The Flex Diet Cert closed down last night, and a huge thank you to everyone who enrolled. Wahoo! I'm super stoked for you!

I'll have an update next week on when the next Flex Diet Cert opens and the upcoming Phys Flex Cert, too.

Today, I wanted to share my guest appearance on the How to Hyperbaric Podcast with Dr. Masha, where we discussed Heart Rate Variability (HRV).

Not the hype version.
The practical version.

If you’re using an Oura Ring, WHOOP, Garmin, Apple Watch — or working with clients who are — this matters.

Because HRV can be incredibly useful…

Or incredibly misleading.

Here’s what we covered:

• What HRV actually represents (nervous system balance, not “recovery points”)
• Why “higher HRV is better” is an oversimplification
• What a “normal” HRV really depends on (it’s individual)
• Why trends matter more than a single daily score
• How to spot excess stress or potential overtraining
• When HRV can help guide tools like Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), red light therapy, or PEMF
• What other metrics should be paired with HRV for smarter decisions

One of the biggest mistakes I see?

People reacting emotionally to one number.

HRV is context dependent.
It needs sleep data.
Training load.
Resting heart rate.
Subjective feedback.

It’s a trend tool — not a panic button.

We also discussed what happens when HRV appears “too high,” whether HRV can differentiate between “good” stress and “bad” stress, and how coaches can use it as a decision-making framework rather than another biohacking tool.

If you want a smarter way to interpret HRV — for yourself or your clients — this episode will give you a solid foundation.

​YouTube << watch here
​Spotify << listen here

Much love,
Dr Mike

____________________

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 Ph.D. 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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