of saying I squatted or pulled. I’m choosing patience and consistency instead.

Recovery, Peptides, and What’s Coming Next

I’m still using the peptides I’ve been experimenting with, and I’ve got some interesting content coming soon, breaking all of that down. I’ll be sharing more on YouTube and over at PowerRackStrength.com about what I’m taking, how Christ Duffin has helped guide me, and why I’ve chosen certain compounds over others.

I’ll also be giving my honest thoughts on some of the more popular peptides out there—R3 in particular—and where I think they fit, and where they don’t. The goal is clarity, not hype.

There’s a batch of new videos coming early in the year, and I’m looking forward to getting those out. As always, the focus is on training for the long haul—staying strong, staying resilient, and making smart decisions that let you keep showing up day after day.

BRIAN DOES ONLINE AND IN-PERSON COACHING!

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