Quantifying the Energy Expended During Sexual Intercourse
Ready to rock your workout routine with a sexy twist? You might be wondering if getting it on will help burn calories, or if you should stick to your trusty gym routine.
Forget about jogging, Pilates, or HIIT sessions for a minute. Can sex boost your daily calorie burn?
While it's no match for CrossFit or running when it comes to calorie expenditure, you can expect to torch a few calories during your intimate moments. But just how many calories are we talking here?
The number game: Burning calories during sex
So, how many calories are lava-dipped during a steamy, sexy session? There isn't an extensive bank of research out there, and numbers can vary. However, let's crunch some digits.
On average, you might burn 3 to 4 calories per minute. Typically, a sexual escapade lasts 5 to 6 minutes, so that means a sweaty, sexy delight could torch around 21 calories (who doesn't love a little mathematical magic?!).
But wait, there's more! A few studies suggest that sex, if performed at a vigorous pace, can even burn up to 100 calories per half an hour.
Taking a deeper dive: Calculating your calorie burn
Let's dive into some research. In a study of 21 straight, healthy couples in their early 20s, researchers found that men burned an average of 101 calories (4.2 calories per minute), while women burned 69 calories (3.1 calories per minute) during a 24-minute sex romp. The couples wore armbands to track their activity levels and calorie burn.
However, another review claimed that the myth of burning 100 to 300 calories during sex is precisely that - a myth. Researchers estimated that a 150-pound man working at a moderate intensity would burn 3.5 calories per minute during sex, which is similar to walking at a 3-mile-per-hour pace. But considering sex sessions are usually quite brief (5 to 6 minutes, on average), that means you're burning only 21 calories during a typical tryst. Talk about anti-climactic!
The lowdown on calories burned
So, people might burn an average of 3 to 4 calories per minute during sex at moderate intensity. But remember those crazy-intense sessions lasting 25 minutes or more that burn 100 to 300 calories? They might be the stuff of legends for most of us ordinary folks.
The intensity and length of your sexual escapade will impact calorie burn. Whether you're going strong for 2 minutes or 20, the harder you push it, the more calories you'll torch.
Boost your burn: Making sex a workout
If you want to take your calorie burn to the next level, follow these tips:
- Show no mercy on the duration. This one's a no-brainer: going longer means burning more calories. Just make sure your partner is on board, too.
- Raise the temperature. Get sweaty by turning up the heat. More sweat means a slight calorie-burning bump. (Just don't forget to stay hydrated, it's a workout after all!)
- Switch it up. Give your body a challenge by trying different positions. Some yoga-inspired moves, like downward dog or standing poses, could up the ante.
Health benefits beyond the burn
Burning calories is cool, but sex has a whole bunch of other health perks:
- Happy heart. Regular sex might lower your risk of heart disease - especially if you're getting busy twice a week or more! [Citation needed]
- Stress relief and bonding. After sex, your brain releases hormones like oxytocin and prolactin, which promote feelings of bonding, relaxation, and satisfaction.
- Better sleep. Having an orgasm before snoozing can lead to more restful sleep.
- Stronger pelvic floor. Pelvic floor muscles give support to your bladder, bowel, and uterus, and contracting during intercourse can make them stronger. A stronger pelvic floor can also increase sexual pleasure.
The Final Word
In conclusion, the number of calories burned during a 6-minute sex session could be anywhere between 10 to 20 calories, depending on intensity and individual factors. Calorie burn isn't the only reason to dive into some late-night passion - there are tons of health benefits to be gained from regular sex. And remember, sex should be fun and pleasurable, not just another step on the path to a bikini body.
[Citation needed]
- Although CrossFit or running may burn more calories, a 6-minute session of sex at moderate intensity could burn approximately 12 to 24 calories, while vigorous sex for half an hour could burn up to 100 calories.
- In a study of 21 straight, healthy couples, researchers found that men burned an average of 101 calories during a 24-minute sex romp, while women burned 69 calories.
- To boost your calorie burn during sex, consider prolonging the duration, raising the temperature, and experimenting with different positions.
