Exercise, Fitness and Sex
Dateline: 08/21/00
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EXERCISE, FITNESS AND SEX
When a man and a woman have sex, exercise and fitness are probably not on their minds. Maybe these important things would be on their mind if they knew how much better sex could be. I'm not talking about having a perfect body, ripped abs, etc. I'm talking about improving what is on the inside. Let's look at all three topics and how they relate to each other.
SEX
- Sex ideally requires cardiovascular endurance. It's no fun when one partner runs out of gas.
- It also can require a great amount of muscular endurance. Stopping sexual intercourse and stating, "I'm sore!" is not very stimulating.
- You also might need some muscular strength. Dropping your partner is a no-no guys. Even if you are not the aggressor, many of your muscles are contracting forcefully as stabilizers and require strength.
- Many different sexual positions require a degree of flexibility. Taking five minutes to get into a new position while grunting the whole time might dampen the mood.
- Body composition can have a great impact on your sex life. The less cholesterol and fat you have in your arteries, the easier it will be for blood to get to certain areas.
- Sex reduces stress when it's good.
- It also burns calories. A more vigorous and longer session equals more calories burned. Use this utility to find out how many calories you will burn during sex at a moderate intensity.
Exercise
- Exercise increases your energy, strength, endurance, and it helps reduce body fat and increase lean muscle.
- With a long day at work, house chores, kids, etc., exercise can give you that extra bit of energy for your spouse at night. If you have too many things to do during the day and at night, exercise first thing in the morning. Wake up early and start your day off right.
- Doing 400 pound squats for three reps is great, but sex ideally involves much more endurance than strength for both men and women.
- Some of the areas you should be most concerned about are the hips, legs, lower back, abdominals, chest, shoulders and arms. For abdominal training, visit the Abdominals Workout Center. If you are new to exercise, consult your physician. You can also read A Beginner's Guide to Exercise.
- It also increases testosterone levels in men, which can improve their sex drive.
- Exercise also reduces stress, which will help you relax when it is time to get down to business.
Fitness
- Fitness involves much more than exercise. It includes flexibility, eating right and body composition.
- Improving your flexibility does more than help you get into certain positions easier. It also reduces fatigue and soreness, helps your muscles move better in general, etc. For more information on stretching and flexibility, read Stretching and Flexibility and Should I Stretch Before and After?.
- Eating right can have a big impact on your sex life. Low carbs can equal no energy. Eating bad carbs like candy, soda, etc may cause a sudden drop in energy as well. Unlike what people selling books and supplements try and get you to believe, eating whole wheat pasta, baked potatoes, brown rice, etc. as a part of a balanced meal with adequate protein and fat will not effect you like just eating a candy bar. However like anything else, you want to watch your portion sizes.
- Improving your body composition with more lean muscle and less body fat helps your blood flow to certain areas. It also improves self-esteem, which can be an awesome sex booster. We are not talking about getting down to eight percent body fat. I'm referring to seeing an improvement in your body and feeling good about yourself. This is important not only for the sake of sex but also for your health.
Exercise and sex burn adequate amounts of calories if done with enough intensity. Stretching, exercise and sex can help you reduce your stress level. All three things can improve your health and quality of life. If a husband and wife or whoever exercise, stretch, eat right and have sex together, I can see healthier days ahead. For more articles on how you can improve your health, please use the drop-down menu below.
If you are pregnant or at least thinking about it, you should read about Sexual Relations During Pregnancy.
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