Can You Really Lose Weight During Sex?
You absolutely can lose weight during intercourse since your activity levels are high and you’re burning more calories with each session.
Getting your heart rate up and busting out new positions is not only going to make your partner happier, but it will also aid in your benefit.
Try new stuff that really makes you both break a major sweat.
Intimacy in the bedroom alone will get your heart rate up and the blood flow will hit peak levels.
To up the fun (and calorie burn) when it comes to sex, try getting on top of your partner. Because in most positions, being on top requires a bit more movement and will increase calorie burn. Changing up your positions throughout a sex session can also make it more of a workout, she says.
Women burn around 90 calories during sex, but of course to see real results, it’s all about how much effort you put in.
A steamy hour-long sex session will work your cardio and your core, so you’ll be getting fitter, boosting your strength and toning up your core muscles all at the same time.
But sex isn’t just about a physical release, it has a positive effect on virtually every part of us, says sex, body language and relationships expert Tracey Cox.
Sex releases endorphins to make us feel light-hearted, levels of the hormone oxytocin rise by about 500% – making us feel relaxed, it boosts the immune system and it can make you look younger too, says Tracey.
And while it’s not necessarily the most effective form of exercise to shed unwanted pounds, it’s definitely a fun activity to spice up your weight loss program.
How many calories can you burn by having sex?
A recent study showed that during one 30-minute sex session:
Men can burn up to 120 calories
Women can burn up to 90 calories
Another study showed that a vigorous 30-minute sex session can burn as many as 150 calories, which is equivalent to a 15-minute jog.
Of course, chances are that you aren’t going to have sex that long every time. However, sex can be considered a mild to moderate physical activity.
‘More pleasant’ than a gym workout
Whether the top calorie-burners had more vigorous sex or just took their sweet time isn’t clear from the data, but we can draw some conclusions. If we want to increase our calorie loss during sex, we can either get more actively involved, keep at it for longer, or a combination of both.
Prof. Karelis also compared sex with regular gym exercise. He found that men burned between 149 and 390 calories during a 30-minute, moderate-intensity session on the treadmill, while women burned between 120 and 381.
When asked to compare the two activites, all of the men and 95 percent of the women in the study said that sex was more pleasant than pounding the treadmill.
Best Sex Positions For Weight Loss
Here are 4 positions you can try, plus tips for how to make them even more of a workout.
1.Missionary
In the missionary position, the woman may burn about 14 calories in a 10-minute session and men may burn about 47 calories.
It is a great exercise for men as it requires more work (obviously) and energy expenditure to keep the rhythm going.
Men can flex their core muscles in this position, similar to doing ab crunches. They can also squeeze their glutes during intercourse.
Women can strengthen their core muscles by lifting the pelvic area with their core instead of their lower back.
2.Doggy
Men can work their core muscles in the doggy position, and women can burn about 84.38 calories.
For the woman, pelvic floor and core muscles can be easier activated. For the man this position will tighten up the abs, raise the heart rate and increase back mobility.
The person on top can thrust forward for a few minutes, then take a break while the person on the bottom takes their turn pushing back onto their partner. Or, for a more yoga-like workout during sex, try doggy style in downward dog—that’ll definitely get your heart rate up, she says.
This position stimulates the female and requires more abdominal and glute strength to maintain that position for a longer period of time.
However, this position is one of the most dangerous sex positions for women because it can cause vaginal tears.
3.Cowgirl
Cowgirl is the best sex position for women when it comes to burning calories.
Studies have shown that women can burn about 135 calories in a 30-minute session.
The lower part of the woman’s legs are braced on the bed or the floor, which can help engage the buttocks, legs, and core muscles.As long as your man can last this can be a great cardio workout that is also great for mobilising the pelvis and spine.
It is the perfect position to help build stamina, strengthen the core and leg muscles all while giving yourself the ultimate workout for pleasure.
4.Standing
This position can help strengthen legs and core muscles.
If both partners are standing, the woman may burn about 30 calories while the man may burn about 51 calories over 10 minutes.
If the man is holding the woman up the entire time, he may burn 65 calories and the woman may burn 40 calories.
Utilizing sex positions in a standing manner will have you much more inclined to burn fat by the amount of energy and muscle contractions that go into the support factor.
Because you’re using your entire body, there’s going to be a heavier focus on keeping your strength at optimal levels and muscles in use.
After all, you don’t want to look weak when trying to pin your significant other up to a wall and only be able to hold them for a few seconds.
Core and leg strength are what it’s all about.
5.The Final Takeaway
While it’s not surprising to note that exercise is still going to be the most beneficial method of weight loss, having sex certainly has its pros when it comes to burning calories and being labeled as exercise.
At the end of the day, you’re still increasing your activity levels and shedding pounds whether you believe it or not.
So, if you are looking to shed a few pounds in the lead up to the peak holiday season, why not make the time to spend with your partner, enjoy sharing some intimate moments, and bask in the full effect that all that oxytocin and calorie loss will hopefully have on your scales.