Instagram story viewer> @optimalnathan> Tagged

Nathan Carvalho | Human Optimization Architect

@optimalnathan

14.9K

followers

852

following

🧬 I give 30yo+ high performers the predictable success they had in their 20s through advanced bioengineering using the O5 System
🫡 Book a Consult ⬇️

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Deep dive on all things with the bros live everywhere

3

2

3

1

Since some of you have asked “How’d your first bodybuilding show go?! Did you win?”

I did not win.

I placed 2nd in Men’s Classic Physique True Novice and 2nd in Men’s Classic Physique Class B.

But I did coach the guy who beat me. One of my best friends @nathan_wohlford

Earlier this year, he told me he wanted to do something hard to honor the memory of his late mother.

Competing in the sport he loves was the obvious choice but Nathan told me he was “too small to be competitive”.

So I told him “you’ll be competitive, pick the show, I’ll do it with you”.

For me, this show was about earning the right to coach competitors - I couldn’t ask someone to do whatever it took to succeed in prep unless I had done it myself.

It was also about helping one of my favorite people see his true potential.

What I didn’t expect, was how much I enjoyed the show itself as a competitor.

Meeting likeminded psychopaths from all over, each with their unique reason for weeks of self imposed starvation and jumping on stage spray-tanned in a speedo to be judged by strangers.

The feeling of having your own years of effort weighed against others whose achievements impress you and judged in the span of seconds.

Hearing your number called over those very same people.

I get it now.

But nothing compares to seeing it happen for one of your best friends after he trusted you every day for months and did exactly what you said down to the step, calorie, and milligram.

When the judges call his number once, twice and he doesn’t budge because he still can’t believe it, but everyone else it the room does.

Seeing the realization hit him.

Nothing hits like that.

Well, maybe winning the Overall does. I’ll give that a shot myself next year.

In the meantime, Nathan & I are already back on plan, ready to grow and bring our best.

Thank you @kdecon1 for putting on an incredible event.

To my family for your never ending love and support through prep, ignoring how much of a cranky bastard I could be, driving 8 hours to see me, and the outrageous post show treats.

To my coach @optimalnathan for getting me through prep.

I’m out of words.

3

34

“Your Shape is too Bodybuilding for Classic” they said…

Hold up ☝️ Let him Cook 👨‍🍳

1 week out from his Classic Physique debut at the @npcmidatlanticclassic

Brandon had told me the main thing he’d heard from others was that his shape was too “Bodybuilding” to do well in Classic, but I said hold up ☝️ lemme change that.

We took time focusing in on every pose, but only trying to make minor adjustments leading into the show. Not flexing crazy hard because I don’t want to add to the fatigue he’s trying to take off. 💅

Now this is more “Classic” 🤝
•
Coached by: @optimalnathan
•
Looking to elevate your presentation? Comment “STANDARD” and let’s book a session.

119

33

@ehog don’t mind my running shoes I need the support right now big bro
-
-
-
-
-
-
#bodybuilding #fitspo #quoteoftheday #humpdaymotivation #legday

23

5

Joe Jeffrey recently made an interesting point about progressive overload on the OptiCast podcast with Optimal Nathan.

Hopefully I don’t butcher this summation, but his argument is that, particularly for advanced lifters, progressive overload is more a consequence of hypertrophy than the thing directly driving it. Rather than chasing additional reps or weight every session, the focus should be on providing an effective training stimulus, managing fatigue, recovering, and allowing improvements in performance to follow.

If nothing else, it’s an interesting way to look at the relationship between training performance and muscle growth.

As for my own training, I’m currently experimenting with considerably more volume than I’ve used in previous improvement seasons.

My first working sets are where I prioritize performance, execution, and the logbook. I’m trying to improve those numbers whenever the opportunity presents itself, without sacrificing technique to manufacture progression.

After completing my initial working sets, I’m circling back to accumulate additional hard sets, particularly for muscle groups I’m trying to bring up.

I’m not necessarily expecting every additional set to produce a new performance milestone. I’m using that work to accumulate more hypertrophy stimulus while monitoring how well I’m recovering from it.

Whether this approach ultimately produces better results remains to be seen. For now, performance is moving in the right direction, recovery has been good, and I’m interested in seeing how much productive volume I can actually tolerate.

TorQ Gear, NeoGen Labs & Better-Fly: BIGBACK
Bucked Up: BBBD20

#bigbackbodybuilder #hypertrophy #progressiveoverload #bodybuilding #trainingvolume

21

7

@ipscworld SWS V 2026 is complete. Many firsts: first IPSC match, first level 5 match, first time competing internationally

This has been an overwhelmingly rewarding and insightful experience that any serious performance shooter needs to do. Two weeks of prep, competing, and intelligence gathering tests more than just skill and focus. There were set backs but thats how it goes in sport. It’s cool to know where I can stand relative to the world’s best

Squad 37 was immaculate 🔥 thank you gentlemen for bringing the energy that elevated an already exceptional event

Special thanks to my sponsors and coaches for supporting me on my journey, especially:

@rooftopshootingrangetx the best facility to hone my skills and gear to wear🫡
@sendthebill_ flying me out here 🐴🤝🐴
@optimalnathan for systems that have helped me be truly alive and healthy 💪
@thesammartin for the tools that are the foundation of an unbeatable mentality 🧠

Thank you to @hkimshooting and @mason_lane_shooting for their sage wisdom over the years, but especially regarding the training approach going into SWS. Grateful to have smart, high-performing people to bounce ideas with 👊🏼

@rooftopshootingacademy @thecolonyscheels @texasscheelsoutdoors @resultswithcodyc @macsdfw code “RSR” @lonestarordnancecompany @challengetargets code “ROOFTOP” @wgwaifus_practical_shooting @makereadynutrition @prohearofficial

—

I think I speak for the members of the USA modified division when I say we have a lot of revamping, introspection, and preparation to do for SWS VI. In several separate conversations, we’ve converged on improving our equipment and strategy to be competitive with the Finns - who for many years have been the pioneers and innovators in the IPSC SG arms race - as our immediate priority

The work for next world shoot has already started. I have extensive notes regarding my own points of improvement and data gathered from observing the performances of the world’s best

Modding and experimentation with my M2s this winter, training with the Philippines national team and a certain pro late 2027/early 2028, US qualifiers in 2028-2029, ending Finnish dominance of modified division in 2030.

LFG

157

35

own your sh*t. less blaming, more owning it my friends!

figure out your issue, and solve it.

i put the issue and the solution in every slide to make it easier for you & tagged professionals i personally trust to do the work 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

(i am sure there are more out there that are amazing, i am just tagging people i have personally worked or seen the work)

**** alsoooo, for me a great professional is not only about the work they do, but also how they treat you too 💖

#ownyourshit #bodybuilding #dance #mentalwork

the best of the best:

@_ndteam
@netodonatti
@__rsanz
@lumadonatti
@joaomarostiga
@nick_bagley_
@optimalnathan
@kingofkings_fit

#bodybuilding #bodybuildingcoaches #bodybuildingteam

my girls!!! They are amazing on stage, and just as amazing at teaching you how to feel comfortable up there.

@pamellaribeiro_
@jessfb__

#posingcoach

i’ve had the pleasure of working with all three of these ladies and taking their classes. i’ve learned so much from them and they’re amazing!!

@meredithbarnett
@tesssa_gracee
@thebrittanyelle

#danceaudition #prodancers #danceclass

this is my field, and where i can help 🤍 also tagging two other professionals i’ve had the pleasure of chatting with and think really highly of!

@leticiarighettii
@rocha_sportpsych
@_athletementality

#sportpsychology #mentalperformance #mentalgame

💁🏻‍♀️💁🏻‍♀️💁🏻‍♀️💁🏻‍♀️💁🏻‍♀️💁🏻‍♀️💁🏻‍♀️💁🏻‍♀️

💖

figure out what’s holding you back, get the right help and actually use it!
keep showing up & own your part. that’s how you grow! 💖🪽

56

23

This opening is more direct and less formulaic:

Cellular aging is the gradual loss of efficiency in the systems that keep our cells functioning, communicating, repairing themselves, and producing energy.

Over time, accumulated cellular stress, damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, and chronic low grade inflammation, often referred to as “inflammaging,” can interfere with these processes and slowly reduce how effectively our cells do their jobs.

At first, that can show up as declines in energy, recovery, resilience, and performance. Over the long term, deterioration of these cellular processes is associated with many of the changes we recognize as biological aging and age related disease.

This is where the conversation around bioregulators gets extremely interesting.

On the DDTMethod Podcast Bioregulator Special with @optimalnathan , we go A to Z on bioregulators. What they are, what they’re proposed to do, how they may influence cellular signaling and tissue specific processes, and where the science currently stands.

If you’ve been hearing about bioregulators and wondering what the hell they actually are, this is a can’t miss episode.

🎙️ DDT Method Podcast

🔗 Link in bio

Educational purposes only. Discussion of emerging compounds and mechanisms should not be interpreted as medical advice or proof of clinical efficacy.

19

0

Aging isn’t just wrinkles, gray hair, or getting older.

At the cellular level, one major piece of aging is a gradual loss of epigenetic fidelity — the systems that tell your cells which genes to turn on, which to turn off, and when to do it become less precise. In simple terms, your DNA may still contain the instructions, but your cells become worse at reading and executing them correctly.

That’s where peptide bioregulators get extremely interesting.

Research suggests certain short peptides can influence gene expression and other cellular regulatory processes. The hypothesis is that tissue-specific bioregulators may help restore or support some of the signaling programs that become dysregulated with age.

Does that mean bioregulators have been proven to reverse human aging? No. The mechanistic research is fascinating, but many anti-aging claims remain preliminary and require much stronger human clinical evidence.

On the DDT MethodPodcast Bioregulators Special, @optimalnathan breaks down what bioregulators actually are, how they’re proposed to work, the different compounds available, and why they’ve become such an interesting area in longevity and performance.

🎙️ FULL EPISODE NOW LIVE
▶️ DDT Method Podcast — Link in bio

DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Peptide bioregulators are an emerging area of research, and many proposed longevity benefits have not been established in large, high-quality human clinical trials. Nothing discussed should be interpreted as diagnosing, treating, preventing, or curing disease. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before using any supplement, peptide, medication, or experimental intervention.

28

0

Your muscles ACTUALLY MAKE T3...

Stay Slinpilled

Linktree in bio for coaching, sourcing, discord, and more.

@optimalnathan

#thyroid #bodybuilding #optimization #t3 #Pharmacology

100

10

I found Mr. Clean!! 😂

#celebrity #parody #funny #mrclean

3

3