I have to admit I had a couple of doubts about writing this piece, but I figure my 3 year old is too young to read this just yet, and by the time she is able to do so, I would have done at least a million things far more embarrassing. Because today I want to talk about why I strongly believe that strength training is sexy.
Among the many, many positive side effects of picking up some heavy metal and pounding the weights is that it can boost your libido, and tremendously. Feeling strong and looking strong is sexy.
Everyone, man or woman, wants to look and FEEL great naked; strong, powerful and sexy. If you’ve never thought that picking up a barbell or stroking the steel in the power cage could be fiercely sexy and empowering, maybe you should give it a try.
So, why the post about sex and strength training? I was joking around with a good friend about how few women rarely talk about the other, lesser known side effect of strength training (improved sex drive and appetite) and she turned me on to this article on low libido, reduced sex-drive in women, and the use and need for “female Viagra” in women as young as 18 and as old as 98.
The article makes no mention of why strength training is sexy or how it can function as a means to boost libido. In actuality it’s probably not that simple because of the possible multitude of factors that might be influencing sex drive.
After all, it’s not like you’re going to wander in a gym, do a set of deadlifts, and POOF, you’re a sex goddess. Strength training can’t make you sexy like that. However studies have shown that regular exercisers report a higher sex drive, possibly related to surges of testosterone that can occur immediately after resistance training like lifting heavy weights. I’ve heard time and time again that complex, compound movements (e.g., squats and deadlifts, another reason why we love squats and deadlifts!) are great libido boosters. So clearly strength training can make you more sexy 🙂
I considered the fun I might have, interviewing my fellow gym rats about their sex drive after a 5X5 leg day workout, but I really don’t HAVE to do that. All my close friends who regularly strength train ALL know what I’m talking about here- resistance exercise boosts your own libido – your body image improves, you feel and look better naked, you’re more confident in yourself and your body; you know you look good; and best of all, you get to spend time around sweaty, fit bodies (pheromones!)
For many of us, popping a pill should be the last resort, especially if you’ve never gotten a boost through a good, hard sweat session surrounded by hard bodies. 🙂 Instead try strength training and see if the strength, muscle tone and improve body image doesn’t make you feel sexy. It did for me and I think it can for you too.
Leave a Reply