Make Sex Life Healthy & Happy

The truth about cardio, calories, and more... Whenever I start a new health and fitness plan, I'm always bombarded with what's usually unsolicited advice on what I need to do (or not do) in order to be successful. It's overwhelming. We're taught to believe you shouldn't eat before bed, you have to eat after a workout, you need to fuel up on protein and skip the carbs—the list goes on and on. So, it's hard to know if you're really screwed if you don't follow these "rules" or if it's open to interpretation. While some of these common suggestions and "myths" aren't completely false or meant to be disregarded, many are definitely misunderstood. So, we went to the experts to clarify exactly how these fitness myths can be applied to reaching your health and fitness goals—and which can be ignored altogether! After you check 'em out, don't miss our report on the   24 Things No One Ever Tells You About the Gym! ...

For most couples, things can cool off over time. Here's how to rekindle the fire. 1. Recognize sex is good for both of you If sex is becoming a chore, try to blot out the negatives and realize instead that your bedroom athletics have a lot of positive health benefits,” says Brett McCann, senior lecturer in sexual health at the University of Sydney in Australia. “Recent research shows sex lowers the frequency of fatal heart attacks, burns calories, and decreases breast cancer in men.” Other research has suggested that for young men, having frequent ejaculations decreases the risk of prostate cancer in later life, and that people who have regular intercourse have better stress responses and lower blood pressure. Sex can even help you avoid getting sick, according to a study. How? Possible theories include that sexually active people may have more immunity since they are exposed to many more infectious agents than non-sexually active people. It may also boost the...

Don't settle for so-so sex. Last longer and boost satisfaction with these simple diet additions, scientifically-proven and extensively researched (hey, get your mind out of the gutter) by  Eat This, Not That! . There are certain things you definitely don't want to last very long—like dentist appointments, visits with the in-laws, and hangovers. Something that would never top that list? Sex. When you hit the sheets with your significant other or a new flame, the last thing you want is to finish too soon. Although no one wants to be a minuteman, research shows that you don't have to go all night to please your partner either. A  Journal of Sexual Medicine  study reports that the average time couples spend bumpin' and grindin' ranges from three to 13 minutes. Other research reveals that most women want "sexy time" to last between 15 and 25 minutes—not for hours like some people might think. Regardless, nothing bad can come from going at it...