Happy Sunday from MN! June is finally feeling like June — warm days, good energy, and another packed week in the books. The Flex Diet Cert is almost here and the ISSN is just around the corner, so buckle up.

Always curious as to what you think, so hit me back.

Here's what went down this week:

Newsletters:

• ​Most Healthcare Is Not About Health: The medical system is built around disease management, not health optimization — and there's a big difference. Here's what actual health looks like.
• ​170% VO₂max: The Tabata Nobody's Doing: A deep dive into the original 1996 Tabata protocol — what it actually prescribed (brutal 170% VO₂max efforts), and how nearly everyone gets it wrong.

Flex Diet Podcast:

• ​Episode 387: Dr. Nathan Jenkins on metabolic flexibility, building your aerobic base, VO₂ testing, pacing, and why "suffering" is actually a trainable skill.

Iron Radio:

• ​Science Roundup: Supplements, Diet-Glasses, HDL: Do supplements beat food for vitamin status? Wearable food-tracking glasses, and a 2026 study linking HDL, exercise, and depression — with the hosts doing their usual excellent job of tearing apart the causation claims.

Instagram posts of the week:

• ​Better Endurance, Faster Recovery & Magical Mitochondria — Is the Hype Around SS-31 Real?​
• ​Hot Take: Most Healthcare Isn't About Health — Plus, I'm Speaking at the HOMeHOPe Conference in Chicago​
• ​Stop Worshipping at the Soft Blue Altar of Zone 2 Cardio​
• ​Most People Think Performance Is About Finding the Perfect Workout — It's Not​
• ​817 Training Sessions — This Is What Violent Consistency Looks Like​
• ​A Heavier 1 Rep Max Is Not All That Counts — Track This Underrated Parameter for Gainz​
• ​Data-Driven or Delusional: An Evidence-Based Guide to Wearable Technology (ISSN Seminar Preview)​
• ​If You're a Professional, I Bet This Has Happened to You — Behind the Scenes with Dr. Nathan Jenkins​

Calendar — Where's Dr Mike?

• 🎓 Flex Diet Certification opens June 15, 2026 — more details coming soon!
• 🏖️ ISSN Conference — Fort Lauderdale, FL — June 16–19

Gym Tune: Killswitch Engage "End of Heartache" Live​

Wow — what an absolute monster of a live show this past Friday with Machine Head and Killswitch Engage.

I’ve been lucky enough to see both bands live five-plus times over the decades, and they still brought the hammer down.

Robb Flynn is the man. Full stop.

Machine Head crushed.

KSE somehow crushed even harder.

That was the best live set I’ve ever seen from Killswitch Engage — and that is saying a lot.

Love those dudes.

Crank it loud.
Lift something heavy.
Go crush some PRs.

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.