Sweat pours off of Nate Ouellette’s forehead. He breathes heavily, his heart fiercely beating. His throbbing muscles are flexed tightly from the adrenaline rush of the experience. He finishes and lets out a sigh of relief. It was a good jog around the track.

While there have been no major studies linking the amount of physical activity a person engages in and the quality or amount of sex they have, Stephanie Sobol, the Assistant Coordinator of Health Promotion, said the two have more in common than most would think.

Sobol, a personal trainer, said regular exercise is good for flexibility, endurance, lowering stress and overall self-confidence. According to her, these qualities help with sex.

Ouellette, a junior in mechanical engineering, said he could see how overweight people would have trouble with long periods of sex. Before he started working out his sophomore year, he would get out of breath walking to class. Now, after regular visits to the gym, he said he has more energy throughout the day.

“Students who can’t walk a mile can’t do anything for a long period of time,” Sobol said, who recommends a minimum of 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise no less than three days a week.

Erin Shroyer, a senior in business management, said being “physically fit helps you have ‘it’ longer.”

Exercising not only improves how people feel, but how they look, according to Sobol. In a world where image is such an important factor in selecting sexual partners, she said the desire for sex decreases when a partner is not physically appealing.

Rachel Russ, a sophomore in anthropology, said it is not simply a matter of showing off a good body, but rather losing inhibitions in the bedroom.

“You aren’t thinking about your own body. You are thinking about enjoying it,” Shroyer said.

Sobol said flexibility is also important to sexually active students. According to her, most students spend so much time sitting around during classes that their bodies lose flexibility. This can lead to injuries in the bedroom, such as pulling a muscle, according to Sobol.

“Students like to try new stuff,” said Ouellette. He said younger people tend to experiment more with sexual positions, which could lead to injuries if they aren’t in shape.

Both exercise and sex release endorphins, which are hormones that affect emotions, Sobol said. According to her, endorphins make people feel better and could lead to the desire for sex.

Shroyer said she agrees. “Working out gives some a natural high,” which could lead to sexual feelings.

Working out can even release a small amount of testosterone in some women. Sobol said this chemical could lead to sexual desires immediately after working out. While some people are often tired after exercise, Sobol said with a good diet, there should be plenty of excess energy afterward.

Russ disagreed. She said the only thing on her mind after a workout was a nice shower.

“After the gym, you are already sweaty, why not?” Shroyer said, jokingly.

Ouellette said the desire to have sex after the gym must just happen to females. He said he never has any kind of desire after running or lifting weights.

While fitness has many positive influences on sex, Sobol said that there is a point of too much exercise. According to her, more than 18 hours a week at the gym is extreme and not recommended.

According to Sobol, most of the studies on the correlations between sex and fitness are done for older people, typically males. Having good blood circulation is essential to sexual activity, both in women and men. Most students don’t complain about problems developing a healthy exercise regiment in college, which makes them more likely to continue as they get older, Sobol said.

Even though fitness may be linked to good sex, Sobol said there were “no guarantees.” There are too many other factors that can enhance sex, in a positive or negative way, such as smoking, drinking, depression and bad eating habits, according to her. However, she said people who are serious about their health don’t often overly indulge in these things.

“People working out are more conscious about what they put in their bodies,” she said.

Ouellette said he tries to take care of his body by watching what he eats, even though he enjoys fast food. He rewards himself with fast food when he has a good workout. But if he doesn’t hit the gym, it’s no fast food for him because he feels bad about treating his body poorly.

Whether or not there is a correlation between physical fitness and sex, Sobol said she doesn’t mind students believing there is.

“If that’s what motivates people to exercise, so be it,” she said.