Libido: the low-down
Is your mojo missing in action? Following a healthy lifestyle and learning to love yourself, wherever you are with your weight loss, can help get your sex drive firing again
For many of us, a fulfilling sex life figures high on our wish list, yet it somehow feels as if our spark is nowhere to be seen. Whether it’s low body confidence, fluctuating hormones or a relationship losing its fizz, it’s all too easy to get into the habit of hiding under the covers with a good book rather than making time for bedroom antics with the one we love.
There are things you can do to get your sexy back, though – and top of the list is looking after yourself and embracing a healthier lifestyle. Not convinced? In a recent survey of more than 1,000 Slimming World members, the percentage of women having sex at least once a week had risen from 43.6% before they joined to 56.9% since they’d started losing weight. And for men, it had risen from 37.3% to 51.1%. That’s what we call a result!
We all have very different sex drives, of course, so only you will know if your libido is at a normal level for you. If it does seem to be lower than usual, or if you’re disinterested in sex for a long period of time, it may indicate that something else is going on. ‘Loss of sex drive is a common problem that affects many women and men at some point, and it’s natural for it to fluctuate with physical milestones. These can include gaining and losing weight, ageing and the menopause,’ says gynaecologist Professor John Studd. That doesn’t mean you have to live with a low-powered libido. There are many ways – emotionally, mentally and physically – to help you get back in the mood.