Opening Up About What You Need Sexually

by Linda Franklin

Opening Up About What You Need Sexually  Linda Franklin The Real Cougar WomanWomen know what they need to be sexually fulfilled but they are not good about communicating that information to their man.

If you were totally honest about what turns you on, what would you be sharing with your partner?

Here’s what some woman have said:

 

 

  • ‘It takes me longer to orgasm than you – don’t rush me’

    In order to feel like sex, I need to be emotionally turned on, as well as physically stimulated.

  • Words are aphrodisiacs to me. If you want more sex, talk to me more.
  • The more housework you do, the more I will feel like sex. I’ll be less tired and will feel more like an equal partner than a slave.
  • I also want to initiate sex but I don’t have time to work up an appetite if you make a move on me daily.
  • It takes me longer to orgasm than you and it’s more difficult. Don’t rush me.
  • Be gentler. My skin is thinner and more sensitive than yours. What feels normal to you, often hurts me.
  • Don’t assume I only want romantic sex. I’m also up for wilder, lustier sex now and then.
  • Don’t hassle me for sex after I’ve said no. It makes me feel unsexy, rather than turned on.
  • Accept that I’m probably not going to orgasm purely through intercourse. I need clitoral stimulation.. This doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy intercourse, it’s just the way my body is designed.

If you’re not getting what you need to be sexually satisfied – try asking for it.  Any man worth his salt will appreciate your input.

The Real Cougar Woman is a 5-carat diamond who knows the importance of taking care of her health, beauty, relationships, finances and spirituality. Linda Franklin says,”there is no stopping a woman who has a strong belief system, passion and a dream. All things are possible”. Linda’s book, Don’t Ever Call Me Ma’am helps women of all ages tap into their power and live life to the fullest.

Friends With Benefits or Friends With Complications?

By Suzanne Phillips, Psy.D., ABPP

Friends With Benefits or Friends With Complications? Suzanne Phillips The Real Cougar WomanAccording to the urban dictionary, ‘friends with benefits’ are defined as “Two friends who have a sexual relationship without being emotionally involved.”

Wait a minute… didn’t someone say that once people see each other naked they can’t be friends?

In my experience working with people, I have found that those who have acted on what is now termed, “friends with benefits” often end up as “friends with complications” – or not friends at all.

Both men and women who sleep with a friend often start out believing, or telling themselves and each other  “It’s no big deal. Why not?”

The reality seems to be that it is a big deal emotionally – if not for both, often for one. Sleeping with a friend changes the definition of the relationship in terms of physical boundaries, emotional connection, conscious and unconscious expectations, view of self and other.

Whatever ground rules are set, adding sexual intimacy to friendship ushers in more than sexual release:

  • For some it brings to the surface a wish to be loved, a desire for more connection than was intended.
  • For some it escalates a fear of being trapped by expectations that change the comfort of the friend connection.
  • For those who feel caring and protective of each other, there is a fear of being exploited or guilt for exploiting.
  • For others a feeling of exposure limits the previous freedom of disclosure – Can you really tell the friend, with whom you just slept, of your interest in another man or woman?   Can you really complain about your weight gain or hair loss to a friend without complicating sexual desire with self-consciousness?
  •  For many, there is a lingering feeling of not being good enough to be the real spouse, lover or committed partner – only the sexual friend.
  • For too many, it jeopardizes the friendship because it collides with the many other roles friends freely choose to play in each other’s lives.

If people are really friends – they were enjoying mutual “benefits” long before they decided to sleep together.

  • Friends, whether at age six or eighty-six, are crucial ingredients in physical and emotional well-being.
  • Friends are the “peers” and “chums” who offer inclusion, belonging, learning and laughter.
  • Long time friends are the mile markers who bear witness to who we were, what we have faced, and how we have arrived.
  • Friends are the people who offer a different view than family or become a second family.
  • Friends are the people who meet our family and become extended family.
  • Friends are the people that mirror passions and expand our lives beyond our partners.
  • Friends are the people who have attunement to a special dimension that we value in ourselves.
  • Friends are the people who make us feel valued by their trust and reception of our help.
  • Friends are the people who are similar and different from us but whom we treasure for their unique gifts.
  • Friends are the people for whom time and distance make no difference in connection.
  • Friends are the people who enhance our sense of sexual desire by validating us, affirming our assets and applauding our victories.

It would seem that all friends are ‘friends with benefits’.

It may be too risky to believe that sleeping with a friend is a benefit! 

The Real Cougar Woman is a 5-carat diamond who knows the importance of taking care of her health, beauty, relationships, finances and spirituality. Linda Franklin says,”there is no stopping a woman who has a strong belief system, passion and a dream. All things are possible”. Linda’s book, Don’t Ever Call Me Ma’am helps women of all ages tap into their power and live life to the fullest.

Make-Up Sex – The Same High As Cocaine

by Linda Franklin

Make-Up Sex - The Same High As Cocaine Linda Franklin The Real Cougar WomanMake-up Sex produces an emotional high that is highly intoxicating. There’s nothing like steamy sex to quench the flames of a heated argument.

But according to one doctor, jumping into the sack to smooth things over is the same as taking cocaine.

Clinical psychologist Seth Meyers believes that the high experienced from make-up sex is the real reason couples run for the covers to stop a fight and doesn’t go very far in solving the problem.

In a recent blog post on Psychology Today entitled, Make-Up Sex Hurts: Why and How to Avoid it, the L.A.based doctor explained why he think it is ‘bad news.’

‘It reinforces fighting and emotional drama. Think about it: If you have amazing sex after you have a huge fight, doesn’t it make sense to fight again when the reward is so great?’ He asked his readers.

The controversial theory contradicts what most people consider as a healthy way to end bad feelings and reconnect with a partner, but Dr. Meyers says that in most cases the search for intimacy is used as a band-aid for a larger issue.

When couples have shared ‘extreme negative emotions’, he explained, make-up sex provides a quick and easy resolution that might otherwise not have existed. 

‘They hunger to switch gears and jump to the opposite end of the spectrum- to feel the high that comes with making up,’ he wrote. ‘Honestly, it’s not that different from an addict who needs a hit of cocaine.’

But while initiating an argument solely for the satisfaction of the ensuing make-up sex is clearly indicative of a larger problem, compensating for a nasty spat by getting physical can also spice up your sex life, according to Dr. Jennifer Berman.

The Californian ‘sexpert’ told one curious reader in an issue of Health magazine: ‘Makeup sex is normal – and generally healthy, too.

‘Not only can it be madly passionate, but it can also sustain intimacy during tough times. Besides, it’s natural to feel turned on after an argument.’

Dr. Meyers argues real intimacy comes with balance and understanding and men and women would do better to pause for thought the next time they are compelled to rip each others’ clothes off mid-debate.

He advised: ‘Should you find yourself in the middle of a sexual encounter and suddenly realize that you feel confused, angry or sad, gently pull back and explain to your partner that you want to stop and try again later.  Checking in with yourself and communicating honestly and directly is the best way to keep the problem from snowballing.’

The Real Cougar Woman is a 5-carat diamond who knows the importance of taking care of her health, beauty, relationships, finances and spirituality. Linda Franklin says,”there is no stopping a woman who has a strong belief system, passion and a dream.  All things are possible”.  Linda’s book, Don’t Ever Call Me Ma’am helps women of all ages tap into their power and live life to the fullest.

What Women Really Want In Bed

 

What Women Really Want In BedFrom the time we are girls we are taught to massage the male ego, not with simply telling the male species how terrific they are, but hesitating to speak the truth because we don’t want to hurt their feelings.  We learned early on that could cause them to feel uncomfortable or imperfect.

This same dynamic is hurting a lot of women when it comes to their own sexual satisfaction. A woman who feels she is a ballsy broad in her daily life finds herself afraid to say “Please do this” or “Don’t do that” in the bedroom because she is afraid that the man will be shocked, upset or disappointed.

We know we should speak up about what we want and need sexually, but until more women are willing to do that, there are a number of things that men should know about. 

Here’s the shortlist:

Sex or Porn – We can tell when you’re doing something because you saw it in a porno. Most sex in porn is about what’s good for the camera, not what’s good for the participants – especially the women. In real life, sex is more of a whole-body experience, and the genital-only thing can feel cold. Of course, we feel men already know this but would rather not bring it to their attention.

Women do like having sex, and most of us can point to at least one or two experiences where a man orgasmed as soon as he touched you, and then rolled over and fell asleep while you wondered if that was all you’re going to get. But just because women would prefer intercourse to last more than 60 seconds doesn’t mean that longer is always better.  The vagina’s ability to continue lubricating itself is limited, which can make marathon sex feel more like a duty than a joy.

We know the path to orgasm Are you trying everything but nothing works to get her there? There’s a strong possibility she actually knows exactly what needs to happen, but is afraid to say so.  She might feel what she needs isn’t something you’ll like so she won’t ask.  It’s important to talk about this – but not in the middle of a sexual encounter.  Wait until the opportunity arises and then be open to hearing what really turns her on.

Women who have trouble achieving orgasm still enjoy sex but might avoid it because they fear disappointing their partner.  They dread the endless attempts to make orgasm happen. So, when you’re having that talk explaining that you’re not going to freak out if she starts speaking up about her needs.  Tell her she’s not being judged on her orgasmic skills and she doesn’t  have to be the star everytime you have sex. 

Women don’t like to fake orgasms, but pretty much all women turn the volume up on the ones they do have, because they know you like it. This isn’t lying, but embellishment, and it would be nice if men returned the favor. Sex is no time for masculine stoicism. A little verbal appreciation in the form of moaning and groaning makes a nice two-way street.

Err on the gentle side  Our bodies are very sensitive when aroused, so a gentle touch is appreciated.  Pushing, pulling and excessive banging not the way to go.  Men who dive at a woman’s genitals with their mouths might be appreciated for their enthusiasm, but not so much for their technique. Pressure can be added as needed, but the shock to the system of having someone overdo it can be a major turnoff.

 

Obviously, every woman is different, and even with these most general of guidelines, you’ll find dissenters. Communication between partners is the ideal. But have some sympathy on women who haven’t read enough self-help books or seen enough therapists to overcome their fear of speaking up.

You might find that having patience and understanding will make it easier to draw them out over the long run. To encourage more communication, don’t make faces or act like your ego is hurt when women do push themselves to speak up. It likely took a lot of courage so a little appreciation goes a long way.

 

The Real Cougar Woman is a 5-carat diamond who knows the importance of taking care of her health, beauty, relationships, finances and spirituality. Linda Franklin says,”there is no stopping a woman who has a strong belief system, passion and a dream. All things are possible”. Linda’s book, Don’t Ever Call Me Ma’am helps women of all ages tap into their power and live life to the fullest.

 

Women Hiring Gigolos On The Rise

by Linda Franklin

Women Who Hire Gigolos on the Rise  Linda Franklin The Real Cougar WomanA handsome, muscle-bound man who is charming, witty and keen to treat a woman like an angel whenever she is in the mood?

It may sound too good to be true. Until, that is, money is thrown into the equation.

Gigolos are on the rise in the U.S., says ABC’s Nightline, with more and more well-educated, successful and high-earning women willing to shell out thousands of dollars for dates – and sex – with the ‘perfect’ man.

Garren James, owner of Cowboys 4 Angels, has had 2,000 job applications since his agency starred in reality series, Gigolos. Models turned cowboys take home 80 per cent of their hourly rate which starts at $300.00.

With services paid for up front and under the strict guise of simply charging for time, rather than sex, the practice is 100 per cent legal – straight male escorts bill for their hours and nothing more. If that leads to sex with a female client, so be it.  

One woman uses this pleasurable service as incentive to lose wight – and books a Cowboy every time she sheds five pounds. It’s working. She says that since she started heading on dates with the former models, she has gone from a size 28 to an 18.

For her, though, the icing on the cake is that she is in control, and free to do as she pleases. ‘I know they aren’t going to call. I don’t want them to call,’ she told Nightline.

Cowboys 4 Angels is now in Texas, New York, California, Georgia and Nevada.

Today many women are too busy for a boyfriend and they prefer the ‘sure thing’.  This fits the bill for their needs.

While the gigolos are not required to take STD tests as they are officially not being paid for sex, but say they practice safe sex.

So, I toss this out to you.  Do you think it’s wrong for a woman to engage the services of a gigolo?  It sure flies in the face of conventional thinking.  I say it’s okay as long as you don’t get emotionally attached – and that’s a big if. Remember, Richard Gere got hooked on his paid-for escort in Pretty Woman?

The Real Cougar Woman is a 5-carat diamond who knows the importance of taking care of her health, beauty, relationships, finances and spirituality. Linda Franklin says,”there is no stopping a woman who has a strong belief system, passion and a dream. All things are possible”. Linda’s book, Don’t Ever Call Me Ma’am helps women of all ages tap into their power and live life to the fullest.

Naughty Valentine’s Day

By: Dr. Fayr Barkley, Ph.D.

Naughty Valentine's Day Fayr Barkley The Real Cougar WomanIf you remember my Blog from last Valentine’s Day, you will know this is not my favorite time of year. It’s great if you are in a good relationship, but if your relationship is less than or doesn’t exist at all, hearing your girlfriends excitement about where they will be dining, what they’ll be wearing and what they’ll be getting only amplifies your own loneliness.
 
Well, this year I have decided to do something a little naughty. A very handsome and successful young man I know is coming into town. We’ll be meeting at one of Beverly Hill’s finest restaurants. He asked me, coyly, what I’d be wearing. I told him I had not brought anything back from holiday with me that is appropriate. He suggested he take me shopping and we’d pick out something nice together.
 
Well, that got the little passion cogs in my brain turning. I said to him, “Instead of shopping together, why don’t you go out and get me something you’d like to see me in? An outfit complete with sexy little underthings would be nice.” I then told him I’d meet him at the restaurant in a black trench coat and once seated at the table he could hand me the shopping bag. I’d then slip upstairs to the ladies’ room and put them on and come back down to our table where champagne would be waiting. We’d dine on succulent delicacies, sip champagne and who knows? Perhaps we’ll go back to the L’Ermitage Hotel and his room for dessert. 
 
A girl can dream, can’t she?
 
Valentine’s Day. What are you doing? Do you plan to be naughty or nice?
 

 The Real Cougar Woman is a 5-carat diamond who knows the importance of taking care of her health, beauty, relationships, finances and spirituality. Linda Franklin says,”there is no stopping a woman who has a strong belief system, passion and a dream. All things are possible”. Linda’s book, Don’t Ever Call Me Ma’am helps women of all ages tap into their power and live life to the fullest.

Friend With Benefits – Equal Benefits For Both?

by Linda Franklin

Friends with Benefits - Equal Benefits For Both? Linda Franklin The Real Cougar WomanFriends with benefits or friends with “benies” or friends for cut – it’s all the same thing.  In theory FWB’s is a mutual practical arrangement for satisfying each others sexual needs without the usual bothersome expectations of love, romance, or in most cases – monogamy.

The thing is, FWB’s don’t always provide equal benefits for both parties involved.  But, nevertheless these arrangements are becoming more popular.

Most women, not all, too often confuse sex with love.  Whether or not they admit it, we are suckers for emotional attachment.  It’s hard for us to keep our hearts under wraps when we are putting ourselves in such a vulnerable position.  Even the hard-hearted-hannahs do get their hearts broken.  It’s painful knowing we don’t rank high on our lover’s priority list. We are a convenience when time permits.

Here’s a couple of reasons people decide to switch from being just friends to FWB’s:

  • both agree from there is no emotional attachment so there is no pie-in-the-sky expectations
  • you have recently come out of a breakup or a divorce are ready to sex, but not a relationship

If you are considering the switch, ask yourself these tought questions:

  • Is this FWB relationship just a rest stop on the way to something better?
  • Is this relationship one that makes me happy?
  • Is this all I can expect at my age?

I suppose the success of an FWB relationship depends completely on the two people involved and the ground rules they establish. For some it may be just what the doctor ordered, while for others just an another bump on an already hazardous emotional roller-coaster.

The Real Cougar Woman is a 5-carat diamond who knows the importance of taking care of her health, beauty, relationships, finances and spirituality. Linda Franklin says,”there is no stopping a woman who has a strong belief system, passion and a dream. All things are possible”. Linda’s book, Don’t Ever Call Me Ma’am helps women of all ages tap into their power and live life to the fullest.

Finding Love Again

by Linda Franklin -

Finding Love Again Linda Franklin The Real Cougar WomanLisa spent 15 years alone after her husband died and thought she would never have sex again. Then, at age 71, she met a wonderful partner and has fallen madly in love again. She should be thrilled right?  She is - but the rest of the world seems less happy.

Both Lisa and her guy both have children who are having problems with their parents intimacy.  They roll their eyes when they kiss, and when Lisa tries to talk to her daughter about her new love she says she ‘can’t cope’.

Why are people so hostile to older lovers? 

We’re told ‘all the world loves a lover’, but that doesn’t ring true if the courting couples are 60-plus and don’t restrict their PDAs (public displays of affection) to holding hands.

There’s a misconceived cultural prejudice which leads some people to think older people who have sex are behaving inappropriately.

It’s difficult for a chid of any age to accept their mother being physically familiar.

Paul McCartney’s offspring weren’t exactly delighted by his puppyish displays of attraction (in the early days of the courtship) to Heather Mills — they felt it was disrespectful to Linda McCartney’s memory. His new bride, Nancy Shevell, has been far more diplomatic and has won the family’s approval.

Lisa’s daughter reluctance to discuss your partner is, on the face of things, unfair, but not unusual. She wants you to be her mother, not a girlfriend and confidante. 

If you’re lucky enough to find love, celebrate it; the point about growing older is you finally have the confidence to make bold choices.

Just remember in your bliss to be sensitive about the fact your families need time to adjust to the new landscape. When they have, I am sure they will share your joy.

 

The Real Cougar Woman is a 5-carat diamond who knows the importance of taking care of her health, beauty, relationships, finances and spirituality. Linda Franklin says,”there is no stopping a woman who has a strong belief system, passion and a dream. All things are possible”. Linda’s book, Don’t Ever Call Me Ma’am helps women of all ages tap into their power and live life to the fullest.

Sex Really Can Be Mind-Blowing

by Linda Franklin

Sex really can be mind-blowing by Linda Franklin The Real Cougar Woman Sex can literally be mind-blowing – but not always in a good way.  Scientists have found it can erase your memory.

Listen to this.  A 54-year-old woman arrived at a hospital in Washington D.C. in a state of panic because she’d just been intimate with her husband and immediately lost all recollection of the previous 24 hours.  I can’t even imagine that can you?

This rare condition is called ‘transient global amnesia’ and it is always temporary.  Even though the brain doesn’t suffer any damage it has to be tremendously frightening.  

Very little is known about what triggers the condition, though some doctors believe that misfiring valves in the neck may be the cause. Instead of closing shut, they are remaining open to allow pressure in the stomach to push oxygen-poor blood that should be seeping downwards to the heart, back up through the jugular veins and in to the part of the brain that controls memories.

In the majority of cases it takes just a few hours for the memory to return. Exerting yourself in other ways – such as weight-lifting – can also cause transient global amnesia.

Women in their 50′s and 60′s are the ones most likely to experience this.  Has it ever happened to you? 

The Real Cougar Woman is a 5-carat diamond who knows the importance of taking care of her health, beauty, relationships, finances and spirituality. Linda Franklin says,”there is no stopping a woman who has a strong belief system, passion and a dream. All things are possible”. Linda’s book, Don’t Ever Call Me Ma’am helps women of all ages tap into their power and live life to the fullest.

Sexual Friendships Sans The Sex

by Linda Franklin – The Real Cougar Woman

FlirtationSexual attraction is a powerful thing.  From the moment your eyes meet, you feel that undeniable spark. You tingle with excitement and immediately reconnect with how much you love that sexual energy rush. It's been too long since your body reacted in such a powerful way to another person.  But, then reality hits – you're married and are commited to remaining faithful.  So what do you do?

You wonder if it's possible to have ahighly charged flirtatious friendship with a work colleague, a neighbor or even a friend's spouse if it never extends beyond the bedroom door?  What if there was a way of sharing many of the things that make a romance exciting — flirting, positive reinforcement, compliments, desire — without messing it all up by leaping into bed together? 

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