Please don't read this thread if you feel it will be an occassion of sin for you.

Although I realize that concupiscence (in this case, lust for carnal pleasure) must be fought on both a spiritual and physical front, I read the other day the words of Seneca saying that man's sɛҳuąƖ drive naturally seeks release.

Without going into too much detail (for my sake and for the sake of the readers), in brief I struggle quite violently, but periodically, with the vice of lust. The reason I bring up Seneca's quote is that I think that 90% of the time I don't seriously struggle with lustful desires in my daily life. For example, in one month I may go three weeks without having a serious temptation. Then maybe on one day of the fourth week I will be violently attacked by temptations against purity - many times I will fall into sin on these occasions. Even when in the midst of temptation, I have a certain disgust for sins of the flesh and I simply want to find some way of getting rid of the burning desire. As I am a male, this build-up of certain fluids would inevitably be released in a non-sinful manner at some point.

My question is: Are there any physical remedies to this problem? I don't think it can be "cured", since I am at an age where my body is being primed for reproduction. But are there any physical ways (diet, fasting, etc) that I can use to reduce these periodic temptations (that truly seem overwhelming when they do come).

Interestingly, I think that Providence has set up lust at my predominant passion. Looking back, I've been exposed to several very impure events in the past through no fault of my own, and they have increased my temptations even a decade after they occured. (Another reason not to send anyone to public school) After those events however, I've amassed plenty of sins that I have fallen into through my own fault.

This post is inspired by my most recent fall into sin. Looking back, what set it off was reading an impure book that was assigned for my English class.

I apologize for being frank.

Vladimir-

I'm sorry you're going through these temptations. Many, if not most, men go through these challenges. May I suggest, you abstain from red meat, and see how this helps you? I've heard this from certain priests, and have had friends who were told to practice this as well with favorable results.

Other than that, take hope that these temptations can be overcome. I struggled with the same, and it is not fun; I can say that many things are within your control, and I failed in 'controlling the controllables', if you will. Occasions of sin were the worst.

Devotion to our Lady is a big help. I will say some prayers for you today.

The whole eating thing, definitely is a set up.  I notice I'm always tempted after I over eat.  

Loose talk is the same way.  

Also exercise.  I'm always tempted if I don't.  

Not dwelling on thoughts is really important.  Training your eyes.  It's amazing it can be done, but it can.  Once you see it though, what can you do, but not dwell on it.  

It's weird, but I think my "subconscious" kind of works on me too, without my realizing it.  Movies are like that.  Once I find I've been "conned," all I can do is start praying  

Vladimir-

I'm sorry you're going through these temptations. Many, if not most, men go through these challenges. May I suggest, you abstain from red meat, and see how this helps you? I've heard this from certain priests, and have had friends who were told to practice this as well with favorable results.

Other than that, take hope that these temptations can be overcome. I struggled with the same, and it is not fun; I can say that many things are within your control, and I failed in 'controlling the controllables', if you will. Occasions of sin were the worst.

Devotion to our Lady is a big help. I will say some prayers for you today.

Absolute truth. The three-legged chair if I may: Prayer, Fasting, devotion to the Blessed Mother.

Fostering a healthy devotion to St. Joseph, the perfect model of male purity, would help as well I'm sure.

Good advice on this thread so far.

I would recommend:

Fasting -- It's really hard to be "carnal" while you're fasting. The masters of the spiritual life speak of lust as the "devil that can only be cast out by prayer and fasting".

Abstaining -- from red meat and perhaps other foods. Try to note what foods cause the most problems. Remember, we are what we eat.

Excercise/work -- When you're exhausted your body is less likely to control you or assert itself. When you're well-rested, on the other hand, your body is "ready for business" which can be a bad thing in situations as you describe.

Don't lay in bed if you can't sleep -- when you first become conscious in the morning, get up and start your day. Don't lay in bed too much before falling asleep at night, or laze around in bed after waking in the morning.  I recall one saint in particular who said he was tempted sorely against purity when he was resting in bed during recovery from an illness.

Stay busy -- An idle mind is the devil's workshop.

Avoid impurity -- Avoid TV, movies, and other occasions of sin. The devil can most easily "use" what's in your memory to tempt you. Don't fill his arsenal.

Prayer -- stay close to Our Lady so you wouldn't want to disappoint her by sinning.

Thank you everyone for the advice.

I'll have to watch my diet, even though it isn't too red meat intensive at present anyhow. I know that it would be a delusion to think that simply changing my diet would get rid of the lust completely since it must be fought on both spiritual and physical side.

I am amaze by the quote that Matthew gave from that saint about being tempted against purity when recovering from illness - this is my exact experience. Whenever I am ill and bed-ridden, temptations against purity are always at hand.

My last source of occassions of sin seems to be the Internet. I go on daily usually, but I need to start only going on when there are other people around.

(I don't watch T.V.)

Good comments Matthew:

Good advice on this thread so far.

I would recommend:

Fasting -- It's really hard to be "carnal" while you're fasting. The masters of the spiritual life speak of lust as the "devil that can only be cast out by prayer and fasting".

This is true, but fasting is a spiritual act, and you should not look to it as a solution to physical problems. Otherwise you can just as well take some kind of medication that suppresses your hormones, which I would argue is immoral.

Abstaining -- from red meat and perhaps other foods. Try to note what foods cause the most problems. Remember, we are what we eat.

This is right. All food is a drug. Your gut is not a complete barrier and everything you eat that was once alive contains substances which affect your brain, your hormones, everything. Red meat naturally contains a lot of hormones, but farmed and slaughtered meat often contains increased amounts (including precursors to testosterone, which is the main thing that you are experiencing surges of) due to the stress the animal experiences before death. Limit that, and increase your fruit and vegetable intake in its place and you will have a clearer head and stronger will to overcome your weaknesses.

Excercise/work -- When you're exhausted your body is less likely to control you or assert itself. When you're well-rested, on the other hand, your body is "ready for business" which can be a bad thing in situations as you describe.

Yes, but when you are tired, you will lack self control. Keeping busy is the key, and removing or avoiding the situations, people and items that lead you to sin. This of course you mention later.

Don't lay in bed if you can't sleep -- when you first become conscious in the morning, get up and start your day. Don't lay in bed too much before falling asleep at night, or laze around in bed after waking in the morning.  I recall one saint in particular who said he was tempted sorely against purity when he was resting in bed during recovery from an illness.

Right, but I think the thing will be to identify those things that cause you to sin, and remove them. Don't look back, or you turn into a pillar of salt.

Stay busy -- An idle mind is the devil's workshop.

Avoid impurity -- Avoid TV, movies, and other occasions of sin. The devil can most easily "use" what's in your memory to tempt you. Don't fill his arsenal.

Prayer -- stay close to Our Lady so you wouldn't want to disappoint her by sinning.

I would also suggest taking on worthy projects that will keep you preoccupied and away from occasions of sin, particularly if those projects involve you being in the company of others. You basically have to distract yourself in a good way, and remove the bad distractions.

It's not just red meat, it's protein generally.

If you go to a largely plant based diet (consider the vegetarian diet of the monks on Mt. Athos, or the wilderness hermits who ate honey) you will find a lowering of lustful urge.

High protein in any form, including nuts and eggs (particularly the yolks), causes spikes in luteinizing hormone (LH) production. This is a fact. There is an inaccurate notion that *testosterone* itself cause the urge, it does not, as anyone who has taken testosterone supplements (even at low levels) will tell you.

Even beware *real* butter (which is fermented, unfermented butter is not a problem)

Short ice baths or shows are a temporary solution and actually counterproductive and this will cause a later extreme spike in LH and FSH (Follicle stimulating Hormone).

Cholesterol is a precursor to all these hormones (including test, but that's beside the point) and necessary for their production. It helps to keep cholesterol down to achieve this, but you will notice lowered overall energy, so it is important when you go to a plant based diet to learn the plant based foods that can give you your energy back, namely copious amounts of garlic, cinnamon in moderation.

It makes sense that a lot of protein would cause these urges, now that I think about it, it makes perfect sense looking back at all the times I was tempted correlating with what I ate.

I would say the best things to eat in order to overcome these type of temptations would simply be to eat bread, vegetables, and honey, maybe some fruit too, although its a very low protein diet it was good enough for a lot of saints, especially the desert fathers who were masters of the ascetical practices.