Oftentimes, the conversation around exercise is unfortunately dominated by aesthetics and weight loss rather than the amazing health and life benefits it can offer — but for many women, building a consistent movement routine hasn’t just shifted how they feel in their bodies day-to-day, but it also had a surprising impact on how they experience intimacy, desire and connection, too.

From unexpected boosts in libido to, well, feeling the opposite way, the impact of exercise on our sex lives can be both subtle and surprisingly powerful.

As with anything sex-related, it's key to remember that everyone’s experience is different and it's not a competition to be swinging from the chandeliers. There’s no 'right' level of desire, no ideal frequency, and no expectation that exercise should change anything at all (for some, it probably won't — and that's ok!). But hearing how other women have navigated these shifts can be reassuring, especially if you’ve ever wondered whether your own experiences are ‘normal’.

Here, 16 women share the surprising ways their sex lives changed when they started moving their bodies differently.

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16 women on how working out changed their sex lives

  1. "I just feel more confident when I have muscle, so I think the results of weightlifting affect my libido. The high I get from running affects my libido directly, as I feel more energetic for several hours after a good run." [via]
  2. "I feel friskier when I do just enough exercise to elevate my heart rate a bit and sweat a little, but once I get really sweaty and exhausted I have no interest in sex." [via]
  3. "[Since doing Pilates five days a week] not only have general things in my life have improved (metabolism set for the day, serotonin levels boosted) but I’ve been a stronger partner when it comes to sex. My quads and abs can stabilise better and I can carry more momentum in my moves at any pace I want. Also I’ve been hitting my goal steadily for weight loss since I’ve joined. Love what I’m doing for my body!" [via]
  4. " I was a personal trainer and taught aerobics, as well as weightlifting classes. I am probably hornier now that I don't do those things and am physically slightly fitter than average." [via]
  5. "I seem to have much less need/interest in sex when I'm more active in other ways." [via]
  6. "It depends on whether I've been eating enough to support that exercise, I'm the type who beats themselves up mentally and overdoes it at the gym. I'll be the first to admit that eating enough to support certain levels of fitness is a fucking chore. When I've been keeping on top of the eating I feel amazing. I feel strong and very sexy. When I'm slipping up on the diet, I feel tired and my libido is meh [...] I love the endorphins a good run gives me but it doesn't really do much for my libido. Lifting does a great deal." [via]
  7. "The real changes I noticed is more endurance (especially when I'm on top) and I also started feeling more confident about my body the more toned I got, so I guess it had both a physical and mental impact." [via]
  8. "I danced, played tennis and ran (still do!). I’d love to tell you it made me incredibly graceful, with amazing endurance and sexy moves you wouldn’t believe but honestly, after all that, I was sometimes too damn tired for sex." [via]
  9. "I lift weights and do bodyweight workouts, it took a while but it significantly increased my libido. It was always lower than my friends, now it’s about even!" [via]
  10. "It dramatically increased my libido. I also have a lot of endurance and flexibility. It's hard to find a partner that can keep up with me, honestly." [via]
  11. "It made me only interested in athletic partners, so I guess it changed that aspect of my life!" [via]
  12. "It makes me more confident in my body, which in turn makes me feel sexy and have fun being sexy for my partner. I don’t have any interest in sex outside relationships, so idk if I’m having sex more or less than friends. Also, rigorous physical activity gets my blood pumping and I feel really horny afterwards. It increased my libido." [via]
  13. "Once I started working out multiple times a week instead of the usual once a month I found myself to want to have sex more often. And the sex was usually better. I felt sexier. 10/10 would recommend." [via]
  14. "I like being naked more when I’m doing my fitness routine." [via]
  15. "I have been bodybuilding for a few years now and since starting to lift heavy, I've seen my body change a lot. I love the muscle I've gained and love how I look when I work out. So much so, that I sometimes find myself getting turned on [...] My sex drive has gone through the roof and sometimes I even find myself working out multiple times a day just because I want to get that thrill and sexual stimulation from seeing my body flex and grow." [via]
  16. "Pilates has improved the quality of my sex life in such a big way. The grip, the flexibility and strength to switch up and stay in challenging positions, and the body awareness and confidence from that awareness has done wonders. I have a very athletic partner and I feel like Pilates has helped me match his energy in such an amazing and hot way. This is just one major highlight of like a 100 that Pilates has given me." [via]