?Last Thing That Should Be on Your Mind?: Arnold Schwarzenegger Busts the Myth Related to ?Sex and Performance? in the Gym

76-year-old Arnold Schwarzenegger is still going strong in the gym. Despite his age, the bodybuilding icon regularly bikes to Gold’s Gym and trains for around 45 minutes. However, the former Mr. Olympia doesn’t just want to keep himself fit but also helps others find time for fitness in their daily lives through his newsletter. One way he helps people is through demystifying fitness.

Arnold Schwarzenegger started his daily newsletter, Arnold’s Pump Club, in January. Since then, the former Mr. Universe has busted several exercise and diet-related myths, enriching his readers’ knowledge. In his newsletter, the bodybuilding icon cleared the misconceptions about “the relationship between sex and performance.”

Arnold Schwarzenegger uncovers the truth

For decades, many sports, including bodybuilding, have equated sex to lowering performance during training. Hence, many athletes abstain from the act, especially before a competition or tournament. While there is some truth behind the practice, Schwarzenegger turned to science to dispel the topic for good.

“Scientists found that having sex anywhere from 30 minutes to 24 hours before exercise does not boost or harm your aerobic fitness, musculoskeletal endurance, strength, or power,”?wrote the bodybuilding icon. However, Schwarzenegger also shared a study that found minimal impact on lower body strength.

“Subjects who had sex the night before their workout saw a five-pound decrease in lower body strength,”?the 76-year-old wrote. These scientists measured the stats of the subjects’ five-rep max squat. However, he also asked if a five-pound strength increase was a worthy trade-off because the primal act also had health benefits.

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While Schwarzenegger left the decision to make the trade-off to the reader, he listed the benefits. The former Mr. Olympia explained that research showed coitus supports burns around 150 calories. The seven-time Mr. Universe even joked that it was cardio. Besides burning calories, it also?“supports immune function, lowers stress and blood pressure levels, and is linked with reducing the risk of heart disease,”?Arnie wrote.

After presenting all the facts, the bodybuilding icon concluded sex doesn’t have a significant impact on regular workouts. Hence, worrying about it should be the?“last thing that should be on your mind,”?Arnie wrote in his newsletter. Needlessly worrying about it might have a bigger impact than the act itself.

While not as talked about as other myths, the myth about sex and performance decrease has persisted for ages. However, Arnold Schwarzenegger dismissed the myth with scientifically backed arguments.

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