profile

Dr Mike T Nelson

Creator of the Flex Diet Cert & Phys Flex Cert, CSCS, CISSN, Assoc Professor, kiteboarder, lifter of odd objects, metal music lover. >>>>Sign up to my daily FREE Fitness Insider newsletter below

Featured Post

Weekly Wrap Up Oct. 26, 2025

Hola from TX as we are making our way to S Padre, TX, so lots of time on my butt the past 2 days. It does make you realize how amazing movement is! Here is what went down this week: Newsletters: Phys Flex Is Closed + Nerdy Gift Inside: Get the full Experience Life Magazine article interviewing me on AI, wearables, and why your wrist computer will never beat your own physiology — PDF inside. How to separate fitness reality from social-media pseudoscience and tribalism: Skip the social-media...

Look—you can have the deadlift of a demigod,the macros of a monk,and a supplement stack that costs more than rent… …but if you’re sleeping like a cracked-out bat under a tanning bed,your recovery’s DOA, brosefus. That’s the dirty secret the grind-broZ won’t admit:You don’t grow in the gym.You grow when you flatline into sleep paralysis and your body quietly rebuilds itself like a Terminator charging in a cryo-pod. And guess what?A huge key is to shut down properly which can't happen if your...

In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I’m joined by Erin Silver Lee, the CEO of Flow Neuroscience. We dig into some seriously cool stuff — including Flow’s recent acquisition of the Halo device, which uses non-invasive brain stimulation (TDCS) to boost both athletic and mental performance. Erin and I talk about how this tech works, what the current research says, and how it’s being applied to improve focus, sleep, neuroplasticity, and overall brain health. We also get into the real-world...

In this episode of the Simple Science Podcast with Dr Mike Axler, I dive into my journey through the world of fitness and performance. I share how it all started back in 2005 when I earned my NSCA-CSCS certification, began working as a personal trainer, and eventually made the leap into both in-person and online coaching. I talk about what it was like transitioning from mechanical engineering to exercise physiology, and how I learned to bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world...

Recently, I sat down with Jeremy to dig into one of my favorite topics—how to separate fitness reality from the endless stream of social-media pseudoscience and tribalism. We unpack why chasing celebrity physiques misses the point, why training stimulus beats “perfect” nutrition every time, and how to approach progressive overload without getting lost in dogma. Both of us have worked with everyone from professional athletes to busy executives, and this conversation pulls from those...

The doors are locked.The metabolic circus has left town. The Physiologic Flexibility Certification is officially closed until March 2026. If you’re one of the glorious weirdos who enrolled—congrats. You’re now part of the rare tribe that trains the four core adaptive systems instead of just sets, reps, and macros.CO₂. O₂. Temp. pH.The unsexy physiology that makes you harder to kill, and freakishly resilient when life—or training—decides to throat-punch you. I’m fired up to get started with...

Welcome to the Flex Diet Podcast! In this episode, I’m sharing a special rebroadcast of my conversation with Dr. Mikki Williden, where we dive deep into the concept of physiologic flexibility — what it is, why it matters, and how to train it. We cover everything from metabolic flexibility and heat and cold exposure to sauna use, cold therapy, and how your body handles lactate during exercise. I also break down the science behind buffering systems like beta-alanine, and how improving your CO₂...

At first blush, it sounds like a sadistic joke that you need more stress in your life.“More stress?Screw you, nerd — my life’s already a flaming dumpster of deadlines, sleep deprivation, and caffeine-fueled anxiety. Why the hell would I want more?” I get it.You don’t need more Zoom calls, more rage from your boss, or more existential dread at 2 AM. But here’s the physiological plot twist:You do need more stress — just the right kind. The Right Kind of Stress Not All Stress Is Created Equal...

Beautiful Sunday here once again! I hope your Sunday is amazing. Heads up that the Phys Flex Cert will open tomorrow, Monday, Oct 13. Details will come in this newsletter. Here is what went down this week: Newsletters: 11 Common Questions About the Phys Flex Cert: Read my answers and let me know if you have others! Metabolic Flexibility vs Physiologic Flexibility—What’s the Difference?: Find out the difference between metabolic flexibility and physiologic flexibility, and why the next level...

Greetings from the caffeinated chaos of the Extreme Human Performance garage... Where the smell of cold plunge ozone mingles with espresso and the faint ghost of ammonia caps.This is where science meets absurdity—and somehow makes you feel better by lunchtime. Go online and you’ll find seventeen biohackers with no jobs, no deadlines, and no real sunlight.Pale skin. Blue-light glasses. Wi-Fi strong enough to livestream their “4-hour morning routine.”Bawwwww. They’ll rave about “stacking...