Dear Half Mast, I’m glad you asked this. I know it’s a difficult subject to talk about. Men especially are shy about dealing with sexual problems so I’m glad you took it upon yourself to write me. In the end you’ll be glad you did. First of all, many people have had great success with Viagra. I know a number of people who’ve taken it with positive results. Remember that Bob Dole commercial a few years ago? He wasn’t shy about taking it. Your doctor would be the best person to talk to about starting any medication. Since I’m not a doctor I’ll leave that up to the medical profession. What I can tell is that there are definitely some other alternatives. Since I’m a fitness expert I can tell you about some surprising new research that really shows how exercise can help your husband’s bedroom performance. One of the ways Viagra works is that it increases blood flow to the pelvic area. New research shows that for some people exercise can be as effective as Viagra in dealing with erectile dysfunction or maintaining erections. A two year study at the Cologne University Medical Center in Germany found that exercise does indeed make a difference. Here’s how they did the study. They took 104 men with erectile problems. Some were given Viagra, some a course of exercise and some no treatment at all. What they found was that overall, 80 percent of men who exercised reported better erections compared with 74 percent who took Viagra. The results surprised everyone including the head researcher Dr. Frank Sommer. He told Reuters Health, “But we were surprised it [exercise] was so effective.” The exercise program that helped the men was simple. Aimed at improving blood flow to the pelvis, buttocks and upper leg muscles, the exercises included leg squats and pelvic and leg lifts. So here’s what you can you do at home to beef up your sex life: Leg Squats: Stand with your feet about shoulder width apart. Bend your legs so that it feels like your sitting in a chair while keeping your back as straight as possible. When your thighs are just about parallel to the floor slowly stand up. Do one set of 10 repetitions then slowly increase to 3 sets of 10. Start with no weight at all then add a pair of dumbbells holding them in your hands directly by your side. You’ll really feel these exercises in your buttocks and upper legs. Leg Lifts: Lie on your back with your hands directly by your side or underneath your butt for more support. Your knees should be slightly bent. Using your abdominal muscles, raise your legs toward your chest for two counts then slowly lower back to the starting position for 4 counts. Don’t let your legs touch the floor. Start with 1 set of 10 repetitions then slowly increase to 3 sets of 10. Pelvic Lift: Lie on your back with your knees bent and your arms directly by your side. Squeeze your buttocks together and lift your pelvis off the floor as far as you can without straining your back. Hold for 2 counts then slowly lower for 4 counts without letting your buttocks touch the floor. Start with 1 set of 10 repetitions then slowly increase to 3 sets of 10. Cardio training: Running, brisk walking, or biking increases blood flow through your entire body (including where it counts in the bedroom). You’ll also find that cardio activities can help improve your overall mood and emotional health. Sometimes erectile problems can be emotional as much as physical. © Joe Decker 2003 |