We hear all the time that sex is a great workout, but what are the hard facts? How much sex is considered exercise? On a scale from fast asleep to Brangelina, where does the average sexual encounter lie on the calorie-burning scale? Well rumors said that sexual activity can burn between 100 and 300 calories but it's not too true. According to Upwave.com Sex burns a few calories, but frequent friskiness isn't going to replace the gym.
You may not be getting quite as good of a workout
between the sheets as you think. According to a study conducted
by the New England Journal of Medicine, sex lasts six minutes on average and
only burns about 21 calories. As an exercise physiologist and someone who even
finds ways to burn calories while driving and working on my computer, I found
this to be a very disappointing statistic. According to WebMD, 30 minutes of sex can burn in the neighborhood of 85
to 100 calories; if you feel like you have a pretty vigorous sex life,
you’re probably on the higher end of that statistic.
Sex before
breakfast
Having sex in the morning is a great idea for several reasons.
A man’s testosterone
levels are the highest between 7:00 and 8:00 in the morning, for
one. Also, if you make time for a half-hour morning session, you can roll
out of bed and right into your morning workout and you’re already warmed up!
Now that’s something worth setting your alarm for.
Eating for
endurance
Incorporating some endurance-boosting foods can also help when
trying to kick it up a notch in the sex department. Foods such as figs,
oysters, celery, blueberries, peanuts, bananas, garlic and even chocolate have
the potential to boost a man’s sexual stamina. (Note: Carb-loading the night
before your morning sexathon is not recommended and will likely be
counterproductive.)
Switch it up
With
sexercise -- as with any workout -- it’s important to try new and different
things all the time. By trying more challenging and adventurous positions, you
use different muscles for stabilization, constantly surprising your body (and
maybe your partner), and getting a better workout. If you find yourself in the
same few positions every time and your most adventurous sex location is the
foot of the bed (yawn), it’s definitely time to mix it up.
Core-gasm
Engage
your core at all times while having sex. Focusing on your core and isolating
the muscles around your pelvic floor will not only strengthen your six-pack,
it'll make your tummy look flatter in the moment. Also, there's increasing evidence that the right core workouts can
induce orgasm. Talk about double the pleasure!
Cross-train
We’ve
already established that sex doesn’t really count as your primary form of
exercise, so why not exercise for better sex?Research shows
that women who regularly exercise have more active sex lives, reach orgasm more
quickly and are more easily aroused than sedentary women. Furthermore, in the
study, women were more sexually responsive following 20 minutes of vigorous
exercise. Among males, short intense exercise is linked with increased
testosterone levels, which may stimulate sexual interest and behavior. Looking
for the perfect warm-up and foreplay for a steamy hot shower session? A sexy
morning workout with your other half may do the trick. Focus your workout on
isolating muscles that will help you while in the sack. Pelvic thrusts are a
must!
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