I’m all for experimenting with diet, exercise, and different ways of thought or living. Recently, I have been looking into the effects that sexual activity can have on behavior and mood, both of which are directly linked to our brain’s chemical makeup. During, my broad research into this area I started reading more and more about the No-Fap movement, in which guys cease masturbating.
Introduction to NoFap and Its Claimed Benefits
The more I read, the more the benefits of following such a program became interesting to me. A no-fap challenge, lasts for a certain amount of time (usually 30-90 days), and is designed to help break men’s addiction to pornography and help to experience positive changes in mood and energy levels.
Now, some of the claims that guys who have gone through the no-fap challenge are pretty impressive. I think that the most interesting things I have read involve how these guys report that other people have started to treat them differently since they have gone no-fap.
They report being treated more respectfully by other men and say that women are more apt to notice them and even go out of their way to introduce themselves to these guys.
Guys also report that they feel much more confident and calm in their daily lives as well as being more driven to accomplish things (see: How to Get Ripped Abs) and focused.
While the claims are interesting, it is difficult to hone in on what is the exact cause in these hundreds of testimonials, attesting to the benefits of no-fap.
There certainly seems to be a placebo effect. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, if guys think that no-fap is going to work wonders, then they are more likely to take action. Thus, interesting life outcomes, sort of become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Also, the extent that no-fap would work would also seem to depend on whether the man undertaking it was more heavily a porn addict or it was just a guy who didn’t really ever watch and just decided to give up fapping.
That seems to be something that people conflate. There are guys who overcome a severe pornography addiction, while on NoFap. They are obviously, more likely to see greater changes to their moods and lifestyles, versus guys who are non-addicts.
Note: I am updating this post, some six years later. Geez, this whole NoFap thing really took off, but I’ve done further experimentation with it since the initial writing. So, I think I can add some further clarity to the topic of benefits, and just NoFap as a whole.
The Problem with Porn and Addiction
Watching high-speed internet pornography, has been pinpointed as a cause for many issues that men can face including lack of motivation, addictive behaviors, sexual dysfunctions such as ED, and a general malaise or depressed state of mind.
The science on its effects on the brain, doesn’t appear to be ‘all in’ at this point in time, but it does appear to be the case at least anecdotally that giving up pornography is very beneficial for many guys.
There is some research that points to porn damaging dopamine receptors in the brain and thus effecting mood and behavior. If true, this would explain why men who refrain from watching these videos, can report such dramatic results in their quality of life.
What if you’re aren’t addicted to porn or are only using your imagination? Would no-fap even benefit you, then?
If dopamine receptors do indeed become damaged and the repairing of the receptors will be where the true benefits lie, should you follow such a program?
Another question that arises is, what kind of pornography has negative side effects or does it really matter at all?
It’s difficult to gauge the right answer to these questions, here is a TED Talk video that goes further into the role of pornography and its effects on the brain:
I find that the argument against porn to be fairly convincing, maybe the science isn’t totally 100% on it yet, but there does seem to be plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest that there is indeed something to it.
However, there still is the question of whether it is not fapping, that is producing the major results or if it is the breaking of an addiction?
Perhaps some guys, face both issues: chronic fapping and porn addiction. Two addictions, working in conjunction. Meanwhile, for other guys, the porn is the issue.
For a man, who wants to ‘repair the dopamine receptors’ and doesn’t chronically masturbate, what issue would there be doing so without watching streaming porn?
If the actual goal is to solely quit porn, wouldn’t it be easier, to get a release that way? Instead of trying to go ‘x’ number or days without busting a nut?
Things to ponder, before deciding what path to follow for yourself.
The Positive Benefits of No-Fap?
- Testosterone Gains?
Refraining from fapping has been a technique that has been around for centuries for cultural or religious reasons. Many times, there is the prevalent idea that your seed is your life force and fapping drains you of it.
It is an interesting concept, but again, it’s a question of scientific validity of such an idea. While there isn’t a measurement of ‘life force loss’, there are studies that suggest increases in testosterone levels by refraining from ‘spilling the seed’.
It has been reported that refraining increases testosterone levels to a peak of 147% on the 7th day and still slightly increased levels for a few days afterward.
This is what I wanted to try out for myself. Using a once every 7-9 days schedule for the past month or so has seen pretty great results for me in terms of energy levels. (Update: Done this many times over the years, with similar results. There’s something to this.)
My testosterone definitely appears to be spiking just like it has been reported to do so. I feel crazy energetic and motivated to work out and accomplish other goals that I have set for myself, more so than usual.
The sixth and seventh days are always the toughest. It takes some work to focus your excess energy, into something non-sexual, but I notice that I can get past such temptations fairly easily now.
I also feel stronger on the days later in the week and have noticeably more endurance. This schedule feels pretty optimal for me, personally. I’ve done the 30-60 day NoFap and I can’t say it yielded any additional benefits, in this area.
2. Incentive to Talk to Women
If you’re not fapping, then the only way you get to release, is through: regular sex and uncontrollable nocturnal emissions.
A 30-90 day NoFap program, would definitely be an incentive to go out and talk to women. Because it’s going to be a rough go, without them.
However, some guys decide to just forego sex, also.
For guys who are nervous to talk to chicks and/or guys who are just incompetent at doing so…I can see why this would be helpful. It puts their back against the wall, so to speak, and they have a drive to succeed.
For me, it didn’t help me be any better at talking to women. I’d already done my whole approaching women thing, way before NoFap. As such, there was nothing to get over.
It did, however, make me want sex constantly. I don’t really consider that much of a benefit. You can make some poor decisions, with a full nut, and no release.
If you do have problems with the ladies, here are my two Kindle books written on the subject, to get way better at it.: Game without Games and Online Dating Guide for Men
3. Free time
Think about it, three times per week for an hour long fap session, is the equivalent to taking a college course.
How much free time are you wasting by fapping your life away? 12 hours a month? More? It adds up quick.
You could learn a new skill or a new language, instead of beating your meat, to pixels on a screen.
4. Voice Deepening
Some guys report their voices getting deeper and stabilizing. Maybe this is a function of the testosterone?
I never personally experienced this. My voice is already pretty deep, so I can’t really image, it dropping further.
5. Enhanced mood, desire, etc.
OK, this one is a mixed bag. Some days during a 30-60 NoFap challenge, your mood is high. Then, it can be low as hell.
Same with desire. You get those manic periods of wanting to bang everything, versus not wanting anything at all.
So, I’ve done this 30-60 day period a few times in the past, and my mood isn’t always ‘enhanced’. Far from it.
Yes, I can get that ‘testosterone boost’, and be doing work for that initial 7-10 days. Then, the effect is lessened. I’m also much more irritated and impulsive.
I’ve come down on the side of, just shoot a load, when needed. Don’t watch porn (at all, if possible) or jerk off everyday, but not doing so for 30-60 really didn’t make my life better.
Again, lots of other guys have gotten results. I think that this has to do with me, already letting go of my issues, through a non-dual approach.
6. Better Sex
Guys who give up porn and/or fapping, report increased sensitivity down below. Also, curing ED and/or the inability to finish during intercourse.
The sensitivity is definitely there, big time. Is the sex better? It’s sort of like giving a dehydrated person water, the experience of complete lack, makes the water taste amazing that first drink.
Same thing, after not having sex or shooting a load, for a long time. The sensation is better. However, control after a week of not cumming, is non-existent.
The short-term, it makes you a two pump chump. However, once porn is quit, it does make sex seem better…whether or not masturbation still takes place.
7. Re-humanizing women and the heightening experience of reality.
This only really applies to guys who are porn addicts. But that stuff, definitely does seem to mess with your head, and you have less empathy towards women at least on some level.
Getting back to reality and working on yourself will yield actual results while staying in that fantasy land will only serve to hinder you. Plus, real women are much more attractive, once the digital illusion is gone.
Final Thoughts
The idea of no-fap is definitely interesting and can be beneficial but the results are going to completely depend on the individual.
I think guys who have pornography addictions are the ones who should definitely consider doing a 90 day challenge, just because of the sheer number of positive stories of men who have had similar problems helped by doing such a challenge.
If you don’t have a porn addiction, should you try a challenge? Maybe. It might be interesting, to see what kind of effects it can have on you, physically and psychologically. But then again, the results might be tepid.
Doing a 30 day challenge, followed by a once a week schedule, could see benefits. I like the every 7-10 days schedule, that I’ve been using in the past, as I get plenty of noticeable results in the short-term.
I definitely want to be around women, a lot more, which only serves to increase opportunities with them. There are times, when I don’t want that in my life, and so may throw in a couple extra sessions to not be distracted by sex.
Before I started that, I tested by fapping 4-5 days in a row with porn, to see if there would be a difference. I definitely felt like complete shit during those days. Energy was way down and I had zero motivation. I’ve repeated this test multiple times (haha, it’s a fun test to run), and the same thing happens, each time.
I don’t know how some guys live like that. Even such a short time frame, was too much for me. Porn is increasingly just becoming completely lame, much like strip clubs. Both feel pointless when you see through the illusion and addiction.
If that’s you current life’s experience, you will probably see benefits with NoFap. Is it going to change everything? No, but it can help put you on a better path. Then, with a clear mind, you can work on any other issues.
My own experiences, tell me all I need to know about, what kind of effects this kind of stuff has on the brain. Going without for longer periods of time, frees up the mind from the realm of fantasy. It puts your focus square on reality, which is leveraged in the right way, may be all the benefit you need in your life.