Join A Gym And Thank Me Later

Throughout the duration of my years-long struggle with porn addiction, I was mostly inactive. This was the biggest mistake I could have made, aside from looking at porn, obviously. Exercise is a remarkable remedy to porn addiction and all the side effects that go with it. It invigorates the body and clears the mind. Not only will you be physically tired from working out, but your brain releases dopamine to reward you for healthy exercise, which in turn reduces cravings. I very rarely if ever find myself PMOing on days where I work out. It's also a great stress reliever too, which can help alleviate anxiety, depression, and uncomfortable thoughts and feelings brought on by our addiction. It's not a 100% guarantee, only willpower can free us. But I'll be damned if it isn't the most helpful thing I've ever done to get me through recovery.

I second that. Weight lifting is the best. You get more fit, a better body, and as you said, I've never relapsed on a day of training.

Weightlifting can also backfire because increasing dopamine and test will increase libido which can make the cravings stronger. I've been going routinely for several years and at first I actually was more likely to relapse on days where I worked out...

I've kept going all these years for the mental health benefits mostly but I don't think its a good idea to go to the gym just with the expectation of it reducing cravings.

Yeah, it is a weird paradox.  There was a phase on these boards where everyone was looking for a silver bullet for porn replacement - that thing that would give them the perfect dopamine rush comparable to porn and masturbation that they could simply transition into without having withdrawals.  That is a false expectation.  The sad reality is that nothing this side of taking drugs will provide the same rush as porn and masturbation, and part of rebooting means to adapt to not having those highs.  That is why our interest in other things increases during a reboot... we can see in low light better when we aren't shining a flashlight in our eyes all the time.

That doesn't mean that none of those things have value.  On the contrary they have great value, which I think the OP has stumbled upon.  Maybe others here can better qualify what those differences are?  I know from reading his posts that the OP has a lot of experience here and isn't going into this thinking a gym membership will end his porn addiction for him, and that it probably is just the perfect boost he needs right now.  What would people here say to newcomers wanting to know exactly what the benefits are, without leading them to think it is a silver bullet?

I very rarely if ever find myself PMOing on days where I work out. It's also a great stress reliever too, which can help alleviate anxiety, depression, and uncomfortable thoughts and feelings brought on by our addiction. It's not a 100% guarantee, only willpower can free us. But I'll be damned if it isn't the most helpful thing I've ever done to get me through recovery.

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I can second that. However, I would add that consistency is very important to success. I've found that the weeks I slack off and only train once or twice are usually the hardest for me. You also might want to join a gym (if possible) that has separate training areas for men and women. If you have the discipline not to let your eyes linger this shouldn't be a problem though.

AlexthenotsoGreat said:

I very rarely if ever find myself PMOing on days where I work out. It's also a great stress reliever too, which can help alleviate anxiety, depression, and uncomfortable thoughts and feelings brought on by our addiction. It's not a 100% guarantee, only willpower can free us. But I'll be damned if it isn't the most helpful thing I've ever done to get me through recovery.

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I can second that. However, I would add that consistency is very important to success. I've found that the weeks I slack off and only train once or twice are usually the hardest for me. You also might want to join a gym (if possible) that has separate training areas for men and women. If you have the discipline not to let your eyes linger this shouldn't be a problem though.

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Yeah, I definitely have to fight the urge to look at the ladies when I'm there.

While the gym and exercise in general is fantastic, it can make me hornier at times. I've been going to the gym again for the last few weeks just doing cardio 3-5 times a week to build my fitness back up, it definitely helps the mood, but stay vigilant as always.

beggsie said:

While the gym and exercise in general is fantastic, it can make me hornier at times. I've been going to the gym again for the last few weeks just doing cardio 3-5 times a week to build my fitness back up, it definitely helps the mood, but stay vigilant as always.

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Can you elaborate?  This is an interesting thought.  Is it the women at the gym?  Maybe bring up one's mood increases sex drive (presumably in a healthy way) and it is something to watch out for?