BY JIM LARKINS

The couch potato could be in for a rude awakening. New England researchers have discovered that increased oxygen flow is critical to the success of the wanna-be sexual dynamo.

In a study conducted by the New England Research Institute, 31 percent of inactive men encountered erectile difficulties compared to only nine percent who were fit. Of the 600 middle-aged and older men who took part in the landmark Massachusetts Male Aging Study, those who took a brisk two-mile walk each day had half the risk of erectile dysfunction of sedentary men.

"If you like the idea of having sex all night, get used to the fact that your successes and failures are entirely up to you," claims Scott Hays, author of Built for Sex (Rodale, 2006). "Your entire body pays the price if your heart and lungs don’t work at peak capacity."

So, Mr. Couch Potato, get off the couch and opt for a 15- to 20-minute walk. You’ll improve your sexual performance and your health at the same time. Two big wins for you.

Looking for more sex tips? Pick up the May/June issue of Maximum Fitness--on newsstands April 6, 2010.