Exercise and Intimacy

From SmoothFitness.com:

As you're out on your daily jog or bicycling to work, do you ever stop to consider the correlation that your workouts may have with your more romantically intimate encounters in life? Maybe you should! After all, the more active you are, the better prepared your body will be for intimacy.

Confirmed Through Research

According to the American Council on Exercise, studies have been conducted to find out whether exercise has any effect on one's sexual desire and performance. Results of such studies have confirmed that, in both men and women, exercise does, in fact, improve one's desire, performance, and satisfaction.

Men who had previously been known as "couch potatoes" were assigned to one-hour exercise sessions, three to four times per week. The study, which was conducted by the University of California in San Diego, concluded that these men had reported improvement in their ability to perform sexually. They began having intimate relations more frequently. They were able to sustain erections longer. And, they experienced greater satisfaction than they did when they led sedentary lifestyles.

In another study that was conducted by the New England Research Institute, it was found that men who engaged in more frequent, vigorous exercise on a regular basis over an eight year period had few or no problems with impotency.

In similar studies, women who exercised regularly were also found to enjoy making love more intensely and more frequently than did women who were inactive.

Can You Overdo It?

According to medical experts, exercise can enhance your physical intimacy, because exercise strengthens your cardiovascular system, and it improves your circulation. Good circulation and a strong heart are necessary for your body to function well sexually. Engaging in aerobic exercises, strength-training exercises, and flexibility exercises also prepare your body for various positions you may find yourself in during lovemaking. You will also be better able to endure longer periods of physical intimacy with your partner.

However, you can exercise too much! And, too much exercise can be detrimental to your love life! According to these same medical experts, when you engage in excessive exercise, you experience a decrease in your testosterone levels. This, in turn, may lead to a decrease in your sexual appetite. Too much exercise can also be harmful to your immune system. A weak immune system can negatively affect the physical aspects of your love life, as well.

If you always remember to do everything in moderation, you will notice more benefits to your overall health, as well as improvements in your physically intimate moments. And, be sure to consult with your health care professional prior to beginning any exercise or diet program.

Happy Exercising!

Cyndi Schoenhals
CPT and fitness writer

Learn more at SmoothFitness.com...