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
Deep Dive: Breathing & CO₂
|
In this episode, I sit down with respiratory and sleep scientist Martin McPhilimey to take a deep dive into breathing, CO₂ regulation, and how they actually impact performance, stress, and sleep. We get into why respiratory physiology is way more complex than most people think, how his clinical and research background shaped his approach, and why breathwork exploded during COVID with names like Wim Hof and James Nestor. From there, we dig into allostatic load and why piling on high-stress practices—like aggressive hyperventilation or cold exposure—can backfire if you’re already running hot. We also talk about the difference between actually relaxing your system versus just dissociating from it. We cover how inspiratory muscle training can improve performance and recovery, why respiratory rate is one of the most sensitive markers of stress, and question some common ideas, such as “CO₂ tolerance.” We also touch on the risks and limited data around inhaled CO₂ therapies and what actually makes sense to apply in the real world. Breathing & CO₂: What Actually Drives Performance << Details here Episode Chapters:
If you prefer to watch the podcast, check it out below: Breathing & CO₂: What Actually Drives Performance << YouTube Much love, PS -if you enjoyed this podcast, you will love the CO2 and O2 section in the Phys Flex Cert https://miket.me/physflex <--full details _____________________ Mike T Nelson CISSN, CSCS, MSME, PhD 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. .. |
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
CO2 is not what you think it is. Neither is your pump pre-workout. A few years ago I watched a very fit, very serious athlete fall apart in a repeated sprint test like a luxury sedan losing all four wheels on the freeway. On paper, he looked bulletproof. Strong.Lean.Well-trained.The kind of athlete who makes coaches say stupid things like, “Yeah, he can handle anything.” Except he couldn’t. First 60 sec sprint on the Concept 2 evil rower looked good.Second sprint looked fine.Power at the...
Quick one tonight because the AMA audio series dies at midnight, but you can still hop in https://miket.me/physflex <--full details And before it dies, I need to tell you about the metabolic basement. Most people walk around using two fuels: Glucose and fat. That’s enough to keep the lights on. Enough to get through a normal day, to fake competence, and to survive mediocre training and decent sleep and a life that hasn’t started swinging a bat yet. But downstairs? There are two more systems...
Your heart is running on lactate right now. Yep, it is true, yet nobody told you. There’s a certain kind of coach I keep running into. Smart. Reads studies. Programs decent work. Probably has a whiteboard covered in percentages like he’s planning a military coup against weak glutes after watching "A Beautiful Mind" too many times. Then one of his athletes starts fading under repeated hard efforts. Legs get heavy. Power falls off. Face turns into that thousand-yard stare you only see in war...