Shake up your sex life

If you're in a long term relationship, it's easy to get settled into the same old pattern with your love life. Here's how to cope when snug becomes stale.

Compare notes

If you're settled into a comfortable routine, it's easy for your sex life to follow suit. The trick is to keep talking with your partner, review the aspects of your relationship that you both take for granted, while learning to see things from their point of view. For example, you can't expect a dramatic upswing in sheet action if they're working the late shift every day. But you can set aside time for each other, no matter how booked up you both appear to be.

Get physical

Diet and exercise can have a big influence on your sexual performance. If you're out of shape then you won't be up to much in bed. Huffing and puffing might sound good, but good sex is about more than just making the right noises. Thirty minutes of exercise, three times a week, should bring you up to speed. And if you really want to make an impression in between the sheets, focus on workouts that boost your aerobic capacity and stamina.

Eat well

Let's face it, fulfilling sex rarely happens on an empty stomach. You're effectively embarking on an intense physical work out (aren't you?) which means your body needs to draw upon a plentiful supply of quick burning energy. Essentially you want a balanced diet, and food rich in carbohydrates (potato, pasta, bread, rice) will guarantee you can 'turn on the charm' at a moment's notice.

Change positions

Folks, there's more to life than the Missionary Position, just as beds aren't exclusively designed for sleeping in. Think of your pit as an Olympian arena, with a host of games on offer. Don't limit yourself to a switch in position either. Vary the time, the place (why not ban the bed?) and the duration too. A little change to the published programme can make a huge difference to your sex life, and bring you closer together too.

Reintroduce romance

From telling your other half how much you love them, to springing little surprises guaranteed to melt their heart, bringing the fluffy stuff back into your relationship could lead to greater things in the sack? It may have been there when you first got it together, but over time routine can squeeze out romance. Invite it back into your lives tonight, and reap the rewards when the lights go out.