Earned Strength Publishing

17/10/2026

Don’t be a do*****ag in the gym.
Yesterday I was filming as this was a new exercise for me and needed to send to my coach.
This poor guy felt bad he walked in front of my phone while recording.
I felt bad he felt bad.😆
I actually have a sign I normally put up apologizing for taking video.
I do not own this gym. It is a public gym. I am the one inconveniencing others.
I’m lucky that I am even allowed to film and appreciate the opportunity and patience of others.
So just a reminder. Don’t be a do*****ag in the gym.
Follow these 5 simple rules:
1- be polite to others
2- put your weights back
3- respect the equipment
4- be patient
5- clean up after yourself
Bonus rule needs to be said twice, because I feel this is ignored WAY too much. PUT YOUR DAMN WEIGHTS BACK.

Joey Swoll 😊

17/10/2026

17/10/2026

A typical Day 3 in my training program.

With a push/pull meet coming up in December, the focus is on bench press and deadlift. Squats are kept light, followed by my second bench session of the week and a couple of accessory lifts.

At 55, I’ve learned to prioritize recovery and understand what my body can handle.

The unfortunate truth is that it can take years to truly understand your body. Knowing when to push, when to back off, and when to rest is something that comes with experience.

Training smarter doesn’t mean training easier. It means training with purpose.

Slow and steady wins the race.

RecoveryMatters PushPull ConsistencyIsKey

15/10/2026

The directors cut. 👍

15/10/2026

🎉🎂 IT’S MY BIRTHDAY, BUT YOU GET THE PRESENT! 🎂🎉

🚨 FREE! FREE! FREE! ONE DAY ONLY! 🚨

In celebration of turning 55 years old, I’ve decided to give something away!

My book, STRENGTH EARNED: MORE THAN A TRAINING PROGRAM, will be available absolutely FREE on Amazon Kindle!

📅 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2026!

🔥 ONE DAY ONLY! NO COST! NO CATCH! 🔥

At 55, I’ve learned that real strength isn’t just measured by how much weight you can lift.

It’s about discipline, perseverance, patience, overcoming adversity, and showing up even when life gives you every reason not to.

That’s why I wrote this book.

You don’t have to be a powerlifter, an athlete, or even someone who goes to the gym to benefit from its message.

Strength is about more than muscle. It’s about life.

🎁 MY BIRTHDAY GIFT TO YOU!

📖 Just go to Amazon, search for “Strength Earned” by Robert Bethke, and grab your FREE Kindle copy this Sunday!

🙏 PLEASE SHARE THIS POST! I’d love to get this book into as many hands as possible!

💪 STRENGTH ISN’T GIVEN. IT’S EARNED.

15/10/2026

15/10/2026

First reviews came in. Thank you to everyone. For the support! All I’ve wanted to do is help people. So for someone to feel inspired by me or my book is an amazing feeling.

Thank you all.

15/10/2026

The directors cut.

10/10/2026

My Current Training Principles

As a 55-year-old lifter, I’ve found that recovering from training has become increasingly difficult.

When leg day is on Monday and you’re still significantly sore by Saturday, it’s probably time to take a hard look at what you’re doing.

So, while developing my latest training program in preparation for my December 2026 powerlifting meet, I knew I needed to approach things differently.

I wanted to continue getting stronger without constantly beating myself up in the process.

That meant taking a closer look at training volume, intensity, recovery, and what was actually producing results.

These are the six principles that now guide my training.

I’m not a coach, and I’m certainly not suggesting this approach is right for everyone. It’s simply what I’ve found works well for me at this stage of my lifting journey.

To my fellow lifters in their 50s and beyond:

Have you noticed your recovery changing as you’ve gotten older? Have you adjusted how you train, or are you still following the same approach you used years ago?

I’d genuinely like to hear your thoughts.

TrainSmarter StrengthAfter50