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Relationship & Sex Guide

Read some Sex Tips from Tracey Cox, Sex Expert.

LighterLife has produced a sex and relationship online guide for those who have experienced changes to their situation resulting from weight loss or weight gain.

 

This guide has been prepared by Mandy Cassidy, LighterLife’s Programme Specialist, who holds a masters degree in psychotherapy.

 

When I am losing weight, and I become more attractive to other people, how do I stop my partner becoming jealous?

  • Pay them lots of attention.
  • Ask to spend more time with them, suggest things you could do together.
  • Ask them what they like you wearing…go shopping together…dress for them……. (don’t forget yourself).
  • Hold hands together.
  • Listen to their worries, they could be very frightened of losing you.

 

I am not used to feeling sexy - how do I build my confidence?

  • Buy well fitting sexy underwear and enjoy wearing them.
  • Buy clothes in soft sexy material and enjoy the feel next to your body. Cashmere, silk, leather…….
  • Watch your favorite sexy/romantic movies and allow yourself to enjoy them fully.
  • Treat yourself to great lighting in the bedroom and lounge.
  • Bathe in candlelight. In the bath or shower become aware of the touch of your body. Get to know what is pleasurable for you.
  • Buy yourself some sex toys and enjoying playing with them.
  • Look at yourself in the mirror, practice walking, turning, being sexy, have fun. Dress up for yourself; admire your breasts/chest, your legs, your neck etc.
  • Get a good friend to take sexy photos of you. Be a model for a few hours. Print these out and put them up somewhere special.
  • Walk down the High Street and take notice of any looks you get! Hold your head up high.
  • Send affirmations to yourself three times a day;  ‘I am sexy and desirable’.
  • Go dancing.

 

 

Our love life has gone cold – how do I turn the temperature up?

Start at the beginning.

  • Make yourself feel special. Make your partner feel special.
  • Go on dates together, put it in your diaries. Enjoy a romantic film together, dress upand set the table with candles and flowers.
  • Surprise your partner, buy flowers, a new perfume or aftershave, and send them a romantic card. Get a new haircut or buy something special to wear.
  • Buy yourself (and your partner) sexy nightwear.
  • Exercise, feel healthy, energetic and look better.
  • Walk together in the cold; get that glow in your skin back.
  • Try something new together-break old habits.
  • Meet after work for a drink…try one glass of champagne or fizzy water in a champagne flute!

 

Now - don’t rush to bed - take your time to get to know yourself and your partner.

 

  • Take turns to do something nice for each other (not sexual).
  • Tell your partner what you want them to do…don’t be shy…start with the little things like stroking your neck or the backs of your knees. Ask your partner what they like, give them a treat. Give them a massage, comb their hair, rub their feet.  If you feel too shy to ask directly write down what you would like on separate pieces of paper and put them in a bowl. Ask your partner to pick one. You could work through all the suggestions over the coming week / weeks.  You could even add to the bowl as you get more daring.
  • Agree when you will do this together…...and for how long. Set it up with music, candles and turn the mobiles off. Agree you will not have sex at this time…no matter how much you might want to!
  • Progress to sexual touchingon the following date, but still no full sex, hold back. This can allow both of you to relax and enjoy each other with no pressure to perform.
  • Tell your partner what you particularly like. What you would like more of, how softer, longer etc. Begin to talk together.   Use a code; 1 – 10 with 10 being ecstasy.
  • Read a sex manual together and talk about what turns you on…but don’t do it at this time…resist the pleasure.
  • Do not aim for orgasm, in fact this is not allowed yet!

 

And so to bed…..

  • Do not rush…set it up like a date…….soft music, flowers….what ever turns you both on. Take your time……..agree no sex for 45 minutes (or however long works for you both).
  • Do not drink too much or eat a heavy rich meal.
  • Choose a time when you are not going to be disturbed and are not exhausted.
  • Get a babysitter if need be.
  • It can be daytime you know?

 

 

I haven’t flirted for years – how do I do it?

  • Listen to the other person, this is the sexiest thing you can do. Be interested in them; stop trying to impress them with you.
  • Make eye contact, smile.
  • Match their body language.
  • Be subtle.
  • Watch the experts in films, on the TV, singers.
  • Join a dance class.

 

Once my confidence is greater, how do I go about finding a new partner?

  • Go out; forget about the night at home.
  • Accept every offer to socialize, be out and about and join in.
  • Ask your friends to introduce you to single people.
  • Join an Internet dating website, they really do work!
  • Meet up with people for coffee, a drink or lunch.
  • Take up a new hobby that involves other people.
  • Let go of the image of the person you think will suit you…… be open to surprises.

 

How can I learn to like my body?

  • By using it.  Use it to move, to dance, to sing, to play, to wiggle, to sway, to run, to jump, to swim……
  • Treat it with respect and care; feed it well, rest it well, exercises its well, talk to it kindly……… thank it for putting up with you!
  • Admire it, take time to appreciate it, look at it kindly, dress it carefully, pamper it…..
  • Write a letter to it, thanking it for all the wonderful things it has done to you E.g. having babies, giving you energy, giving you pleasure, putting up with your unkind words, being healthy, being sexy……
  • Accept it for what it is and let go of what it isn’t.
  • It’s the only one you’ve got so enjoy it.

 

How can I spice up my sex life?

  • Do it somewhere new.
  • Do it at a different time.
  • Do it in different positions.
  • Do it on a different day
  • Do it alone.
  • Do it to your partner, let your partner do it to you.
  • Do it with sex toys.
  • Do it with a movie.
  • Do it the way you’ve always wanted but never dared ask.
  • Do the way your partner wants but never dared ask.
  • Do it slowly / fast, change the rhythm.
  • Do it on the phone.
  • Do it according to the manual (your new sex manual)
  • Do it quietly / noisily.
  • Do it as your favorite hero or heroine.
  • Do it for fun!
  • Do it today.