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Is Masturbation a Form of Exercise? You Be the Judge

By HERWriter
 
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In my previous article, I promised my upcoming submission would demonstrate the fitness benefits of masturbation. At the time I believed that with little effort I would find scientific articles proving my hypothesis – masturbation can improve your health in similar ways to exercise. Much to my frustration, I came across no such articles.

However, while there is no official research done on the topic, my own reading indicates that the benefits of masturbation are extremely similar to those of physical exercise. Below is an outline of some of the similarities between these two worthwhile activities. I’ll let you draw your own conclusions.

After leaving the gym, how do you feel? Proud, satisfied, optimistic? Less stressed and better able to concentrate? Do you feel connected to and aware of your body? Perhaps more self-confident? How about after masturbating?
- Exercising can produce endorphins; pleasure hormones that make you feel contented and even euphoric. There’s quite a bit of research investigating the value of physical activity for treating depression, due to this neurotransmitter.
- Masturbation stimulates the release of a number of similar neurotransmitters, including endorphins, that leave you feeling happy and sensitive to touch. The result is an identical feeling of euphoria, optimism and self-satisfaction.

- Sexual arousal during masturbation raises levels of prolactin significantly, causing a hormonal feedback loop that can inhibit the desire for food consumption.
- Exercise also stimulates a rise in the level of prolactin in your body, often resulting in temporary appetite suppression.

- Exercise helps to reduce levels of the hormone cortisol in your body, a chemical associated with stress that also builds fat in the abdominal region.
- Many women also demonstrate a lowered level of cortisol after masturbating and solo sex is widely accepted as a form of stress relief.
Just like exercise, masturbation allows you to apply mental energy to the functions of your body, allowing you to put aside thoughts of work or school or trouble at home and focus on kinesthetics. Sometimes, this distraction is all we need! But the chemical processes mentioned above certainly play an important role in stress reduction as well.

Hot tip: The alleviation of cramps and other PMS symptoms can be traced back to the reduction of cortisol and increase of prolactin that are linked to both of these activities.

One of the major benefits of physical activity is working up a sweat. This natural process and subconscious method of bodily temperature regulation helps to rid your body of toxins, cleanse your skin and inspires you to hydrate. Sweating is one of the quickest ways to shed extra pounds (in moderation) and its counterpart - drinking water - will expedite the process of clearing out your system and keeping your body working efficiently.
- Only once the body warms and begins to produce sweat during exercise is it able to reach the energy level that allows for fat burning.
- Does masturbation cause you to sweat? You better believe it. Does this mean you are burning calories? Absolutely.

- Exercise can help to build your muscles, allowing for better posture, better flexibility and easier movements. It is especially crucial in training your cardiovascular system – a series of muscles that includes your heart.
- Masturbation strengthens both your pelvic muscles and your heart, as the intensity of stimulation raises the heart rate in a similar fashion to physical activity and thus can improve cardiovascular health.

- Thanks to many of the properties above (the cleansing process, toning, release of important hormones) regular exercise and general care for your body helps to boost your immune system.
- Masturbation can help to prevent bladder infections by flushing out bad bacteria and increasing the flow of “friendly” bacteria. Similarly, women who masturbate or orgasm often are shown to have lower rates of cervical cancer and type-2 diabetes!

A rundown - boosted immunity; a chance to cleanse your system; toned muscles and a cardiovascular workout; calorie burning; stress relief; temporary appetite suppression; increased self-confidence and feelings of happiness; emotional and mental well-being; a chance to explore and familiarize yourself with your body, learning the best way to stimulate, push and nurture yourself from head to toe.

Looks like masturbation and exercise have a lot in common! Please contact me if you would like to see my information sources. And share your own opinion below!

Add a Comment20 Comments

EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I'm pretty sure that masturbation is at least like a little cardio workout... but the thing I find most amusing is that all these posts are ANONYMOUS! :)
With love from anonymous ;)

June 2, 2015 - 5:13pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I have more than a few friends who love it and swear by it for their health. Some people just cannot or do not exercise as much as they should and so masturbation allows them to fill in the gasps and keep in shape. Acceptance of masturbation as normal, healthy, necessary, has grown in the last 20 years. It no longer has the stigma of generations past and so is practiced and enjoyed more than ever before. And so using masturbation in this way, for health, is nothing to be ashamed and should be encouraged.

June 12, 2014 - 6:43am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I masturbate all the time and yes I would say it's a great workout!

April 18, 2014 - 12:45am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Awesome, i masturbate and cycle all the time, food is also another important thing so eat lots of greens, and you will be a porn star. Mind clear easy to focus. a good night sleep and change it up!!! masturbate 1st then cycle.

May 9, 2013 - 12:11pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Ok, valid point made in the article, but I wouldn't recommend supplementing actual exercise with masturbation. We live in a gyroscopic world, we must be balanced, everything in moderation. I appreciate your enthsiasm for self pleasure but I thk your article could have been a bit more responsible in terms of cautioning your readers to not supplement their workout with masturbation. Yes self pleasure so to speak has many benefits. But ancient
Oriental wisdom warns that one should deplete their sexual fluids as this may result in health issues. Great article, needs centuries of research h t

March 21, 2012 - 12:10pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

Oriental wisdom... Like Chinese medicine?
Rhino horns and all that?
HAHA!
NO!

June 2, 2015 - 5:16pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

lol, In no way shape or form is this article recommending Masturbation as a form of Cardiovascular Exercise replacement/supplement. It is merely pointing out the similarities.

May 26, 2013 - 11:45am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

Just correcting a mistake in my text above, these are the downfalls of cellphones. anyway. Correction: ''Oriental wisdom warns that one should NOT deplete their sexual fluids as this may result in health issues.'' end quote

One Should NOT deplete their sexual fluids with excessive masturbation. Once a month is recommended.

March 21, 2012 - 12:30pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

Once a month? So, you're saying any release of sexual fluids more than once a month is excessive and potentially harmful?

YOU are clueless. Your thinking is being influence by some deep Victorian era thinking. Average sex of healthy adults is 5-6 times a month.

I am 63, healthy as a horse, and have been all my life, and I have masturbated nearly everyday since was about 14.

I am an Exercise Physiologist, by education, and experience. I have been doing original research for the last 2-3 years on exactly what the original author of this article was looking for: Can masturbation be a valid form of exercise?

Unfortunately, it is difficult to find anyone to publish research on this topic, though I am still looking.

Early results show a normally healthy person, being creative can achieve above average conditioning, both muscular and aerobic via masturbation, and ONLY masturbation.

The only caution, and it is not unlike a caution given for ANY new exercise program, is start with short duration, and build on the foundation.

Some individuals have achieved true aerobic conditioning in sustained periods of masturbation of up to 80 minutes.

Also, like many forms of aerobic exercise, overuse stress injuries can be a concern. That's where the creativity comes in.

Hopefully, you will see my research published in the near future. It may well blow the lid off traditional ideas about exercise & conditioning.

May 11, 2017 - 1:55pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

LOL, Daily is recommended by many.
Never by many religious nuts.
Sorry but you don't seem to be giving any better educated information than a high school kid.

June 2, 2015 - 5:18pm
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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

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