The other day I talked about getting bloodwork done and why it matters (go HERE if you missed it)

Simple enough, right?

Get the test.
Look at the numbers.
Pretend you understand them.
Take action.

But here’s the part most people miss…

Bloodwork is not a movie.
It’s a screenshot.

One frozen frame of a biological horror film that’s running 24/7 inside your meat-suit.

If you think one snapshot tells the whole story, that’s like watching 3 seconds of a deadlift and deciding whether the lift passed or your spine just filed for divorce.

Correct, one lab is insanely useful.

...But physiology is not static.
It’s not polite.
It doesn’t sit still so you can feel smart.

It moves.
It adapts.
It is dynamic adaptive system

Why Retesting Matters (aka stop guessing, start measuring)

Here’s the good news most people never hear:

A huge chunk of the stuff that shows up on labs…
you can actually change.

Not someday.
Not after you buy another supplement stack that looks like a GNC exploded in your kitchen and only adds to the 16 year Doode Bro's commission behind the counter.

Now.

You pick up heavy things.
You row on the Concept2 until your soul briefly leaves your body and files a complaint.
You fix your nutrition.
You sleep like a professional.
You stop living on caffeine, spite, and 5 hours of sleep.

Then you retest.

And this is where it gets fun.

Because bloodwork becomes a scoreboard.

Not vibes.
Not hope.
Not “I feel better bro.”

Data.

Cold, beautiful, slightly terrifying data.

And when you see a marker move the right direction?

Wahooo!

Because now you know the engine under the hood is actually getting stronger… not just louder.

This Is Why I Like Function Health

One of the things I like about Function Health is they don’t treat labs like a one-time event.

They build retesting into the system.

Not every marker — because some don’t need it —
but the ones that matter?

You can track them over time.

That’s huge.

Because the goal is not to stare at labs until your eyes fail a convergence test....

...the goal is to change them.

I’ve got my own retest scheduled next week from Functional Health.

Not because something is wrong per say

Because I want to know if what I am doing is making a difference.

Same rule I use with clients.
Same rule I use on myself.

No guessing.

Measure → adjust → measure again.

That’s how physiology works - regardless if you like it or not.

If You Want To Run Your Own Labs

If you want to do this the same way I do, this is what I used:

> > Function Health < <

Full disclosure — I’m an affiliate, so I make a few clams if you sign up but I have used it myself and so has my wife to really test it out.

If you want to go even deeper, I also do bloodwork consults or work with people inside my M3 1-on-1 program where we go full nerd-mode on this stuff.

Because once you see what’s actually going on under the hood…

you can’t unsee it.

And that’s a good thing.

Much love and lab markers,
Dr. Mike

PS — Most people will drop cash on special low data supplements, gadgets, and whatever TikTok biohacker 17 is screaming about this week from his mom's basement...

…but they won’t spend money to actually see what their body is doing.

That’s backwards.

Run the labs first.

Then go ballZ deep.

> > Function Health < <

_____________________

Mike T Nelson CISSN, CSCS, MSME, PhD
Associate Professor, Carrick Institute
Owner, Extreme Human Performance, LLC
Editorial Board Member, STRONG Fitness Mag

Mike T Nelson is a PhD and not a physician or registered dietitian. The contents of this email should not be taken as medical advice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any health problem - nor is it intended to replace the advice of a physician. Always consult your physician or qualified health professional on any matters regarding your health.

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