43 replies to this topic

[Ghostrider]

I know that most of you will think this is crazy or that Im kidding but Im not. I wanna quit masturbating because its against my beliefs but I find it really hard to quit. Are there any herbs, supps, noots, or tips that you know of that can kill my sex drive? I dont want it to kill my sex drive forever, just until I get married.

That's a very good question. I was just about to post something like your question. I wish I could control my sex drive (and sleep for that matter...) like an on/off switch. I am 23 years old and only for about 3 weeks in my life have I had a girlfriend (about two years ago). Most people got drunk and partied in high school and college, I just studied all the time. I never feel any cases of sexual attraction at work. I am an engineer so I am surrounded by men and married women, none which I find attractive. I don't have the time to engage in activities with the specific intention of meeting women -- not direct enough for me. I know there is porn on the Internet, but I stay away from it as I know it will lead to nothing good and only waste my time. So I want to kill my sex drive because it does absolutely nothing productive for me (ironic, I know). Maybe someday if I meet a woman and there arises a need for it again, fine, but for now, if I had the choice of losing it forever or keeping things as they are now, I would become asexual. Actually, I think a relationship would be much more sincere, perhaps boring, but definitely more honest if sex were removed entirely.

Sex drive is just too much of a distraction and it serves no purpose to help me fulfill my goals. I don't think I even want to have kids. And if I decided that I wanted kids, I would probably adopt as the world already has enough people. I dispute the "healthy" benefits of sexual activity as I believe regular cardio exercise can be more beneficial given the same amount of time. There is also the physical and mental negative benefits associated with reproductive functions. So I would like to kill my sex drive, but I see no way of doing it without possible health risks. I read that within the last month or so on the www.betterhumans forum that some guy castrasted himself for this reason (partially). Note that the guy castrated for gender identity reasons also...
See:

http://www.betterhum...03/20/5117.aspx

or

http://www.imminst.o...f=179&t=9844&s=

Looks like most of you have already seen this.


Anyway, it would be nice if I could recapture some of the lost overhead associated with my reproductive functions so that I could align myself more closely to the goals which really matter to me...not baby-making...there are plenty of people who have this as their only accomplishment in life...I want to work on something a little more important and less common...not to sounds like an elitist, but it's about supply and demand. Currently we have too much supply (babies) and not enough demand (high unemployment).

By the way, best way to kill sex drive -- think of your grandmother or mom :-)

[hormesis]

Two words for you: Calorie Restriction. ...but if you had the willpower for that you probably wouldn't have asked this question... maybe...

Don't suddenly enter or exit CR though.

[Live Forever]

Two words for you:  Calorie Restriction.  ...but if you had the willpower for that you probably wouldn't have asked this question... maybe... 

Don't suddenly enter or exit CR though.

does CR kill libido? I hadn't head that before... I might have to rethink this whole CR thing...

(kidding of course, longevity trumps libido)

[Ghostrider]

Two words for you:  Calorie Restriction.  ...but if you had the willpower for that you probably wouldn't have asked this question... maybe... 

Don't suddenly enter or exit CR though.

How does calorie restriction affect the mind in terms of mental performance?

[hormesis]

Two words for you:  Calorie Restriction.   ...but if you had the willpower for that you probably wouldn't have asked this question... maybe... 

Don't suddenly enter or exit CR though.

does CR kill libido? I hadn't head that before... I might have to rethink this whole CR thing...

(kidding of course, longevity trumps libido)

It varies for different individuals and different levels of CR, but I've only heard of one person where it almost completely eliminated libido. Normally the reduction is proportionate to the degree of restriction.

[hormesis]

As far as mental performance goes, there are some studies which indicate that CR might reduce processing speed slightly. This might just be due to lower blood glucose levels though and would be something that could be compensated for with other nootropics or when needed with food. In the long run, the bulk of the evidence appears to indicate that CR not only postpones mental deterioration but even appears to reduce the proportion of one's lifespan that is spent in a mentally detiorated state (i.e. smaller percentage of total lifespan). This would seem to jive with the mortality curve squaring typically seen with CR.
If I recall correctly, CR appears to be particularly effective at warding off Parkinsons.

[hormesis]

I've been reducing caloric intake for almost a year and a half (lost about 22% of body weight), but am not yet really in a significantly restricted state (have to lose that fat slowly). All the same, I have noticed lately that I can comfortably handle somewhat longer periods of self deprivation without agitation. The decline appears to have been more rapid than the normal moderate decrease a male apparently experiences during their mid twenties (peak at 18 years?). Other than that, there are no other noticeable changes. What little research has been done in this area seems to confirm the same (except in old age where the health enhancing effects allow for an extension of reproductive health and vigor). It will be interesting to see what the effects are when I'm 30-40% CRed in a year or two. So far the mild change has actually been a positive one.

[opales]

I've been reducing caloric intake for almost a year and a half (lost about 22% of body weight), but am not yet really in a significantly restricted state (have to lose that fat slowly).  All the same, I have noticed lately that I can comfortably handle somewhat longer periods of self deprivation without agitation.  The decline appears to have been more rapid than the normal moderate decrease a male apparently experiences during their mid twenties (peak at 18 years?).  Other than that, there are no other noticeable changes.  What little research has been done in this area seems to confirm the same (except in old age where the health enhancing effects allow for an extension of reproductive health and vigor).  It will be interesting to see what the effects are when I'm 30-40% CRed in a year or two.  So far the mild change has actually been a positive one.

30-40%? Isn't that a bit excessive, especially maximum percentage of CR that gives positive results tends be lower for longer live species? I have seen skeptic estimates that say 10% CR might be overdoing it and thus actually counteractive?

[Shepard]

And I've seen skeptics say it doesn't work at all. What does that prove?

[hormesis]

"30-40%? Isn't that a bit excessive, especially maximum percentage of CR that gives positive results tends be lower for longer live species? I have seen skeptic estimates that say 10% CR might be overdoing it and thus actually counteractive?"

I doubt it will end up being excessive. From all of the studies I've seen so far, there hasn't been that much of a difference in the life extension percentages experienced by animals of different absolute lifespans by the same adequate nutrition CRAN percentage. The recent rhesus monkey survival rates appear to further support this although the statistical significance is still low. I've read the skeptics arguments about 10% CR (actually I remember the number to be something like 16%) and in my opinion they generally fail to take into account the reduction in body mass that will naturally occur over time as cell size shrinks and musculature and fat is lossed. I don't see any evidence that some moderate catabolism of muscle is negative, in fact the opposite appears to be the case.

[opales]

I doubt it will end up being excessive.  From all of the studies I've seen so far, there hasn't been that much of a difference in the life extension percentages experienced by animals of different absolute lifespans by the same adequate nutrition CRAN percentage.  The recent rhesus monkey survival rates appear to further support this although the statistical significance is still low.  I've read the skeptics arguments about 10% CR (actually I remember the number to be something like 16%) and in my opinion they generally fail to take into account the reduction in body mass that will naturally occur over time as cell size shrinks and musculature and fat is lossed.  I don't see any evidence that some moderate catabolism of muscle is negative, in fact the opposite appears to be the case.

You are right that same percentage CR has produced similar percentage accross species. However, the maximum percentage of CR that brings maximum benefits tends to get lower with longer living species, do you disagree? Is there any recommendation on part of "CR authorities" about what would be a reasonable restriction? My impression has been that even the most hardcore CRtypes max out at 30%, although I am not sure.

[hormesis]

As far as I'm aware, the number of CR studies that have explored max percentage CR in animals other than rodents are extremely limitted if there are in fact any at all of any considerable quality and accuracy. It is tough enough just to find decent CR studies of any percent CR in other mammals, much less one's that have explored extreme CR appropriately. Also, the closer one gets to max CR, the more accurately one has to be able to assess the animals adequate nutritional needs, which isn't easy, even for humans.

There isn't even a general consensus on how to define CR%, much less what % is most likely to generate the greatest life extension, and much much less what %CR is likely to generate the greatest lifetime happiness due to quality of life issues. The later is entirely individual specific. I have seen some preliminary stuff in rodents that make me tend to think that there may be some neurological changes at around 40%CR that I'm probably not going to want to push too far, but we'll see. I plan on going as far as my biomarkers and quality-of-life perception will allow and staying there until science brings us something better. Even a few extra months of expected extended life now could translate into years of additional life once things begin to accelerate. I would hate to think that a few extra meals here and there might cause me to miss my future point of actuarial escape velocity by a month or two.

[kottke]

Haha holy crap i deal with this same problem. It is the most addicting thing in the world, i started at a young age and it definantly effects your quality of life. I stopped for long periods of time in periods of my life (im only 21) but just recently the problem has sprung up again (no pun intended) I would suggest what Kenj said and keep it to once or twice a week. Its unhealthy to not masturbate for long periods of time. It is even said to be natural for males to release once a week, so change your religion emediatly, Jk, just pray to god or run very fast.

[Ghostrider]

Haha holy crap i deal with this same problem. It is the most addicting thing in the world, i started at a young age and it definantly effects your quality of life. I stopped for long periods of time in periods of my life (im only 21) but just recently the problem has sprung up again (no pun intended) I would suggest what Kenj said and keep it to once or twice a week. Its unhealthy to not masturbate for long periods of time. It is even said to be natural for males to release once a week, so change your religion emediatly, Jk, just pray to god or run very fast.

I am not completely sure about the following suggested recommendation as I have only been experimenting for the past 2.5 days...but I can say that since I started taking L-Tyrosine supplement in small quantity - 500 mg, my sex drive has been almost non-existant. This is very good.