Strength Training For Better Sex

So statistics tells us that every other bloke has problems with their sex life. Don’t panic guys, there’s no need for the little blue pill, regular exercise is a natural Viagra, it’s strongly associated with a lower risk of erectile problems (2), particularly for those with cardiovascular issues.

Strength training has unique effects on improving body image and self-efficacy. Your self-efficacy effects every aspect of your life, and by improving your confidence you will be more outgoing, willing to try new things, be confident in your own skin, leave the lights on……and it’s not just anecdotal.

Strength training and exercise in general has the added benefit of being incredibly effective at reducing stress, which is intimately linked with our sexual prowess. The first response we have with exercise is mood enhancement, decreased anxiety and increased sleep quality (5).

It starts in the first training session by lowering your blood pressure and cardiovascular responses to stressful situations thereby improving our coping mechanisms (5). Less stress, less anxiety, improved sleep and improved blood flow? Less erectile dysfunction (6).

Exercise Slows the Ageing Process

As we get older, you start to see a larger disparity between chronological and biological age. Most teenagers look like teenagers, but some 40-50 year old’s look, feel, move and have the health of a 30 year old, but some (a lot if you look at the data) can look, feel, move and have the health and mojo of a 90 year old.

Now of course genetics do play a role in greater variability as we age, but a significant portion of this is down to lifestyle (modifiable) factors. These factors being activity levels, strength levels, nutrition, stress management and sleep.

Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone and is a naturally produced anabolic steroid. It plays a key role in the development of male reproductive tissues such as testes and prostate in utero, promotes secondary sexual characteristics such as increased muscle & bone mass, and is involved in maintaining general health and the prevention of osteoporosis (7). Research has also shown that low testosterone concentrations levels is strongly correlated to a lowering of self-reported sex drive and libido (8).

Strength training is the primary intervention that must be used to offset the effects of ageing by minimising age-related declines in strength, fat-free mass, and functional abilities (9-13). The hormonal changes produced by increases in strength is an important stimulus as men (and women) age, contributing to the prevention of sarcopenia (muscle loss with age) and loss of functional abilities in many key aspects of living a happy, satisfying and healthy life. So make sure you are lifting regularly with progressive overload and well planned full body workouts guided by experts.

So, there you have it gentleman, get lifting to save your life, your libido, your sex life and so many more benefits!! Lift a bar and lift.. ahem (clears throat), your bar.

To get your training on point for ALL the benefits, get in touch with the experts at Absolute here.

Written By Co-Founder & Head Performance Coach David Smith