I recently sat down with Kylie Riesselman Larson for her Far From Perfect podcast to share a bit about my journey and dig into some of the science behind how we build a better body and a better life.
We covered a lot of ground in this episode:
- My early days in fitness and how I transitioned to online coaching
- Why heart rate variability (HRV) is one of the best tools for recovery and adaptation
- How I think about stress, lifestyle design, and aerobic capacity
- The real role of cardio (it’s not what you think)
- Why VO2 max and metabolic flexibility matter far more than six-pack abs
- Fasting, fat loss, and what it actually means to fuel your body for performance
One of the biggest takeaways? It’s not just about burning fat — it’s about teaching your body how to switch fuel sources efficiently. That’s what true metabolic flexibility looks like.
Episode Chapters
-
00:00 – Intro
- 01:11 – My journey into fitness
- 04:51 – Going online: how and why I made the leap
- 10:25 – Credentials and who I work with
- 12:38 – HRV: what it is and how to use it
- 26:19 – Recovery and aerobic capacity
- 27:11 – Cardio’s role in your training
- 34:51 – Strength and metabolic flexibility
- 39:32 – Fasting and metabolism
- 40:38 – Fuel: fat vs. carbs
- 47:20 – How to assess metabolic flexibility
Listen Here
Rock on!
Dr. Mike T Nelson
PhD, MSME, CISSN, CSCS Carrick Institute Adjunct Professor Dr. Mike T. Nelson has spent 18 years of his life learning how the human body works, specifically focusing on how to properly condition it to burn fat and become stronger, more flexible, and healthier. He’s has a PhD in Exercise Physiology, a BA in Natural Science, and an MS in Biomechanics. He’s an adjunct professor and a member of the American College of Sports Medicine. He’s been called in to share his techniques with top government agencies. The techniques he’s developed and the results Mike gets for his clients have been featured in international magazines, in scientific publications, and on websites across the globe.
- PhD in Exercise Physiology
- BA in Natural Science
- MS in Biomechanics
- Adjunct Professor in Human
- Performance for Carrick Institute for Functional Neurology
- Adjunct Professor and Member of American College of Sports Medicine
- Instructor at Broadview University
- Professional Nutritional
- Member of the American Society for Nutrition
- Professional Sports Nutrition
- Member of the International Society for Sports Nutrition
- Professional NSCA Member
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