Barbell Medicine

Really good programs that have given me better results than anything else I’ve found and they’ve fixed all the performance issues, making the app very slick to use.

I’m a fan of BBM. Their philosophy, technical quality, templates, etc. are all great. The app just isn’t there though. It’s OK, but that’s it. A recent update took 6 months between versions, and it doesn’t seem like there’s much functionality added other than some big performance bugs fixed, which I’m guessing should have never been there given how new the app is. Adding videos was clearly a priority, but I can’t see this being hugely useful, at least not for me. Maybe I’m being unfair and too impatient but by now I would have hoped that data exports, better customisation of templates, timers for EMOMs, etc. would be available. I keep considering whether I should pay for a different app and use their custom program options to input BBM templates (there are a couple out there that work well for this). It would also mean that I don’t have to keep inputting my tweaks and preferences every session. I hope updates come faster so that the app can match the quality BBM has elsewhere.

Before this app, I used google sheets on my phone to track my numbers while at the gym. It was cumbersome to have to scroll through an excel document and struggle to tap on the tiny squares. This app is such a breath of fresh air. I really appreciate its ease-of-use and versatility. The ability to make substitutions from the large database of exercises has been a game-changer for me. Being able to visualize my progress with the graphs on the home screen motivates me to continue training consistently.

The app was better than I expected. I think it makes my training better in subtle ways. I like seeing the 1rpe of each set, like the motivational training messages after finishing a workout. The customisable dash board is great, although why limit to only 4 RPE graphs? It absolutely must get a data export functionality though. I can track my workout logs from my own spreadsheets going back a decade, which i kind of like for reviewing things or just reading what I used to do for fun. I dont want the app to be the single source of the data and might stop using it eventually without this feature. Other than that, its great. One other thing: add more congratulatory workout completion quotes to keep it interesting. I have only seen 3 so far. 3.5/5 as is. 5/5 with easy and simple/minimalist (CSV probably) data export.

Great to have all these templates in one place, easy to track progress, love everything these guys put out into the world!

I’ve enjoyed their templates for a while, and love the pairing of actual science with strength. The app is much better than spreadsheeting at the gym 😅 Simply laid out, easy to navigate.💪 Caveat, it’s a new app so there are little details being fixed, but I’m regularly seeing improvements to the user experience. It’s got some nuance 🤙

Trial comes up with an error saying no internet connection both when connected to a strong WiFi network and with 4G. This makes me doubt the functionality of the app with paid programmes which puts me off committing to spending money on the app. I’ve given 2 stars because the layout of the app seems really well-designed and I like the features I’ve seen so far.

I’ve been using the BBM for a couple years now, starting with the free beginner program then checking out the free trials of other programs and buying several (hypertrophy, powerbuilding) and since the beginning of 2024 for personal coaching. I was a coach potato (and looked like one) when I started with BBM and now I look pretty jacked and am the strongest and healthiest I’ve ever been in my life. 100/10 would recommend and check out BBM’s free podcast and seminars if you want to dive deeper!

Not sure if it’s iOS 18 or if it’s the new screen size of the iPhone 16 pro but the app now has bugs on my new phone. The buttons on the bottom “home, history, and the button and “programs” “profile” are now skewed and unresponsive Which limits my ability to fully access everything I need on the app. When it’s fully functional it’s a 5 star app.

The programs are great. Worth the purchase. I rerun old ones all the time. The user flow doesn’t get in the way, very easy to jump into the next workout and see what’s you need to do. Also easy to look back at previous sets of an exercise, whether the exercise is part of the current template or not. Only gripe is the button and box extents are too small and should extent beyond the outline if possible. As in, I miss hit the number pad 20-50% of the time. And I will record 58 reps instead of 5 reps at RPE 8 because I miss hit the next box with my thumb. There is a next arrow for navigation (it’s also too small), but that’s not how people use phones. You touch the open box to go there. Otherwise, it’s a solid app.