This is how many calories sex really burns
When it comes to exercise, we all generally fall into one of two camps: we either love that feeling of heart-pumping, sweat-inducing movement, or we really, really don't. But whatever camp you're part of, it's likely that you've been told that having sex burns calories.
Many of us have found that our sex drive has dwindled during lockdown, but, when we do finally get down it, is there any truth to the whispers that having sex is just as effective as a workout?
So, we decided to *finally* answer the question: how many calories does sex burn?
How many calories does sex burn
Unsurprisingly, there have been several studies published in the last few years that have tackled sex and how many calories we burn during it.
One of the more recent ones, from the University of Quebec at MontrealTrusted Source, studied 21 heterosexual couples, with researchers tracking their energy expenditure during exercise and sexual activity using activity-monitoring armbands
All participants also completed a 30-minute endurance exercise session on a treadmill at a moderate intensity to compare caloric expenditure, as well as wear the tracker during an average sex session.
Results showed that women burned 69 calories (3.1 calories per minute) during sexual activity, while men burned 101 calories (4.2 calories per minute) during the 24-minute session.
However, there are ways to increase how many calories you burn during sex. Perfect Fit found that there were five key ways to up the anti during a session, including:
1.Kissing can burn 230 calories per every half hour.
2.Massaging your partner can burn 80 calories per hour.
3.Performing oral sex can burn 100 calories per half hour.
4.Using your hands more vigorously can burn 100 calories per hour.
5.The louder you are, the more you can burn— around 18-30 calories per moan, apparently.
Sex positions can also affect calorie burn. Women can burn up to 122 calories per half hour if they're on top, since this requires a lot more motion and core work. Legs up can burn 116 calories for a woman while also increasing her flexibility (yoga, who?).
Doggy style burns the least calories for women, coming in at 98 per half hour.
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