Tag Archives: Matter

Does It Matter How Often You Work Out?

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Can’t drag yourself to the gym today? Don’t sweat it—just log extra time tomorrow. When it comes to a few major exercise health benefits, it doesn’t matter how frequently you work out, as long as you get at least a total of 150 minutes of physical activity each week, according to new research published in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism.

The researchers analyzed a nationally representative sample of 2,324 active Canadian adults who participated in the Canadian Health Measures Survey. Everyone in the study did at least 150 minutes of moderately intense to vigorous activity per week, but some people broke it up into five to seven weekly sessions, while others worked out one to four times a week. Both groups’ risk of health conditions like metabolic syndrome, obesity, high blood pressure, high blood fats and cholesterol, and high blood sugar was about the same. That said, the people who exercised for the most cumulative minutes per week were the healthiest.

That’s because the total amount, type, and intensity of activity all have a much greater affect on your body than frequency, says study author Ian Janssen, PhD, associate professor at the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies at Queen’s University in Canada.

So does this mean you can just work out for two and a half hours and then call it a day for the rest of the week? Not quite. The researchers didn’t look at the one-day-a-week option specifically (just one-to-four days, and five-to-seven), so it’s a stretch to say that you can work out just once and see the same health benefits as hitting the gym daily.

Also, while fewer, longer gym sessions might lower your cardiovascular risk factors, they won’t necessarily help you meet your fitness goals, like training for a big race or losing weight—and could even lead to joint irritation and muscle soreness, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee Report.

The bottom line: If you can’t squeeze in regular workouts, it’s OK to do two or three longer workouts each week—but exercising more frequently for shorter periods is still the ideal.

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

More from WH:
Do You Work Out Enough?
Your Body On Exercise
Strength-Training Vs. Cardio: Which Is Better?

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Does It Matter How Fit Your Doctor Is?

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Does your general practitioner know whether you’re a runner or a Zumba junkie? If your answer is no, your doc’s probably sedentary, according to a new study. Healthcare providers who are physically active are more likely to talk to their patients about exercising, finds recent research presented at a conference hosted by the American Heart Association a couple of weeks ago.

Researchers did a systematic review of 24 observational studies that involved multiple types of healthcare providers, including physicians, nurses, and pharmacists. In 23 out of 24 of the studies, there was a significant association between healthcare providers’ activity level and their counseling. In the six studies that allowed for direct comparison, active doctors were two to five times more likely than non-active ones to have the fitness talk with their patients.

If a healthcare provider values exercise and finds time for it, it’s easier for him or her to discuss all of those details with patients, says Felipe Lobelo, MD, PhD, an epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion and co-author of the study. “So in this sense, practicing what your preach makes a difference,” he says.

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

More from Women’s Health:
6 Traits to Look for in a Doctor
Do You Really Need an Annual Checkup?
Get the Most Out of Your Doctor’s Appointment

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New Study: Penis Size DOES Matter

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Okay, okay. Turns out that bigger may actually be better. Sometimes.

Women who have frequent vaginal orgasms are more likely to say they have an easier time hitting the high notes with men who have longer penises, according to a recent study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine.

Researchers asked 323 women (primarily university students in their 20s) to answer questions about their previous sexual encounters. Out of these, 160 had experienced vaginal-only orgasms and also had enough partners to compare size experiences, so researchers focused on this group for more analysis. They found that the participants who reported the highest number of vaginal Os were most likely to say that a longer penis was a better bet.

Which makes sense, if you think about it. “Women experience sexual stimulation, arousal, and orgasm in a wide spectrum of ways, so it would make sense that for women who enjoy vaginal stimulation (it’s their stimulation of choice), that they would really like large penises,” says certified sex therapist Gina Ogden, Ph.D., author of Women Who Love Sex. “The large penis not only stimulates the vaginal walls, but it can possibly stimulate the G spot.”

That said, no need to feel discouraged by a man who’s not so well-endowed. For starters, most women can’t achieve orgasm through vaginal penetration alone, so a big penis alone isn’t going to be sufficient for them. (Looking for a way to overcome orgasm obstacles? Conquer these five common detractors.) Plus, even if you are one of the lucky few who can climax from penetration alone, orgasm doesn’t necessarily equal satisfaction.

“My research says that what really satisfies women is the connection that they feel—if they feel noticed, cared for, if they feel loved, wanted,” says Ogden. “If women do not feel that connection, they may have an orgasm, but it may not satisfy them.” Besides, while large penises can be a “great pleasure,” they may also cause you pain if they bump up against your cervix, she says. (Is pain down there ruining your sex life? Use these tips to make sex less painful.)

So while a man with a larger penis might have a better chance at helping you reach the Big O (through vaginal stimulation alone), it still depends on the guy himself—and how he makes you feel, according to Ogden.

“Size isn’t everything,” says Ogden. “It’s about the heart. It’s about the heart-to-heart connection as well as the genitals.”

photo: Goodshoot/Thinkstock

More from WH:
Is Facebook Ruining Your Sex Life?
The Weirdest Ways to Orgasm
The Better Sex Diet
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