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Workout/exercise & NoFap safety

Discussion in 'Fitness' started by BreakTheSpell, Nov 12, 2020.

  1. BreakTheSpell

    BreakTheSpell Fapstronaut

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    So I've done a little reading on the topic and after considering my own experience came to the conclusion that physical activity can indeed affect the degree of urges one has.

    Some people on this forum report the same: 'exercise makes the urges worse'/'a good workout will lead to an increased sex drive for the few hours following the event'.

    A possible solution that is being proposed is to train very hard, to the point when you can do nothing, but to have a meal and go to bed (thus risks are minimized).

    But I believe I have some questions that remain unanswered:
    1. Does exercise lead to an increased sex-drive for a very short short period of time or does it increases it in the long-term?
    2. What are some other solutions to the problem?

    Please, share any information on this, as well as your own thoughts, experience, advice. Any help is appreciated. A discussion is appreciated.
     
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  2. palindromo

    palindromo Fapstronaut

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    About me , it does not increase urges . All the opposite.
    It's the first time i'm reading about this issue and sounds strange to me
     
  3. CrimsnBlade

    CrimsnBlade Fapstronaut

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    I don't know about increasing urges. I know it can increase testosterone but I'm not sure how much or how much that affects urges.

    For me this has been an healthy outlet that has replaced my urges, not worsened them. That's how I've looked at it anyways.

    If someone has formed those pathways in their brain to want to "reward" themselves after a workout by going to porn, then working out will increase your urges because your brain has been trained to expect it. That's another neural pathway that can be changed with time though.
     
  4. @BreakTheSpell Welcome to NoFap :)

    Yeah I've never heard this idea before of exercise making urges worse.

    For me it has the opposite effect: it helps me feel more in control.

    The reason (for me at least) is pretty simple:
    When I feel anxious, depressed, worthless, hurt, or other negative emotions, I am far more likely to relapse, as I search for something to distract from the pain.

    When I exercise, I am immediately feeding good chemicals to my brain (yay for Endorphins, Serotonin, Dopamine, BDNF, Norepinephrine!). Of course this has the positive short-term effect, but also doing it long term helps reduce the frequency of the negative feelings, improves self-control, feelings of hope/able to see a positive future etc. The happy chemicals kind of get "carried along", or "built up" through regular exercise, is how I think of it.

    If you are finding that your urges are worse after exercise, may I suggest reviewing your goals. That is, review your journal:
    - your reasons for quitting porn (including the effect it's had)
    - what you're aiming for
    - what sort of person you're trying to become, and how quitting porn will help you get there

    Keep reviewing this, whether you're tempted or not. Once that stuff starts to become clear, the PMO urges won't be as tempting. Seriously.

    Of course there's a whole bunch of other stuff you can do, like building your support network, dealing with mental health issues, personal development, cold showers, replacing porn with things that are meaningful to you...and it all helps. But get that journal sorted, with your reasons written down.
     
    Last edited: Dec 2, 2020
    BreakTheSpell likes this.
  5. locked boy nyc

    locked boy nyc Fapstronaut

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    Personally, exercise has always boosted my sex drive, but it's also very empowering. It gives me a sense of calm and control. When you're trying to use your willpower to overcome PMO, those two things push in opposite directions. Overall I think exercise makes resisting PMO easier because it's a great way to redirect your physical energy toward something you can feel good about. When you start going down a dark path, you can catch yourself and head to the gym, or hit the floor for some pushups and situps.

    I also wonder if increased sex drive and increased urges to PMO should be considered separate things. Having a healthy sex drive is normal and it's not something I personally want to go away. Sure, maybe resisting PMO is a little harder, but that boosted willpower can come to the rescue. So even if working out does raise your sex drive, I think it's possible that is also decreases urges to PMO.
     
  6. Ahh yes, this was good to clarify: "Increased urges" is different to an "increased sex drive" :emoji_thumbsup:

    Well put @locked boy nyc. Also, welcome to NoFap :)
     
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  7. hollyman

    hollyman Fapstronaut

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    Its a contrary for me exercise made me less feel urge because im so fit and happy when i look myself at the mirror

    Not exercise made me relapse so much (happen in this fucking pandemic)
     
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  8. BreakTheSpell

    BreakTheSpell Fapstronaut

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    Hey,I appreciate all the replies here.
    I haven't been exercising hard for a pretty long time now (a couple of years, perphaps?).
    I'll probably start after day 14 of nofap or so. I will report here how this will affect my condition.
    Anyway, feel free to reply in this thread and share your experience, I believe it will be helpful to other forum users.
     
  9. pump20

    pump20 Fapstronaut

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    Have you guys ever heard coregasms? If not, they're exercise-induced orgasms meaning some exercises gives some people orgasms while exercising. It happened to me, but it's not a bad thing in my opinion. The tip is to being mindful so that way won't have to accidentally bust if that's what you guys are talking about.
     
  10. ASV

    ASV Fapstronaut

    If you train hard enough you won't have any urges. I usually relapse at weekends because I can't go to the gym.
     
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  11. newlife+

    newlife+ Fapstronaut

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    I understand you bro and together let us quit porn.
    United we stand, divided we fall.
     
  12. TKNPhotos

    TKNPhotos Fapstronaut

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    how hard do you recommend a beginner like me train ?
     
  13. newlife+

    newlife+ Fapstronaut

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    Bro, why don't you visit your surrounding or spending spare time with family at weekend can help you.I hope you may not repeat the relapse in the next coming weekend. Best of luck.
     
    Last edited: Dec 15, 2020

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