Jordan Buchla squatted 820 pounds at a fraction of the size of most elite lifters. The reason comes down to one thing most people refuse to give: time under the bar before the bar moves.

Valerie Smith’s path through powerlifting proves that the platform is only one part of the education. From bombing out at her first meet to becoming a lifter, coach, referee, and meet director, she learned that better lifting comes from better decisions, sharper standards, and a broader view of the sport.

"Just like your feet on squat, you're going to be taking your hands and rooting them into the bench press, they should be getting all of that tension, and this barbell is not leaving my hands".

A stripped-down, no-BS guide to conjugate training structure: how to organize max effort, dynamic effort, secondary work, accessories, bands, chains, and auto-regulation without overcomplicating the system.

The barbell builds you, teaches you, humbles you, and eventually demands something back. Inspired by Elitefts Table Talk Episode #422, this article breaks down the hard-earned lessons Jim Wendler, Matt Rhodes, and Vincent Dizenzo share on aging under the bar, coaching the next generation, training for longevity, and redefining strength when max-effort lifting is no longer the goal.

By predicting a lift's perceived exertion and comparing it to the actual physical outcome, athletes develop crucial "neural encoding" that trains the central nervous system to consistently achieve true high performance.

Table Talk #346 with Dr. Todd Lee breaks down the exact checklist to run before assuming you've hit a real plateau

A training method built on Paul Anderson's original overload principles that lets advanced lifters break through strength plateaus by systematically raising neurological force output.

Build a bigger chest and back by learning how elbow path, grip angle, wrist freedom, and joint position determine where tension actually goes. This article breaks down smarter pressing, dips, pulldowns, rows, and EliteFTS gear choices for more precise hypertrophy training.

From teenage lifter to burned-out founder, Mike Stratton’s story is a raw look at strength culture, hormone health, entrepreneurial sacrifice, and the wake-up call that reshaped his mission with Marek Health.

Most missed benches are not just strength problems—they are position problems. This guide breaks down how to use elitefts bands to create controlled “chaos,” build a tighter unrack, strengthen the upper back, improve lat engagement, and develop the bracing capacity needed to stay locked in under heavy weight.

 "All of these different diets at the end of the day do their thing because of how they influence the actions of insulin," meaning the best nutritional approach is simply the one that allows you to remain consistent within the demands of your specific lifestyle and budget.

"It's just always constantly trying to improve your situation, you know, constant and never-ending improvement all the time; that's just what it's about to me".

What does it take to hit PRs for 10 straight years without burning out? Marcellus “The Swolefessor” Williams breaks down competing often, building work capacity, treating powerlifting as a skill, protecting your mental battery, and using strength to build a better life—not just a bigger total.

Motivation is not something you wait for. It is something you build. This article breaks down how action, progress, and better goal-setting create the kind of long-term drive that keeps lifters training when the weight gets heavy, life gets messy, and excuses start talking.

Most people think podcasting is as simple as hitting record. Table Talk proves otherwise. This behind-the-scenes breakdown shows the 25-hour workflow Elitefts uses to produce every episode, including guest sourcing, booking, AI-powered prep, live production, post-production, thumbnail strategy, and publishing.

If your squat falls apart before you hit depth, your walkout may be the problem. This guide breaks down how to build a tighter squat setup from the rack out: grip, upper back tension, stacking, bracing, foot pressure, and the common walkout mistakes that make heavy squats feel harder than they should.

Matt Sharafinski’s story is more than a powerlifting comeback. From high school addiction and identity struggles to becoming “The Sheriff,” an elite 2,000-pound totaler and coach, this feature breaks down how discipline, psychology, health, and the weight room helped him rebuild his life under the bar.

Raw strength matters, but the fastest vertical jump gains often come from cleaning up the leak: foot pressure, descent speed, arm timing, and how violently you redirect force into the floor.

Stop majoring in the minors. Dr. Ian Butcher explains what lifters actually need: hard training, better recovery, smarter nutrition, and real-world discipline.

"It was a Brotherhood yet not a friendship like you were there to get each other better one thing one thing only and if if the person didn't want to be a part of that get the fuck out".

"I'm a poly athlete, I do everything, not all year round. Usually, I layer things seasonally, in the right time period, and I periodize them correctly in blocks."