Exercise makes you happy in love as well as in life
I love to work out. I know, I know, I’m a freak of nature. The endorphin rush I get from a good run or a marathon session on the Elliptical always leaves me feeling euphoric. To me, it is well worth having frizzy hair and a beet red face. As it happens, my addiction to exercise is a good thing: new studies reveal that working out is good for your sex life, your sex drive and the longevity of your relationship.
Research done by the University of Arkansas found that exercise improves sex. Those who worked out more frequently felt more attractive and had higher energy levels than those who did not.
Another study reported that women were more sexually responsive after 20 minutes of hearty exercise (which means, husbands, you now know when you’ll be likely to get lucky).
Men who had brief – yet intense – gym sessions saw an increase in their testosterone levels, which aid in stimulating sexual desire.
Even those in their 40s-60s benefit in the bedroom from a surplus of athletic activity. A Harvard University study of 160 male and female swimmers reported that regularly doing the breast stroke resulted in more frequent (and enjoyable) sex.
If you find that you have problems sticking to your New Years resolution to get fit, yet another study found that couples who exercise together are more likely to stick with their gym routine. The research, published in the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, found that couples who exercise together are more likely to stick with an exercise program.
Finally, Dr. Jane Greer claims that exercise can not only bond a flailing relationship, but help partners blow off the steam that can result in a blow-up/break-up.
The What About Me? Stop Selfishness From Ruining Your Relationship author told Yahoo: “When a couple works out together, the actual exercise itself can physically and emotionally have a positive impact.
“Both partners come away with feelings of synchronicity, cooperative spirit and shared passion. Then you throw in some spicy endorphins and it can be a real power trip for the relationship.”
She added, naturally, that sweating it out with your partner can result in some equally sweaty and satisfying time in the boudoir.
“This will definitely impact your sex life because exercising helps people feel better,” she said. “It alleviates stress and gives you more energy; you feel better about yourself and your self-esteem increases. If you’re feeling all of that when you’re with your partner, the logical thing is to share that desirability and sexual companionship.”
I have only exercised with a boyfriend once. While I hardly paid attention to him during our yoga class, I do think that the aftermath of our tandem workout session was not only bonding, but created some additional bawdy behavior as well (if you catch my drift). That said, I highly recommend couple time at the gym. It is quite satisfying.
The moral of the story here is that exercising with a partner is a Martha Stewart-style “good thing.” Endorphins make us happy. Sex makes us happy. Love makes us happy. When all three are combined, that’s not just simple happiness — that’s ecstasy.
As the Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti once said: “The moment you have in your heart this extraordinary thing called love and feel the depth, the delight, the ecstasy of it, you will discover that for you the world is transformed.”
