80 | www. Char l es tonPhys i c i ans . com | www.Hea l thL i nksChar l es ton . com SEX AS EXERCISE: DOES IT REALLY COUNT? “Stamina. Strength. Control,” you repeat to yourself. Sweat pours down your face; lungs and muscles burn. Your thighs quake. You ask why you’re subjecting yourself to such torture. As total collapse seems imminent, the whistle blows. It’s finally over. You wonder if you’re going to be able to walk after this. Your dumbbells hit the floor with a thud. “Good job,” your fitness trainer exclaims. “I knew you could do it.” Shift some of the qualities of this familiar gym scenario – stamina, control, sweat and even a partner’s praise – to the bedroom, and you shouldn’t be surprised that an increasing number of people curiously ask, “Does sex count as exercise?” Hundreds of clinical trials have put that question to the test, but, thanks to the variables involved, such as the health, age and gender of the participants, position choices, time of day and other considerations, a definitive answer to this question remains elusive. One study considered the endurance of 21 “… young, healthy couples in their natural environment” and compared it against a session of endurance exercise. The conclusion of this polite Canadian study was that 30 minutes of sex could burn roughly 85 calories and that their results “… suggest that sexual activity may potentially be considered, at times, as significant exercise.” “Potentially?” “At times?” Those aren’t phrases upon which anyone can confidently hang a verdict. Taking 30 minutes to burn a mere 85 calories isn’t exactly efficient. And the 30-minute benchmark? That might be unfeasible to many. By Amy Gesell
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