Improve Your Sex Life with Exercise

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

I thought I'd share this article from About.com, since--suprisingly--not many people realize just how beneficial SEX can be for your physical and mental health. Not only is it a good exercise; it's also a great way to reduce stress (not to mention improve your mood). I know some of you are thinking, "I knew that!" But what you may not realize is how SEX can be even BETTER for both you and your partner/significant other if you incorporate regular physical activity into your lifestyle.

If health and fitness aren't enough to get you to exercise, how about improving your sex life? Sure, exercise can help you look good and maybe that will help you get more sex, but I'm talking about increasing your potency and making sex more fun. You already know why exercise is so important for your health, but you may not know that studies have found a direct correlation between physical inactivity and a lack of potency. So, exercise can increase your potency, and it can also make your sex life more enjoyable. Here's what you'll need to get the most out of your sex life.

For enthusiastic sex, you'll need some cardio endurance. It won't be any fun if you bonk out halfway through. Shoot for 3 or 4 days of cardio exercise like running, walking, swimming or whatever floats your boat and your partner will thank you.

Sex also requires a little endurance. You may find yourself holding...er...unusual positions for short periods of time, so conditioning your body can be a plus for longer lasting sex. For endurance, you'll need to lift lighter weights for more repetitions. Check out some endurance workouts here and get conditioned for sex.

As long as we're talking about holding yourself in position, we might as well cover muscular strength, which is something else you'll need. Your muscles will be contracting like crazy no matter what position you're in, so it pays to be in shape to avoid nasty leg or foot cramps. For strength, you'll need to lift heavier weights for few repetitions. For some ideas, visit my Workout Center.

Flexibility can enhance anyone's sex life by making it a bit easier to get into your favorite position with a minimum amount of fuss. Why not try a little Yoga to get you in the mood? Or try these stretches to get you ready for the most vigorous sex.

Keep in mind that both sex and exercise have been proven to help reduce stress, so doing both on a regular basis should help you stay relaxed and happy. Exercise also helps increase your sexual desire. Tamar Love, About's former Sexuality Co-Guide, points out that low sex drive is often caused by stress and fatigue. When you're tired, you just don't feel like doing it, right? Exercise, along with a healthy diet and adequate sleep can boost your libido so you're up for anything.

Don't forget that sex burns calories! Okay, so it has to be fairly vigorous to get your heart rate going, but calories are calories right? A 130-lb person can burn about seven calories per five minutes of vigorous sex. Keep it up for two hours, and you'll burn off 177 calories...enough to get rid of those cookies you ate after dinner. Plus, you will impress your mate with your incredible endurance!

If you're pregnant, read about Sexual Relations During Pregnancy to find out safe ways to get some!

I don't know about that word, "potency" being thrown around (LOL!), but it's great article. Surveys have shown that over half of failed marriages end due to sexual problems. Get some exercise and get "some" people! Take sex out of the divorce equation.

XOXO,

~Kimmy

Run For Your Life!

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Before I get technical, let me just say (in my experience) running is not only a great physical activity; it's good for the soul. It is a true mind-body-spirit kind of exercise for me...especially when I choose my favorite place to run. I like to take an early drive down to Crown Point (on the Information Center side) and use the trail there. It is the most peaceful experience ever! What makes me most proud is seeing others on their bikes, rollerblades, or on foot like me, enjoying the beautiful SoCal weather while literally increasing the quality of their lives. Whenever I think I'm tired, all I have to do is look west. Just a quick gaze at the serenity, the feel of the ocean breeze on my skin, is enough to re-energize me for another mile. Whether you're walking, jogging, rollerblading, biking or running, finding a place that inspires you during your workout can be a totally ZEN experience.

There are numerous benefits that can be gained from partaking in a rigorous exercise such as running. Some of these benefits can include increase weight-loss, improved cardiovascular health (i.e. a higher fitness level), improved bone health, improved mood, better coordination, increased energy and a more toned appearance. It can be like a total-body-workout (inside/out).

For those that are looking to lose a few pounds, running can be one of the most effective forms of exercise for helping you achieve your goal. That is because running requires a great deal of energy. Guess what! To feed that energy requirement, the body must burn a large number of calories while running. That number is typically much more than you'd burn during less taxing forms of exercise such as walking or yoga. Surprisingly, many runners say they often experience increased energy after a run. Go figure!

There are many psychological benefits to running as well. Runners typically report being happier and feeling less stressed than those who do not run or exercise regularly. I've read that running actually has the ability to alter an individual's moods because hormones, called endorphins, are released while running. These hormones create a sense of euphoria often referred to as a "runner’s high" and can result in an improvement in the runner’s mood. I can attest to having experienced this feeling while running. Many runners have also reported using running as a way to actually alleviate stress.

Lastly, I thought I'd include some tips on form while running. Being a sprinter in college, I was taught to run on my toes. However, if you've ever experience shin splints or, worse, stress-fractures, you know that toes aren't always the safest way to do longer distance running (beyond 200 meters...LOL). The safest way to run, and what is used by most elite runners, is mid-foot running. It requires you to flex the leg upon impact with the surface. This is definitely a learned practice and will take some time to get used to. You basically have to "unlearn" the way you've been running since you were a kid. I've still not mastered this technique. Until I do, I focus on a soft heel-to-toe stride--only because I "run." Using heel-to-toe for jogging is...how do I put this....AWFUL! In fact, I would rather walk if I had to choose between jogging and walking. Jogging, for me, is not an option. It puts a hell of a lot of pressure on your joints and back.

I have a friend who once told me, "You will not find me running unless I'm being chased." If you're not much of a runner, and just can't get into it, that's OK. Everyone has their own preference and that's absolutely fine. There are plenty of other cardiovascular exercises out there that offer similar benefits. I'll discuss those later; this post is for the runners.

Comment!

So how about you? Like running? Why or why not?