I am curious about using nicotine as a low cost way to improve performance, and build positive habits for exercise. However as an ex-tobacco smoker (4 years). I am very wary of my interest in nicotine because I suspect that my interest is based on latent cravings. After reading about the positive effects of nicotine, all I could think about was taking a pull of an e-cig, I didn’t give any thoughts at all to gums or patches, which should be a warning sign.
I am quite conflicted about this — I am very certain I would not go back to smoking tobacco, but I see my self using e-cigs as a daily habit rather than to promote habit learning on skills and activities that I want.
I think you should be careful and stick to gum or lozenges (or maybe patches) if you do nicotine at all.
Chewing a 4mg nicorette (gradually, as per the instructions) produces blood concentrations of nicotine about 2⁄3 that of a cigarette. If you cut a 4mg nicorette into 4 pieces like I do, and only take 1 piece per 30 minutes, that’s even less. It’s not enough to produce any sense of visceral pleasure for me (in a study on gwern’s page, people couldn’t distinguish between 1mg nicotine and placebo), but I think it’s still enough to form habits. I don’t think you should use nicotine as a way of “rewarding” things (by producing noticeable pleasure).
Maybe you could get someone else to dish out nicotine only when you’re doing things you want to reinforce? That way it’ll be harder for you to relapse.
(I’m D_Malik; I didn’t see your post earlier because I changed usernames.)
I eventually purchased Walgreen branded 21mg 24 hour release patches, which I cut into 4 equal doses. I use them for days when I go weight lifting or bouldering. I feel a noticeable alertness when I use the patches. I did not notice any increase desire to smoke and have no noticeable cravings on days when I am off the patch. I decided to stay away from any instant forms of nicotine such as e-cigs or gum.
I am curious about using nicotine as a low cost way to improve performance, and build positive habits for exercise. However as an ex-tobacco smoker (4 years). I am very wary of my interest in nicotine because I suspect that my interest is based on latent cravings. After reading about the positive effects of nicotine, all I could think about was taking a pull of an e-cig, I didn’t give any thoughts at all to gums or patches, which should be a warning sign.
I am quite conflicted about this — I am very certain I would not go back to smoking tobacco, but I see my self using e-cigs as a daily habit rather than to promote habit learning on skills and activities that I want.
I think you should be careful and stick to gum or lozenges (or maybe patches) if you do nicotine at all.
Chewing a 4mg nicorette (gradually, as per the instructions) produces blood concentrations of nicotine about 2⁄3 that of a cigarette. If you cut a 4mg nicorette into 4 pieces like I do, and only take 1 piece per 30 minutes, that’s even less. It’s not enough to produce any sense of visceral pleasure for me (in a study on gwern’s page, people couldn’t distinguish between 1mg nicotine and placebo), but I think it’s still enough to form habits. I don’t think you should use nicotine as a way of “rewarding” things (by producing noticeable pleasure).
Maybe you could get someone else to dish out nicotine only when you’re doing things you want to reinforce? That way it’ll be harder for you to relapse.
(I’m D_Malik; I didn’t see your post earlier because I changed usernames.)
Update
I eventually purchased Walgreen branded 21mg 24 hour release patches, which I cut into 4 equal doses. I use them for days when I go weight lifting or bouldering. I feel a noticeable alertness when I use the patches. I did not notice any increase desire to smoke and have no noticeable cravings on days when I am off the patch. I decided to stay away from any instant forms of nicotine such as e-cigs or gum.