nicotine vs. athletics

[deebocools]

nicotine and athletics have a strange relationship... For many years I was a street BMX rider(with all the tricks and what have you), and I started using dip towards the end of it and felt great.

Well, now I haven't been on a bike in 2 years. I've fallen on some hard times and decided the best way to cut costs and get in shape at the same time was to take my bike to work and sell the car. I went for some preliminary rides yesterday and today, and strangely enough I only had 4, and then 3, portions respectively on those days. It occurs to me that nicotine may be doing something to by athletic ability, since I never used nicotine in earnest until after quitting excercise, and now that I'm starting, I have less cravings.

Does anyone have any personal insight on how nicotine may positively or negatively effect athletic ability/performance?

[bearcat87]

When I go running I make sure that I haven't had a portion in for at least two hours. Any less than that makes me get a tight chest and loose my breath quickly. By best guess as to why this happens is that my blood pressure is too high. Or maybe the snus juice I swallow is affecting my throat, IDK. I don't think that there are any benefits to nicotine and exercise/athleticism (unless you quit smoking and start snusing).

[jnkyo07]

very cool

that's VERY interesting...nicotine is a stimulant, therefore it should give you energy, but it always seems to just chill me out. and sometimes even make me weak. so i have no clue what could be going on. i know that when you exercise, your body releases natural endorphines that make you feel good, in the same or at least similar way that nicotine does. maybe that's why you don't feel you need as much. i hope someone here knows more about this stuff cause i'm interested in some facts

[snusjus]

I always have a portion in before I exercise. Snus has never negatively affected my athletic ability. Smoking, on the other hand, will make any kind of exercise damned near impossible!

[deebocools]

I think, at least in my case, it's what jnky said- dopamine release. For all the other reasons, the main reason I use nicotine is to give me a lift. During and for about 2 hours after exercise, I'm already "lifted" and just have less appetite for the nic.

I think some cross-training is in order(eventually). I remember when I was extremely in shape, nicotine and exercise felt awesome. look forward to those days again.

Though of course I would be happy to cut snus use in half to save the money!

[rr0]

I've read that nicotine is a vasoconstrictor, so it seems that even though it's a CNS stimulant, it could have an adverse effect on any type of athletic endeavor. I'm obviously not a medical expert, though.

With that said, I have seen many instances of nicotine use in amateur and professional sports. I've run a 1/2 marathon not too long ago while using dip, have run and hiked on fairly steep trails with snus. Lots of professional hockey players use dip/snus (not sure if they're doing it during games.) I know of several Military folks (mostly USMC) who are regular nicotine users - including smokers -- around fairly strenuous PT sessions. I was amazed that one of my old USMC friends could almost keep up with me while also maintaining a pack-a-day habit.

I guess like anything else, find what works for you. It feels like smokeless tobacco takes maybe 20% away from me when I'm using it WHILE exercising. Otherwise there doesn't seem to be much of a difference. I've often wondered about the wisdom of using tobacco while exercising, though... I specifically wonder if it's potentially harmful.