2022 Computer and Mobile Device Security Recommendations for Home Users

See the recommendations here:

The Benefits of Testosterone for Men: Potential Risks and Rewards

Hey there! Have you ever wondered why testosterone is considered the best hormone for men? Well, let’s dive into it and explore the fascinating world of testosterone and its impact on men’s overall well-being.

You see, testosterone plays a crucial role in your health, affecting everything from your physical strength to your mental clarity. When testosterone levels are low, it can lead to various health issues that can disrupt your daily life. That’s why understanding the importance of testosterone is essential for maintaining optimal health as a man.

Research has shown that testosterone not only influences your physical attributes but also has a significant impact on your mental health. It affects your mood, energy levels, and even cognitive function. So, by reviewing the latest studies and understanding the incidence of low testosterone, we can gain valuable insights into how this hormone shapes our lives.

Understanding the Benefits of Testosterone for Men

Testosterone is a hormone that plays a crucial role in men’s overall health and well-being. It offers numerous benefits that contribute to a man’s vitality, physical performance, and overall quality of life. Let’s delve into some of the key advantages associated with optimal testosterone levels.

Increased Energy Levels and Improved Stamina

One of the primary benefits of testosterone is its ability to boost energy levels and enhance stamina. When testosterone levels are at their peak, men often experience an increase in motivation, drive, and endurance. This surge in energy can be particularly beneficial for athletes or individuals engaging in physically demanding activities.

Enhanced Libido and Sexual Performance

Higher testosterone levels have been linked to improved libido and sexual performance. Testosterone plays a vital role in maintaining healthy sexual function by promoting sexual desire and arousal. It can help combat erectile dysfunction and improve overall sexual satisfaction.

Improved Bone Density

Optimal testosterone levels also contribute to better bone density. As men age, their bone density naturally decreases, leading to an increased risk of osteoporosis and fractures. However, sufficient testosterone helps maintain bone mineral density, reducing the likelihood of such issues.

Maintenance of Muscle Mass, Strength, and Physical Performance

Testosterone is renowned for its impact on muscle mass development and strength maintenance. Adequate levels of this hormone support protein synthesis within muscles, aiding in their growth and repair. Testosterone enhances muscle strength by stimulating the production of red blood cells responsible for oxygen transportation during physical exertion.

Moreover, optimal testosterone levels positively influence physical performance across various domains. Athletes may experience improved athletic prowess due to increased muscle mass and enhanced oxygen-carrying capacity. Furthermore, individuals engaged in resistance training may witness greater gains when supported by adequate testosterone levels.

Top 10 OTC Phentermine Alternatives: 2023 Update

Have you been struggling to shed those extra pounds? Are you tired of trying various weight loss methods without seeing the desired results? If so, then it’s time to explore effective alternatives to phentermine for achieving your weight loss goals.

Say goodbye to the side effects and potential risks associated with pharmaceutical phentermine. It’s time to discover the best phentermine alternatives that can provide similar benefits without compromising your well-being.

Choosing the right alternative is crucial for successful weight management. We understand that finding reliable information amidst the sea of counter phentermine alternatives can be overwhelming. That’s why we’re here to guide you through this process and present you with safe and effective options.

Whether you’re looking for appetite suppressants, fat burners, or alternative supplements, we’ve got you covered. Get ready to learn about these game-changing alternatives that can support your weight loss journey naturally.

Understanding Phentermine’s Role in Weight Loss

How Does Phentermine Work?

Phentermine is a popular weight loss medication that works by suppressing appetite and promoting weight loss. It belongs to a class of drugs known as sympathomimetic amines, which work by stimulating the release of certain chemicals in the brain that help control hunger.

When you take phentermine, it targets the central nervous system, specifically the hypothalamus. This region of the brain plays a crucial role in regulating appetite and satiety. By increasing the levels of neurotransmitters like norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine, phentermine helps reduce hunger pangs and cravings.

Phentermine stimulates the release of adrenaline, which can boost metabolism and increase energy expenditure. This dual action of appetite suppression and increased metabolic rate makes phentermine an effective tool for weight loss.

Impact on the Central Nervous System and Metabolism

Phentermine’s effects on the central nervous system go beyond appetite suppression. By targeting specific neurotransmitters, it can also influence mood and cognition. Many individuals report feeling more alert and focused while taking phentermine.

Furthermore, this medication can increase heart rate and blood pressure due to its stimulant properties. It is essential to monitor these physiological changes while using phentermine to ensure they remain within safe limits.

Regarding metabolism, phentermine stimulates thermogenesis – the production of heat in the body through metabolic processes. This leads to an increase in calorie expenditure even at rest. Combined with reduced caloric intake from decreased appetite, this can create a significant calorie deficit necessary for weight loss.

Short-Term Use Only

Phentermine is typically prescribed for short-term use due to its potential side effects and addictive nature. The drug’s stimulating properties may cause insomnia or restlessness if taken late in the day, affecting sleep patterns.

Moreover, prolonged use of phentermine can lead to tolerance, where the body becomes less responsive to its effects. This may result in decreased appetite suppression and reduced weight loss over time.

To mitigate these risks, healthcare providers often prescribe phentermine for a limited duration, typically 12 weeks or less. During this period, individuals are encouraged to make lifestyle changes such as adopting a healthy diet and incorporating regular exercise to maximize their weight loss results.

Limitations and Potential Risks

While phentermine can be an effective tool for weight loss, it is essential to understand its limitations and potential risks. Some individuals may not experience significant weight loss despite taking the medication due to various factors such as genetic predisposition or underlying medical conditions.

Furthermore, phentermine is contraindicated for individuals with certain health conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure, glaucoma, or hyperthyroidism. It is crucial to consult with a healthcare professional before starting phentermine to ensure it is safe for you.

Common side effects of phentermine include dry mouth, constipation, insomnia, and irritability. These symptoms are usually mild and temporary but should be monitored closely. In rare cases, more severe side effects like chest pain or difficulty breathing may occur and require immediate medical attention.

It is important never to exceed the prescribed dosage of phentermine or combine it with other medications without consulting a healthcare professional. Doing so can increase the risk of adverse reactions and potentially harm your health.

What do you need to host your first esports tournament?

As you know if you follow me, I am the advisor of the esports club at UNCW. Recently, I have been getting a lot of emails from schools, clubs, or organizations who would like to know how to set up their own esports tournament. The following video goes through the basics you would need, the minimum, when hosting a small tournament. I kept this simple so that it would be easy to follow and there are a lot of details left out (on purpose). The idea here is that you have a guide to work from to put together a plan to host your own tournament.

Blue Light – 30 Day Challenge

Update from Week 4 – I am impressed. Still blocking blue light. Very happy with the results.

See my final video here:

Update from Week 3: In addition to everything I noticed in week 2 my headaches are gone. I haven’t had to take headache medicine for 10 days, which is pretty unusual. If I go a full 2 weeks, that will be impressive and a record. Not sure if its just the season, my new diet, or the blue light. My guess is that I am sleeping better and straining less at the computer which is leading to better sleep and therefore less headaches. I will keep you posted at the end of my 3 days next week.

Update from Week 2: I am noticing something new – I can’t stay awake in bed to read. Usually I read from 30-60 minutes per night. For the last 1.5 weeks I have been falling asleep within 5-10 minutes. The first few nights I didn’t think anything of it but now its the same every night. This is cool but I really need to finish my latest book!

Original post:

I have been interested in blue light glasses for quite a while now and for Christmas this year got a pair (https://amzn.to/37twDgw)! Actually I got two pair! So naturally being curious I decided to try them out. I wanted to do a 30 day challenge to see if I noticed any difference in my sleep or headaches when wearing the glasses. You see, I have read that these glasses can do all sorts of wonders, which makes me think they are snake oil. But I am a migraine sufferer, so anything that could potentially help is worth trying out, especially if it’s risk free!

So I began my journey by researching blue light. What I found was that blue light, like most other things in life, is both good and bad. It’s great for us in the day, it gives up energy. But at night, it can mess up our sleep and sleep is very important for human health. So essentially being on a screen right before bed can affect our sleep (notice I said can, not does because the research is very undecided at this point).

So the first thing I did was test my blue light glasses. I bought a test kit from amazon to test them (https://amzn.to/2ugdlNy). This test kit showed they did block blue light. The problem was that I didn’t know how much blue light the test kit shows was being blocked. Additionally, I couldn’t find any research saying how much blue light needs to be blocked for you to notice a difference. This makes this all more tricky as I essentially need to self experiment. So self experiment I did…

Additionally, I also realized that I can block blue light on my devices without glasses. There are settings on your PC, Mac, Iphone, Android, etc that allow you to block blue light.

OK so lets talk some results. Keep in mind, I am only 1 week into this test but I have already learned a lot.

First a side note – I noticed in my research that when blue light is blocked that a screen should appear orange/red. This is what also happens when I turn off the blue light from my computer and phone. But my blue light glasses are clear. The company claims to have some “other technology” allowing it to be clear but when I see what the researchers from NASA are using, they are also using orange tinted glasses. This leads me to my results…

Wearing the glasses, I am noticing nothing. No difference. None whatsoever. But what is interesting is that as soon as I turn the blue light off of my computer or phone, like within minutes, my eyes feel less strained. I really notice this difference right away. I haven’t noticed it impacting my sleep or headaches but there is a difference. This makes me think my blue light glasses need to be the good orange ones (https://amzn.to/2QQlSiV) or they aren’t blocking enough blue light. So my initial opinion is that the clear glasses don’t block enough. I also think you do not need the glasses at all. Why not just turn the blue light off your computer and phone an hour before bedtime? They have settings to set a time so you won’t even need to do it more than once. Anyway, those are my initial results. I will post more over the next few weeks of my 30 days challenge. Here are some videos where I discuss all of this:

How to stop laptop from overheating!

I recently was on vacation, using a brand new alienware computer, and ran into a lot of overheating issues. This is not something I normally experience with my home computer, which is also an alienware, so I had to take steps to solve the issue and make sure the computer wasn’t broken and to lower the temps. High temps can mean a broken machine or it can just mean you need to make a few adjustments.

The main issue I was running into was that games, like Overwatch, were increasing the temps to 99 degrees celsius. That is way too high and can damage a machine. Ideally you don’t want temps above 85-90 when pushing the processor and temps below 65 when idle. To monitor the temps, I used a program call HWINFO, which was showing high temps after just a few minutes of gaming. Here are the steps I took to lower the temps on the machine:

1. Used a laptop board that was vented and angled.
2. Undervolted the machine using throttlestop.
3. Lowered the amount of turbo boost the machine can use.

I describe how I do each of these in the video. By the end of the process I was able to keep the machine below 80 degrees at all times. That means that my machine is not broken and just needed some adjustments to maintain a good temperature. Remember laptops cram a lot into a small space so high temps are not unusual when you push the processor. This was a new machine and hadn’t been tested. I find all of my machines usually need adjustment to find that sweet spot to maximize performance while keeping the machine below temps that will damage it!

Links to everything discussed in video:

Laptop cooling pad: https://amzn.to/35ax6CI
Throttlestop:https://www.techpowerup.com/download/techpowerup-throttlestop/
HWINFO: https://www.hwinfo.com/

How much does sound quality matter when recording a video or podcast?

Sound quality if very important when creating a video or podcast. Instead of telling you how important sound quality is, I decided to run an experiment showing you how different mics sound. The difference is telling, especially when you hear the difference between a nice mic and your standard mic on your laptop. When you hear the two one after another the difference is HUGE! Here is a link for the Blue Yeti Mic I use when recording my sound – https://amzn.to/2qPRlYm. Take a look for yourself in the following video:

How do I make my videos?

I have been asked this question so many times that I figured it was time for me to show you! So how do I make my tutorials? How do I add myself to a video when showing off a piece of software? Its easy and its complicated! I know that’s probably not the answer you are looking for. I think most people want me to say “I am using X software that does it all” but unfortunately it involves several pieces of software and hardware. In the following video I explain everything I am using: