Derek is a Canadian amateur bodybuilder, fitness enthusiast, host of the “More Plates, More Dates” podcast, and co-founder of Marek Health, a telehealth platform on streamlining health optimization. In this episode, we discuss Derek’s goals with Marek Health, men’s health and testosterone, mental health, and self-love.00:00:00 00:01:12 What’s Up With Morning Wood? 00:03:49 Dopamine Abuse 00:07:13 Men and Self-Sabotaging Behaviors 00:09:41 Men’s Space in Feminism 00:12:14 Creepy Men IRL VS Online 00:17:51 Men’s Self-Love 00:23:42 Ozempic Spike 00:31:21 Firing Doctors Against Nutrition 00:33:54 Candice VS Her Thyroid 00:40:28 All About Marek Health 00:46:26 Blood Panels and Microbiome Tests 00:51:32 Hidden Agendas on NFTs, Blockchain, Cryptocurrency 00:55:17 “Fluffy Balls” 00:59:50 TRT and HRT VS Birth Control 01:07:15 Candice and Her Lack of Testosterone 1:16:20 Where to Find DerekAll About Marek Health and the Stigma on TRT ClinicsDerek’s biggest hang-up with the medical system in Canada is how hard it is to get blood tests done and patients would have to wait for serious cardiovascular issues to arise before they can get one. This is how Marek Health came about; a preventative medicine platform focusing on telehealth. However, the stigma around TRT clinics is negative but justified because a lot of the clinics that exist are cover-ups to prescribe testosterone or an array of “longevity”-enhancing compounds to men. However, Marek Health is all about preventative medicine and Derek connects clients to high-quality doctors who specialize in hormone-optimization and preventative medicine.Men’s Self-Sabotaging BehaviorsTo Derek, the cold plunge dopamine spike is a little overexaggerated especially with the comparisons to dark chocolate, sex, and cocaine. It’s a rodent study with unpublished data versus human data. To delineate between the dopamine you get from food versus “synthetically”-induced activities such as masturbation or porn, it’s like acclimating your body to different kind of stimuli to achieve that neurotransmitter release and this can be problematic. This can reinforce bad eating habits to those with troubled eating patterns as well as potentially a lower quality dating life, inhibiting the drive to meet a partner and get in the way of having a healthy sex life.TRT, HRT, and Birth ControlTestosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is a medical treatment that involves supplementing or replacing testosterone in individuals who have low levels of this hormone. On the other hand, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a medical treatment that involves replacing or supplementing hormones in the body and is commonly used to alleviate symptoms associated with hormonal imbalances or deficiencies, particularly in menopausal or postmenopausal women. Derek explains the biggest difference between the two, especially with women who are taking birth control at a young age don’t need HR compared to the huge disparity between men who need it and those who just want to “optimize” their performance.Links and ResourcesMore Plates More Dates Official Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTubeMarek Health Official Website, Facebook, Twitter, InstagramSupport the show