How many calories do you burn during sex?

New year comes with new resolutions. We want to feel fitter, move more and feel better about ourselves. But moving doesn’t always have to mean working through a routine in your workout clothes. Sex is a form of physical exercise that’s often underestimated. It’s intimate, enjoyable and surprisingly physically active. An ideal combination.

Why sex is an ideal workout

A lot more happens during sex than you may think. Your heart rate goes up, your muscles join in, your breathing speeds up and your body produces all sorts of substances that have an effect on your energy and mood. This doesn’t only make sex pleasurable, but a surprisingly effective form of exercise too. You use your core, hips, legs, glutes and sometimes even your arms in a much more intense way than with many everyday activities.

Research from the University of Montreal shows that, on average, women burn between seventy to a hundred calories during a twenty-five minute sexual encounter. This is comparable to brisk walking or a leisurely bike-ride, but significantly more pleasurable.

How many calories do you burn exactly?

How many calories you burn depends on how active you are, how long you keep at it and especially on the position. Some positions require more muscle strength, balance or rhythm than others. So, your calory burn can vary quite a bit. Below, a realistic, playful estimate of the calories you burn per position.

Calory burn per position

Missionary is one of the more relaxed positions. You move rhythmically, your muscles are active but the impact remains gentle. On average, you burn three to four calories per minute.

Cowgirl is much more demanding for women. Your rhythm, core and legs are fully engaged, increasing the calory burn to about six calories per minute. Reverse cowgirl falls in the same category and, due to the position, can be even more demanding on your abs.

Doggy is moderate in intensity. Your hips and glutes get to work and movement can range from gentle to very active. Five to six calories per minute is a realistic estimate.

Standing sex is physically more intense than many people think. You simultaneously use muscle groups for balance, stability and strength, which can increase your calory burn by up to six to eight calories per minute.

Seated positions are gentler. Think lap or chair poses. You stay closer together, move more slowly and burn about two to three calories per minute.

Bridge variations and positions that keep your hips elevated for a long time or require significant support can burn up to ten calories per minute. That’s more than some short fitness exercises.

A quickie can burn a surprising amount of calories. Because of the pace and intensity, you can easily burn five to seven calories per minute, despite its short duration.

The best way to stick to your resolutions

The great thing about these figures isn’t that you should suddenly use sex as a training method. It’s just great that sex is a form of movement that arises naturally from desire, curiosity and pleasure. You move, engage muscles and your heart rate goes up without you consciously having to work for it.