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You know the benefits of exercise, right? It makes you stronger, melts fat, builds
cardiovascular fitness, and yada yada yada. But did you know that physical activity
could turn you into a Don Juan or Juanita, too?
Physical activity, in moderation, will make you a better lover. Some of it’s
physical, some psychological, but the end result is the same. You’ll be more
attractive to the opposite sex, experience higher levels of arousal and sexual
satisfaction, and have increased stamina and a better ability to please your partner
if you work out.
Hormone Boost
It is widely accepted in scientific communities that healthy amounts of physical
exercise increases your body’s production of hormones like testosterone, cortisol,
and others. In one study conducted through the University of North Carolina’s
Applied Physiology laboratory, Dr. A.C. Hackney studied 10 trained athletes and
sampled their blood chemistry following 45 minutes of exercise at 70% VO2 max.
Hackney found that his athletes experienced a 40% increase in free-testosterone,
a 38% increase in cortisol, and a 226% increase in epinephrine.
Fringes
And there are fringe benefits. People who are active, alert, and feel healthy and
confident are going to be more attractive to the opposite sex because they’re
vibrant and alive. Greater self-esteem, a more defined physique, and the sense of
accomplishment that accompanies physical feats all contribute to make you more
desirable.
“Exercise makes people feel good about themselves, and feeling good about yourself
equates into feeling, you know, more spunky,“. “And who doesn’t look
good in cycling shorts?”The sexiness of athletic apparel, “I’m
thinking from my perspective here, as a woman looking at men.”
A word of caution for you overzealous types: the beneficial relationship between
exercise and sexual prowess is not infinite. Athletes who overtrain will not only
increase their risk of injury, but forfeit their hard-earned sexuality perks
as well.
Overdoing It
“Over time, chronic training often reduces sexual prowess,” says an expert, who
conducted her own study of fertility and libido in male athletes who doubletrain.
“All these guys talked about having low libido when they were in the peak of
their training. There’s a fine line like anything else in life. A little bit actually
makes things better and too much will make things worse.”
In a nine-month study of triathletes she found that both testosterone and
sperm count dropped noticeably after periods of overtraining. Her findings are
supported in other studies as well. A 1997 University of Ohio study shows
“significantly reduced” levels of testosterone in distance runners who have
overtrained for a period of five days. A separate study of female athletes
conducted by the Finnish Institute for Olympic Sports concluded that overtraining
of their athletes resulted in high stress and abnormally low adrenaline levels,
as well as diminished athletic performance. For women, overtraining can lead to
amenorrhea, or cessation of the menstrual cycle and reproductive functions. This
in turn will inevitably translate to an impeded sex drive, the expert says.
Rest and recovery is the prescribed cure for overtraining, the expert says. Stay
tuned for symptoms including lethargy, poor performance, and moodiness. If you’re
exercising tons and feel your libido is suffering, take a few days off.
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