The Hardness Factor: How to Achieve Your Best Health and Sexual Fitness at Any Age [Hardcover]

Steven Lamm (Author), Gerald Secor Couzens (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 31, 2005

ABC's The View's house doctor argues that a man's sexuality is linked to his physical health, outlining a six-week program to restoring intimacy, improving a sex life, and boosting self-confidence while explaining how to use a sexual drive to motivate an overall healthy lifestyle. 100,000 first printing.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Lamm (The Virility Solution, Thinner at Last), a practicing internist and expert on male sexual health, insists there is a direct link between the quality of a man’s overall health and the quality of his erections. Just as physicians can measure a patient’s blood pressure and percentage of body fat, Lamm claims he can measure the strength of a man’s erections (The Hardness Factor) using a new computerized device invented by a Spanish urologist. He is, therefore, not just interested in whether or not a guy can get hard during sex, but how hard. No wonder he’s such a popular guest on women’s talk shows like Oprah and The View. It is this ability to measure hardness that allows Lamm to argue it can be improved in six weeks. The program outlined in the book is heavily focused on diet and exercise with the use of a few key supplements (Pycnogenol, L-Arginine, omega-3 fatty acids, Niacin, Vitamins C and E, and Horny Goat Weed). While there is a place for prescription drugs like Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis, Lamm believes these should generally be reserved for those with more serious health problems limiting their ability to achieve erections, such as diabetes, heart disease, and the aftermath of prostate cancer surgery. Most men he treats don’t need them. And one upside to this often-embarrassing issue is that by getting healthier in order to get harder, men can avoid the underlying illnesses that would require the use of such drugs in the future.--Patrick Jennings

From Publishers Weekly

Lamm's premise is that for men, good health and a hard erection are synonymous. Hardness (or rather, lack thereof) is not just an inevitable side effect of aging, internist Lamm claims—it's the result of poor lifestyle decisions and is linked to a number of afflictions, including obesity, high cholesterol, hypertension, depression and heart disease. The author, medical correspondent for ABC's The View and an early researcher of Viagra, points out that prescription medications aren't always the answer. He outlines a six-week program that focuses on diet, exercise and supplements such as Pycnogenol/L-Arginine, a combination of antioxidant and pine-bark extract that reduces the risk of chronic diseases and results in a "rock-hard erection." Lamm peppers his straightforward text with jokes and entertaining anecdotes from patients at his New York City practice. He estimates that 20 million men aged 40 to 70 suffer from erectile dysfunction. While many never seek treatment, perhaps they will pick up this important book, which is filled with several new insights and tips for maintaining sexual and general health. (June 1)
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Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Harper; First Edition edition (May 31, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060755512
• ISBN-13: 978-0060755515
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #621,465 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

97 of 100 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Hardness Factor is the Blood Flow Factor..., July 31, 2005

By 

Charles "research physician & father of 3 sons" (Daphne, AL, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Hardness Factor: How to Achieve Your Best Health and Sexual Fitness at Any Age (Hardcover)

This book serves a useful purpose by putting this message very much in the face of men: erections are produced by blood flow; if you want better erections and improved sexual health, there are no shortcuts that bypass the need for better health.

It's well documented now that aerobic exercise improves erections, weight loss improves erections, proper rest and proper hormone balance...all improve erections. I've found many men become motivated to lose weight, walk, and quit smoking when their sexual function begins to wane. This book should help motivate and instruct men to better health by linking health to sexual function.

Dr. Lamm's a big fan of L-arginine at a dose of 3 grams per day. Arginine and glutamine boost growth hormone levels in those with a healthy pituitary and lead to improved circulation and better erections. I've found patients do better with glutamine than with arginine (glutamine causes less nausea and can be taken at a higher dosage): try (if your doctor approves) 12 grams per day (best taken as a powder mixed in water since 12 grams would be 24 tablets at 500 mg each) for best source, see my list "Libido, Erection, and Premature Ejaculation."

The most important recommendation in the book is walking. There is no doubt now that walking (or jogging..but not necessary to jog) does more to prevent obesity and to improve and maintain sexual function than anything possible with diet.

I haven't seen as much success with the counting-steps method as outlined by Dr. Lamm as I have with those who just go walking and count miles, but the basic idea that walking improves sexual function cannot be ignored. Not only does the practice improve circulation and firmness of erection but alters levels of seratonin, dopamine, endorphins, cortisol, thyroid, growth hormone, and testosterone in ways that support libido and sexual function.

Dr. Lamm makes the point that hormone levels should be optimized (even mentions their replacement in women). This problem is much more common that previously suspected.

As to the "erection drugs" discussed, the recommendation to start with Viagra, Levitra, or Cialis and only go to the use of Muse (an injectable) might be questioned. Dr. Lamm fails to mention that Muse may also be used as a suppository and has a safer side-effect profile than Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis (and in some may even prolong erection after ejaculation).

Dr. Lamm completely leaves out the use of prescription-strength yohimbine (Yocon) which has good effect on erection in 10-20% of men with the added benefit of increasing libido (which the others do not). Yocon has it's own side effect of irritability and increasing blood pressure in some...still it's a wonder drug for some and adds improved libido even to those who may use Viagra or one of the other medicines. So, I was disappointed it was left out of the discussion (but then I'm also prone to favor products found in nature...of which yohimbine is one).

The foods recommended by Dr. Lamm should be helpful and healthful. For quicker, easier, and similar results...I'd recommend "the Abs Diet, Eat Right Every Time" by Zinczenco. Start with the paperback version of this book and buy the hardback as addition if you want to better understand the underlying science.

Don't think Tantric sex got the press it deserved in a book on hardness (short paragraph with no mention of the man's cycle as discussed in the Tao).

Admittedly, these are comments that have more to do with the art of medicine and plainly Dr. Lamm and I may not bake a cake in the same way...but the main point of the book (that good health results in good sex and there are specific ways to improve health and sex simultaneously) is a point worth repeatedly making. Good sex is the cherry on top; it's the side effect of good physical, emotional, and relationship health. Dr. Lamm will motivate many to better health in all of these areas with his excellent book.

--Charles Runels, MD
Author of "Anytime...for as Long as You Want: Strength, Genius, Libido, and Erection by Integrative Sex Transmutation (A 15-Day Course for Men to Improve Sex and Life).

28 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It works!, September 8, 2005

By 

E. Shao "elliot36" (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Hardness Factor: How to Achieve Your Best Health and Sexual Fitness at Any Age (Hardcover)

I am a bit appalled by the two Medical Doctors' comments. Why would anyone expect a book like this is going to fix all. If anyone has medical condition associated with male health, you have to work on that first before you aim for more.

I am a relatively healthy man. I followed Dr. Lamm's recommendation. After only 2 weeks on the program, I feel like a real man. I never had ED problem, but just was a terrible performer in the bed. I don't know whether it is the exercise or the supplements (to someone who can't tell the difference between Viagra and natural supplements, read some books and then decide what is right for you) or the whole thing, I don't get tired and just can't understand how I achieved this kind of performance. I tried Viagra about 5 years ago and didn't do me any good.

It works! You have to take care of your life, eat healthy and all the others, then you can achieve this. It might not work for everyone, but if you are relatively healthy, follow the program diligently for 6 weeks and what worst can happen?

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth a Read, May 22, 2006

By 

J. Poole (Gilbert, SC USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Hardness Factor: How to Achieve Your Best Health and Sexual Fitness at Any Age (Hardcover)

When I first encountered this book, and read the summary/reviews on Amazon, I dismissed it as another wacky 'erection' book. Later on, after reading a few pages in a local bookstore, I bought a copy. I've now completely changed my mind. It's worth reading. Even if you don't follow his exact plan line by line, you'll have to do some variant of every step of his plan to restore your erection to its best- so read it, for a template plan, if nothing else.