We’re right smack-dab in the middle of summer and let me tell you, it’s HOT outside. And depending on where you live, it is DAMN HOT outside. (Ya feel me, Florida?) You’d think with all of the heat and humidity, minimal clothing, bathing suits and skin showing everywhere, we’d all be “getting it on” a lot more in July. But I’m not so sure that’s the case.

Recent surveys show that a majority of adults, both men and women, suffer from body image issues, particularly when it comes to their weight and sex. Sadly, 79% of women and 56% of men let personal feelings about weight affect their love lives whether they are 125 lbs. or 300+ lbs. To me, this is beyond sad...it’s f-ing tragic!

So, what can you do to feel your best in your bod when showing a little extra skin? If the hottest days of the year make you feel blah instead of BAM, it’s time to work on your body image and prioritize your pleasure. Check out this guide to making the most of the opportunity to have some of the hottest sex of your life (literally and figuratively) and feel amazing from start to orgasmic finish.

Throw Your Inhibitions Out the Window

The truth is that amazing, earth-shattering sex isn’t at all about being “perfect,” having the best body or looking a certain way at the beach this summer. It’s not about obsessing over every single stretch mark, lump, bump or hair, maintaining washboard abs, or selecting the perfect “fuck me” eyeshadow shade.

Amazing, earth-shattering sex is about connecting on a level that is real, raw, passionate and far beyond the bullshit psychological constraints we’ve placed on ourselves. And believe it or not, summertime, especially when it’s insanely humid outside, can be a great reminder to us that amazing sex can be dirty, sticky, drippy, sweaty and… imperfect. (Gasp!)

Don’t believe me? Indulge me for a moment. Imagine yourself in bed with your partner on a scorching night when your air conditioner decides to break. You kick off your sheets, open your windows wide, and start begging some higher power to show mercy in the form of a small breeze. Your instincts might be telling you to roll as far away from your partner as humanly possible to avoid their intruding body heat...but what if you did the opposite? What if you rolled closer and engaged in some serious foreplay? Would there be any hidden perks? Oh, hell yes!

Four Perks of Sweaty, Summertime Sex

There are plenty of reasons to indulge in your deepest desires when the heat turns up. However, I’ve decided to focus on a few specific benefits of having sex during those steamy summer days and nights.

1. Promoting nudity. I think Christina Aguilera said it best in her hit song Dirty: “I need that, uh, to get me off, sweat until my clothes come off!” Let’s be real, the hotter it is, the more we sweat. So, ditch the PJs, peeps! If you go to bed naked, you wake up naked...and I can’t think of a better way to start the day than turned on and ready to go!
2. Letting go of imperfection. This is perhaps my favorite perk of sex in the summer. When we have hot, sticky sex, we look as though we just stepped out of the gym or even the pool. Our hair gets frizzy and sticks to our neck, our makeup smears, and we might even start smelling like sweat. This forces you to let go of perfection and just enjoy the passion. Es muy caliente!
3. Toxin release. You’re actually doing your body a favor every time you sweat during sex. Sweating flushes the body of heavy metals, cholesterol, salt and alcohol and releases toxins that notoriously clog our pores. We release endorphins (happy hormones) that help relieve anxiety. I think that’s an amazing precursor to the Big O!
4. Cold showers together. What can be more enjoyable than a fun, playful shower together after a sweaty sexcapade? Nothing! I’ll take any excuse to do this.

Toys for Summer Sex

Ready to take advantage of all these summer sex perks? Try some of these sexy toys to take things to the next level while you’re enjoying a sweaty, steamy session with a partner:

• Whips: There’s nothing like a sexy spank when you’re all sweaty.
• Remote Vibes: Catch a breather when you’re overheated by laying back and letting these remote vibes do the work.
• Fetish Games: Get in the mood with erotic games that turn you on.

It’s time for a new perspective, my friends, so I will leave you with this direct but powerful thought. SCREW BEING PERFECT! Perfect is boring as hell. Let’s be real, raw, sweaty, nasty and imperfectly ourselves. And the next time the air conditioner breaks, have a little fun with it. ;)

~Miranda Buzzlove