Hola from the road to South Padre Island, where all goes well. I'll hit the island tonight. The wind forecast is promising, so I'm choosing to believe it, and Jodie flies in tomorrow.

A reminder that at midnight this Wed, the three bonuses on Flexible Meathead Cardio Level 1 disappear.

I have been mentioning these all week without really breaking down what each one actually is. Let me fix that.

Bonus 1 — SS-31 Peptide/ Elamipretide Technical PDF

This one is for the people who are not satisfied with “take this, it helps recovery.”

SS-31 — also called Elamipretide — is a mitochondria-targeted peptide that works at the level of cardiolipin.

Cardiolipin is the phospholipid embedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane that holds the electron transport chain in its functional geometry.

When cardiolipin gets oxidized — through training stress, aging, or chronic inflammation — ETC efficiency drops, proton leak increases, and ATP production per unit of oxygen consumed goes sideways (Szeto, 2014).

Translation: your cellular energy machinery gets less efficient at the exact level where aerobic adaptation happens.

This PDF is a full technical reference on how that system works, what the research shows, and why it matters for recovery physiology in lifters specifically.

I also note an important caveat that BioHacker Bob17 seems to miss – this peptide was developed for a very specific pathology, so there is no guarantee it will translate to those without that specific issue.

If you want to understand the machine at the level most coaches never bother going, this is the document.

Bonus 2 — Full Protocol Sheets

Every progression in the course, laid out step by step.

Print it. Put it on your wall. Follow it.

No hunting through modules for the one number you forgot. No “I think it was session 4 where he said…”

Just the exact work, in the exact order, with the exact progression rules.

Optimizer Otto would laminate this, color-code it, build a tracking app around it, and never actually run a single session.

You are not Otto.

Bonus 3 — Quick Start Guide

Solves the most common problem I see after someone enrolls in any course.

They buy it. They mean to start. Three weeks later, they're still “getting to it.”

This is exactly what to do first. Not options. Not “it depends.” The actual first move, written for someone who wants to start tomorrow morning without having to dig through five modules to find the answer.

Antidote to the Otto that lives inside all of us.

Here is what Lydia Barratt — fitness coach — ran the progressive 6 system with one of her clients:

“My client just gave me her times back — she’s shaved TWO minutes off her row using your progressive system in her training block. Thank you for real progress in my clients’ cardiac health and fitness. I’m so thrilled I took your course.”

Two minutes off a rowing time.

From a coach who applied the system to someone else.

That is what a real progression model does — it transfers and works.

All three disappear tomorrow at midnight PST.

Course stays open. Bonuses do not.

Go to the link below for all the details.

​https://miket.me/cardio​

Much love and big wind,
Dr. Mike

Reference

Szeto, H. H. (2014). First-in-class cardiolipin-protective compound as a therapeutic agent to restore mitochondrial bioenergetics. British Journal of Pharmacology, 171(8), 2029–2050.

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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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