Believe it or not, sex is one of the ways I practice self-care. I personally believe that along with our spiritual rituals, it's important to make sure our bodies are feeling uplifted and elevated too. There's something about a good orgasm that releases my stress and allows my body to fully experience every stroke and gut-tingling feeling.
I believe that the vibe of sex in the morning is completely different than at night. At night, sex gives me everything I need to unwind from a long day and puts me right to sleep, but morning sex gives me a little extra mmph. Occasionally, I would opt out of my cup of coffee or tea, and enjoy the D instead. Don't get me wrong, you can get it in at any time, but let me put you on to a few benefits of squeezing in a quickie before the start of your day:
Getty Images
You Tend To Be In A Better Mood After.
Assuming your partner knows how to get you off, sex tends to put you in a way better mood. After sex, I get this smile and afterglow that would make you think I just been touched by the holy ghost. Whenever we have sex, we tend to release a variety of chemicals, like epinephrine (adrenaline) and dopamine (the feel-good chemical) for example. When dopamine is released, it causes the same type of pleasure and happiness as listening to your favorite song or receiving good news.
I believe how you start your morning impacts the rest of your day, so why not start off in the best possible mood?
It Gives You An Extra Energy Boost.
Sex can give you an even better boost energy boost in the morning. The more exercise you do, the more it increases your energy. Studies have shown you can burn up to 144 calories per half hour of sex, so I'll let you determine how many calories you have time to burn in the morning. Certain positions allow you to burn more calories than others. Cowgirl position is ideal, but a few of my favorites are the squatting cowgirl, the planted cowgirl, and missionary with my legs all the way up.
Getty Images
It Boosts Confidence Levels.
When it comes to sex, we all take turns being the pleaser and it has its benefits. The feeling of completely satisfying your partner and making him/her orgasm is a huge confidence booster. I can't lie, I feel really good hearing every "damn" and "oh shit" and honestly it makes me want to get nastier and more adventurous. If done with the right person, sex can also make you forget all of your insecurities, the things that we may fuss about like being desired, wanted, valued, and catered to, and it feels good.
You deserve to wake up every day feeling like your best self and if a quickie helps then do you, girl!
We all know that the way we start our morning impacts the way the rest of our day will go so if being on top helps me feel on top, then I'm down. Even if it's not something you can see yourself doing every day, start during the weekend and explore the different ways to increase your energy to start your day on a high note.
Featured image by Getty Images.
- 7 Cowgirl Positions That Will Give You The Ride Of Your Life - xoNecole: Women's Interest, Love, Wellness, Beauty ›
- 7 Riding Sex Positions, Girl On Top - xoNecole: Women's Interest, Love, Wellness, Beauty ›
- Benefits of early morning sex – Punch Newspapers ›
- Professor reveals benefits of early morning sex - Daily Post Nigeria ›
- 5 Reasons Why Morning Sex Is Better Than Night Sex ›
- Admit it, ladies: you hate morning sex - and now science is on your ... ›
- Why you should have sex in the morning - Times of India ›
- What are the benefits of having morning sex? | Sex and ... ›
- 7 Benefits Of Morning Sex: Let Love Dawn On You ›
- 10 Scientific, Practical Reasons Why Morning Sex Should Be a ... ›
- 6 health benefits of morning sex ›
- 3 Benefits Of Morning Sex, Plus Science Reveals Best Day And ... ›
In a xoNecoleexclusive, the iconic actress opens up about embracing this season of her life, new projects, and overall being a “bad motherfucker.” Gabrielle reveals that she was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with perimenopause and is still going through it at 51 years old. Mayo Clinic says perimenopause “refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years.”
“I haven't crossed over the next phase just yet, but I think part of it is when you hear any form of menopause, you automatically think of your mother or grandmother. It feels like an old-person thing, but for me, I was 37 and like not understanding what that really meant for me. And I don't think we focus so much on the word menopause without understanding that perimenopause is just the time before menopause,” she tells us.
Gabrielle Union
Photo by Brian Thomas
"But you can experience a lot of the same things during that period that people talk about, that they experienced during menopause. So you could get a hot flash, you could get the weight gain, the hair loss, depression, anxiety, like all of it, mental health challenges, all of that can come, you know, at any stage of the menopausal journey and like for me, I've been in perimenopause like 13, 14 years. When you know, most doctors are like, ‘Oh, but it's usually about ten years, and I'm like, ‘Uhh, I’m still going (laughs).’”
Conversations about perimenopause, fibroids, and all the things that are associated with women’s bodies have often been considered taboo and thus not discussed publicly. However, times are changing, and thanks to the Gabrielle’s and the Tia Mowry’s, more women are having an authentic discourse about women’s health. These open discussions lead to the creation of more safe spaces and support for one another.
“I want to be in community with folks. I don't ever want to feel like I'm on an island about anything. So, if I can help create community where we are lacking, I want to be a part of that,” she says. “So, it's like there's no harm in talking about it. You know what I mean? Like, I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change. I'm just getting better and stronger and more intelligent, more wise, more patient, more compassionate, more empathetic. All of that is very, very welcomed, and none of it should be scary.”
The Being Mary Jane star hasn’t been shy about her stance on therapy. If you don’t know, here’s a hint: she’s all for it, and she encourages others to try it as well. She likens therapy to dating by suggesting that you keep looking for the right therapist to match your needs. Two other essential keys to her growth are radical transparency and radical acceptance (though she admits she is still working on the latter).
"I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change."
Gabrielle Union and Kaavia Union-Wade
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
“I hope that a.) you recognize that you're not alone. Seek out help and know that it's okay to be honest about what the hell is happening in your life. That's the only way that you know you can get help, and that's also the only other way that people know that you are in need if there's something going on,” she says, “because we have all these big, very wild, high expectations of people, but if they don't know what they're actually dealing with, they're always going to be failing, and you will always be disappointed. So how about just tell the truth, be transparent, and let people know where you are. So they can be of service, they can be compassionate.”
Gabrielle’s transparency is what makes her so relatable, and has so many people root for her. Whether through her TV and film projects, her memoirs, or her social media, the actress has a knack for making you feel like she’s your homegirl. Scrolling through her Instagram, you see the special moments with her family, exciting new business ventures, and jaw-dropping fashion moments. Throughout her life and career, we’ve seen her evolve in a multitude of ways. From producing films to starting a haircare line to marriage and motherhood, her journey is a story of courage and triumph. And right now, in this season, she’s asking, “What’s next?”
“This is a season of discovery and change. In a billion ways,” says the NAACP Image Award winner. “The notion of like, ‘Oh, so and so changed. They got brand new.’ I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
"I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
She continues, “So I'm just trying to figure out what's next. You know what I mean? I'm jumping into what's next. I'm excited going into what's next and new. I'm just sort of embracing all of what life has to offer.”
Look out for Gabrielle in the upcoming indie film Riff Raff, which is a crime comedy starring her and Jennifer Coolidge, and she will also produce The Idea of You, which stars Anne Hathaway.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images
