Aerobic exercise it seems, can improve much more than your fitness. A recent study carried out by TruBe looked at 1,101 UK adult runners and revealed that 80 per cent of respondents felt more attractive in front of their partner as a result of regular exercise.
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And there’s more good news when it comes to exercise and sex: a study by the University of California found that after following a moderate aerobic regime four times a week for nine months, male subjects had sex 30% more often.
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Better yet, people who exercise regularly increase their love-making time by 15%. What’s more, research in the Electronic Journal of Human Sexuality found 80 per cent of men and 60 per cent of women who exercised three times a week rated their sex appeal as ‘above average’.
You also burn five calories per minute during sex, which is four more than watching TV and about six less than steady-state running.
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What do the experts say?
Ian Kerner, sexuality counsellor and author of She Comes First supported the idea that exercise is important for sexual wellness. “Sexual attraction changes over the course of a relationship and low desire/desire discrepancy is a very common problem in relationships. Many people complain that their partner has gained weight or no longer takes care of themselves in ways they used to.
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“Staying fit not only helps to maintain your sexual attractiveness, it also increases your own sexual self-confidence. Generally, people who exercise take better care of themselves in other ways, including diet, sleep habits and lifestyle, which also contribute to better sex. Certainly, sex can also be an aerobic activity that requires physical exertion and flexibility.
“Exercise and fitness are important factors in sexual wellness. However, when leading busy lives, it’s easy for sex to get crowded out of one’s daily routine. When exercising regularly or even obsessively, or training for major milestones, it can make it difficult to find time for sex.”
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What causes a lack of libido?
According to NetDoctor, stress, exhaustion, relationship concerns and mental health problems such as depression or anxiety can result in a low libido in men and women. Exercising regularly and getting enough sleep can help these issues, as can speaking to your partner.
