Nicotine gum

blinKme431 · 01-19-2009, 05:36 AM

Not a smoker but I've been chewing it for the anorectic effect as well the metabolic boost, and it has some nice nootropic effects. Anyway, I was wondering if it would be a bad idea to chew a piece intra-workout. Any thoughts on this?

MindZiper · 01-19-2009, 05:49 AM

Don't know about the exact effects of nicotine in the body. But if you are susceptible to nicotine addiction, the have fun chewing them gum for ever lol

Robboe · 01-19-2009, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blinKme431

Not a smoker but I've been chewing it for the anorectic effect as well the metabolic boost, and it has some nice nootropic effects. Anyway, I was wondering if it would be a bad idea to chew a piece intra-workout. Any thoughts on this?

Tried it. Fail.

Seriously, it stimulates some parts of the brain but relaxes others. It is not a good performance aid at all. In fact, i found it reduced performance near the end of the workout.

Robboe · 01-19-2009, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiniZiper

Don't know about the exact effects of nicotine in the body. But if you are susceptible to nicotine addiction, the have fun chewing them gum for ever lol

Nicotine is addictive, but the whole act of lighting up a cigarette and having it in your hand for 5 or so minutes, as well as the social implications, make chewing nicotine gum a completely different experience.

No doubt it is possible to become hooked on nicotine gum, but i would wager the liklihood to be a lot lower than it is with ciagrettes.

blinKme431 · 01-19-2009, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robboe

Tried it. Fail.

Seriously, it stimulates some parts of the brain but relaxes others. It is not a good performance aid at all. In fact, i found it reduced performance near the end of the workout.

Repped, thanks.

I know it's GABAergic so I was wondering how it would affect performance. The stimulant effect is actually very subtle to me.

To be honest, I'm not 'hooked' at all, I don't think. I was a smoker on and off previously but I was never addicted. I would just smoke if I was offered cigarettes, it was a social thing. If I wanted to quit the gum, I feel like I would have no problem. I don't plan on doing that anytime soon, though, because I like the effects. It's a fine line between physiological and psychological addiction it would seem.

MindZiper · 01-19-2009, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robboe

Nicotine is addictive, but the whole act of lighting up a cigarette and having it in your hand for 5 or so minutes, as well as the social implications, make chewing nicotine gum a completely different experience.

No doubt it is possible to become hooked on nicotine gum, but i would wager the liklihood to be a lot lower than it is with ciagrettes.

yea, that's the main reason I tend to light a smoke at parties.
and the fact that drinking amps the cravings for cig even more.

thank god im not addictive to nicotine. hence I never smoke outside a party environment. plus, having to lament about smoking at all while doing cardio is more than enough for me NOT to smoke AT ALL.

yes, i have a double life.

tabbe · 01-19-2009, 07:50 AM

Does nicotine effect muscle building in anyway?

I know smoking does but how about chewing or dipping?

Clarko · 01-19-2009, 08:03 AM

I've noticed this big dude and musclely chick at my gym chewing some gum intra-workout. They chew it real openly like they open and close their mouth completely. I have no clue what it is though.

blinKme431 · 01-19-2009, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tabbe

Does nicotine effect muscle building in anyway?

I know smoking does but how about chewing or dipping?

Minimally at worst.

Still though, tobacco is bad for health in general. Pharmaceutical grade nicotine found in patches and gums carries no carcinogenic risk that I'm aware of and is actually neuroprotective. I'm actually thinking about getting transdermal patches after I finish out this box of nicorette. Throw one on every day while cutting, helps curb appetite and speed up metabolism with virtually no effort on your part. Just apply the patch in the AM and forget about it.

neuron · 01-19-2009, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blinKme431

Repped, thanks.

I know it's GABAergic so I was wondering how it would affect performance. The stimulant effect is actually very subtle to me.

To be honest, I'm not 'hooked' at all, I don't think. I was a smoker on and off previously but I was never addicted. I would just smoke if I was offered cigarettes, it was a social thing. If I wanted to quit the gum, I feel like I would have no problem. I don't plan on doing that anytime soon, though, because I like the effects. It's a fine line between physiological and psychological addiction it would seem.

Nicotine affects a lot of different systems in the brain, but for a normal adult non-addicted smoker, its effects will mostly be cholinergic.

Once addiction comes into play, however, its effects on GABA become more pronounced.

Robboe · 01-19-2009, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiniZiper

yea, that's the main reason I tend to light a smoke at parties.
and the fact that drinking amps the cravings for cig even more.

thank god im not addictive to nicotine. hence I never smoke outside a party environment. plus, having to lament about smoking at all while doing cardio is more than enough for me NOT to smoke AT ALL.

yes, i have a double life.

There's probably some sort of crossover between the effects of alcohol and the reaward pathweay in the brain, because i've spoken to a lot of people who uber-crave cigarettes on a night out on the brews.

Robboe · 01-19-2009, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tabbe

Does nicotine effect muscle building in anyway?

I know smoking does but how about chewing or dipping?

Nicotine itself can have some positive effects on the body, believe it or not. I recall reading that it promotes levels of good cholesterol by promoting oxidation of the bad cholesterol in muscle tissue. It also has an effect on leptin, either promoting it, or making the brain more sensitive to it. Can't recall which, or if it was ever fully understood.

Robboe · 01-19-2009, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clarko

I've noticed this big dude and musclely chick at my gym chewing some gum intra-workout. They chew it real openly like they open and close their mouth completely. I have no clue what it is though.

Prolly just a slack-jawed yokel.

Robboe · 01-19-2009, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blinKme431

Minimally at worst.

Still though, tobacco is bad for health in general. Pharmaceutical grade nicotine found in patches and gums carries no carcinogenic risk that I'm aware of and is actually neuroprotective. I'm actually thinking about getting transdermal patches after I finish out this box of nicorette. Throw one on every day while cutting, helps curb appetite and speed up metabolism with virtually no effort on your part. Just apply the patch in the AM and forget about it.

Get ready for some freaky-ass dreams!

neuron · 01-19-2009, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robboe

There's probably some sort of crossover between the effects of alcohol and the reaward pathweay in the brain, because i've spoken to a lot of people who uber-crave cigarettes on a night out on the brews.

Alcohol effects GABAa whereas nicotine mainly effects GABAb. There might be some interesting IPSP convergence taking place.