What's More Important: Sex or the Superbowl?

Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine

Whether you're rooting for the Giants or Patriots this year, I think you'll find this statistic surprising: Fifty percent of men and 32 percent of women ages 18 -24 say that they'd give up sex for an entire year if it meant their team could win a championship, according to a poll by Yahoo Sports.


Related: Kristen Bell Answers Your Biggest Health Questions


What gives? Well, for many people, rooting for a sports team isn't just a fun pastime -- it becomes an identity, giving people a sense of belonging to a community with a strong, shared passion. This communal relationship is so strong in some cases, that it actually trumps one-on-one intimacy! When people are born and bred to root for a team, we can't underestimate the depths of that commitment. You and your friends and family experience the good times together (Superbowl!) and the bad (a losing season...an injured QB). And that sense of belonging, and group bonding, is an essential ingredient in happiness.


Related: 21 Good-For-You Snacks


Now it's one thing to say it's the Giants or the highway in the weeks leading up to the big game -- but is it really healthy to say you'd sacrifice a year's worth of sex for the thrill of a big win? Probably not. Sharing a collective enthusiasm with people can be great, but if it starts limiting you personally -- or if your primary relationship becomes between you and your sports team, you may want to scale back the intensity. If you find yourself, or your partner, reaching the point where you're unable to focus on anything else, try committing to one football-free night together per week.


See More: 6 Secrets to Firing Up Your Metabolism


However, there is a time and place for do-or-die sports fanaticism! Enjoy the camaraderie of it for now...live it up at tailgates, reserve your seats at your favorite sports bar. If you're going to be extreme in your commitment, let it be over these next two weeks rather than 365 days per year!



More From SELF:
Yoga Moves for Flat Abs
20 Superfoods for Weight Loss
Jillian Michaels: How to Lose Two Pounds a Week
The Healthiest Cities for Women