Every November, I sit down, crack my knuckles, stare into the abyss of my laptop and think:

What the heck am I supposed to say this year that I haven’t already ranted about with too much caffeine in my bloodstream?

And when the screen stays blank longer than my Oura deep sleep score after a red-eye…
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I walk into the gym.

The iron tells the truth....always.

The dumbbells don’t care about your feelings.
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The Concept2 rower doesn’t care if your HRV looks like a falling stock graph.
​
The trap bar doesn’t care if your day went sideways like a kiteboard in gusty South Padre winds.

But the people?
You?
You’re the magic.

Every rep I watch—clients, friends, strangers, meatheads—it all reminds me of the same thing:

We don’t do any of this alone.

Not the weight on the bar.
Not the air in our lungs.
Not the stress, family, work, business, uncertainty…
Not even the weight of trying to figure out why your VO₂ max is stuck at “borderline hamster.”

Behind every lifter, coach, trainer, and everyday metabolic misfit…
there’s a small army standing quietly behind them.
Friends.
Training partners.
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And yes—people like you reading my newsletters, taking my courses, sharing the weird sh*t I write with others, supporting the work that lets me spend my life geeking on physiology and launching myself into the sky on a kiteboard like a 240-lb lawn dart.

This year, more than any other, here’s what I’m thankful for:

Not just strength… but shared strength.
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You read these newsletters when you could be doomscrolling.

You share them with friends, clients, teammates, and that one person who still believes “30g protein per meal” is the max you can digest like it was a law handed down from Moses.

You invest in the Flex Diet Cert, Phys Flex Cert, Meathead Cardio, coaching, podcasts, and everything else I create… not because you have to, but because something inside you believes:

“This will help me live better, coach better, and become more unbreakable.”

And here’s the part I don’t say enough:

You choosing to read this—right now—is what makes my entire career possible.

My wild life of research, travel, coaching, teaching, writing, kiteboarding, and trying to lift increasingly stupid things prehistoric things like the Thomas Inch DB.

It exists because you’re here.

You’ve carried me through years where business was smooth…
and years where algorithm gremlins threatened to eat the entire operation alive.
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Years where I was inspired…
and years where I felt like I was trying to write with a brain made of cold oatmeal.

It wasn’t a spreadsheet that kept me going.

It was you.

Your emails that say:
“Your article helped me sleep better.”
“Your VO₂ rant finally clicked.”
“Your nutrition advice fixed my recovery.”
“I sent your Tabata newsletter to my entire gym.”
“I PR’d after using the Sleep Bracket Method.”

You may think that’s “just feedback.”

To me?
It’s everything.

This past year has been heavy for so many of you.

I know because you tell me about your:

• Sleep problems
• Stress stacking
• Hormones out of whack
• VO₂ max in the basement
• Fatigue
• Jobs
• Injuries
• Uncertainty
• The whole messy human circus

And yet—you still show up.
Maybe differently.
Maybe slower.
Maybe with more compassion for yourself.

But you’re here.

You train even when it’s imperfect.
You try even when you don’t feel like it.
You keep learning, experimenting, adapting.

And you let me be part of that process.

That’s an honor.
A giant one.
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I don’t know exactly what the next year holds.

For you.
For me.
For the Flex Diet Cert, Phys Flex, Meathead Cardio, the daily newsletter, or whatever weird science rabbit hole I dive into next.

But I do know this:

I will keep showing up and giving you my best.

More physiology.
More practical tools.
More clarity.
More rants.
More experiments.
More “what the actual hell did he just write?”
More ways to train smarter, recover better, and become harder to kill.

And most importantly:

More ways to help you feel less alone on the journey.

So here it is, as simple as possible:

Thank you.

Thank you for reading.
For learning.
For trying.
For being curious.
For giving me the chance to do work I love.
For letting me spend my life helping people feel strong, energized, and resilient.
For being part of this wild, nerdy, metal-infused world we’ve built together.

You are the reason any of this exists.

From my family to yours…
from my barbell and rower to yours…
and from whatever wind gust launches me into low-Earth orbit next time I kiteboard…

Thank you.

May your training be meaningful,
your sleep deep,
your metabolism flexible,
your heart strong,
and your life surrounded by people who help you carry the weight—inside and outside the gym.

Much love, science, and iron,

Dr Mike
PS- tomorrow is Black Friday and I just wanted to make you aware of this crazy deal. If you are not interested, all good and much more to come!
​www.qualialife.com/drmike​
​Use code DRMIKE at checkout to stack the 15%.​
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_____________________

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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