Valentine’s Day has changed its meaning over the years:
Middle school: It was all about finding that babe’s desk so you can put a cute little “valentine” with a candy heart attached to it in her bag so she could read later.
High School:It was adorable to get your sweetie a box of chocolates, stuffed animal and a hot date to the movies.
College: Welp , nothing to remember here because your life was probably filled with bad decisions.
Post College: You either love it or think it’s one of those stupid Hallmark holidays.
Regardless, it’s always nice to get something for that special someone in your life. Or, proclaim to the world how much you hate it by watching your favorite Netflix show on the couch, in the dark eating your favorite pint of ice cream… alone. I kid I kid! We still love you which is why we are going to share examples of powerful “pairings” – real love connections – and how they relate to your health + fitness!
Pssst!….. keep reading …..I talk about SEX!
LOVE CONNECTION #1: Exercise + Sleep = HAWT & Rested
Since we spend about 1 hour every 3 of our existence on this earth SLEEPING, we mine as well talk about it a little and understand its importance. Exercise and sleep go hand in hand. If you do both more often, you will be healthier overall #consistency. For today’s little blurb, I am going to share with you how exercise aids your sleep. It’s no shocker here that if you have a better night’s sleep, you will feel better the next day. However, the quality of that sleep is not created equal. According to the National Sleep Foundation:
1.) Frequent exercisers who get at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity per day experience better sleep than their non-exercising friends.
2.) Vigorous exercisers sleep better. Those who exercise at higher intensities and longer duration than a leisurely stroll experience even better sleep. In other words, don’t be afraid to lift some weights, get your heart rate up and put your body to the test. You will be pooped by the end of the day and want to recover…in bed.
3.) Non-exercisers are the sleepiest and have a higher rate of sleep apnea. Moving your body is super beneficial to your overall health and why we recommend doing it at least 3-5x per week. Not to be morbid or anything but sleep apnea can kill you, eek! By the way, who wants to snuggle up to someone wearing one of those Darth Vader sleeping masks anyways?
Here is why I think this love connection between exercise and sleep is super important.??????
I know we are all busy but if being healthy is a priority (for your own sake, it better), you will make the time to exercise. This means better, quality sleep! And, If you sleep better you will have more energy. If you have more energy you will keep exercising, be more confident, and happier!
Love Connection #2: Lifting Weights + Sex = Enough Said
I hope to expand on this topic down the road in a blog. But for now, I will keep it short and sweet, hopefully unlike your sex life. I don’t care if you are a mother, father, married, or single. You all probably enjoy or have enjoyed sex at one time in your life. Want to make that more frequent? Here’s the lowdown why lifting weights improves your sex life:
1.) Increased levels of testosterone: – yes ladies, you too!: All exercise is beneficial but the king of it all is lifting weights. When you challenge your muscles by strength training, your body naturally increases its level of testosterone. While men have more, ladies still have some, too, just not enough to add on muscle size as easily as men. Translation: more testosterone leads to increased strength, lean muscle mass + less fat so your body becomes more defined and “tonedAF.
2.) Feel Sexier…Like Too Sexy For Your Clothes! It goes without saying when you feel better about yourself, you have more confidence and tend to walk and talk with some swag. Physically, Lifting weights makes you stronger and sculpts your body. Mentally, lifting weights make you happier and thus more confident in anything you wear (or don’t)! Don’t you agree? When you’re feeling good about how you look + feel, you want to show it off in clothing that might be form fitting or even revealing – so naughty! And duh – your mate loves confidence..it’s like a natural aphrodisiac.
3.) Less Stress, More Libido: Don’t let stress be a buzzkill to your sex life! Stress is a mood killer often associated with anxiety, depression and low energy. Lifting weights is a great way to burn off negative vibes while shaping the body you want. Constant stress can lead to increased levels of a hormone called cortisol; a culprit of weight gain and lower libido. So, in short, if you work out consistently, you’re more likely to want to have sex and your lover won’t be turned off by your constant melancholy.
