Health and fitness are very important to you. You take care of your body like the finely tuned machine it is. And because the reputation of cannabis has been skewed for so many years, you may have avoided it thinking it could interfere with your body’s performance. Well, the more we discover what cannabis can really do, the more we learn that such a notion couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Cannabis products offer a wealth of benefits, many of which are medicinal in nature. As you begin to dabble, you’re slowly opening up to all the possibilities that come from consuming this fabulous plant. If you’re a fitness guru, you might even wonder whether or not cannabis could enhance your workout routine. Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place! Let’s dive in and discuss the ways in which cannabis can boost your performance!

Can Cannabis Give You a Running Start?

As it turns out, studies have revealed that lots of athletes enjoy cannabis products. One of the more obvious benefits of consuming cannabis before hitting the gym is that it can boost your mood, which is going to help you enjoy your workout more. There’s also evidence suggesting that you could see faster recovery times when integrating the plant into your routine.

As we know, CBD and THC have soothing properties, such as alleviating pain, relaxing your muscles, and preventing inflammation. All of this can help you recover from a strenuous workout even faster.

Recovery is especially important because working out will naturally cause small tears in your muscles, which is how you get stronger. After a certain point though, with enough tearing you stop seeing improvement in your strength. Beyond that, you could risk injury. Because of this, the healing quality of cannabis can get you back in action quicker.

Another important part of muscle growth is proper nutrition. CBD can help deliver on essentials like iron, calcium, protein, and more. This cannabinoid is also known to help curb appetite while boosting your metabolism.

What else does an athlete need for peak performance? Plenty of sleep. And as we all know, people who have trouble sleeping often turn to CBD for help. Not to mention a regulated sleep cycle gives you more energy you can use either outside or in the gym.

While cannabis appears to have a positive impact on your exercise regimen, it’s important to understand that it’s not a magic bullet. It won’t enhance your natural abilities, but if it can improve your overall experience, you may be motivated to work out more often. And if it helps you maintain a consistent schedule, you will see overall improvement in your strength and performance.

How to Work Cannabis Into Your Routine

Do you feel like staying in all day? If you’re simply not motivated to get off the couch, that’s the perfect time to consume some cannabis as a pre-workout. This is where a strain with a little more THC will come in handy. The energizing sensations associated with THC could give you the drive to be physically active.

In general, products heavier in THC are great for exercises that are long and repetitive. This cannabinoid is not ideal for all workout routines, however. Research points to some negative physical side effects, including poor spatial awareness, coordination, and balance. THC is perfect for cardio activities, but not a great idea for exercises that require sharp motor skills, such as biking or rock climbing. And you definitely don’t want to be lifting after smoking or ingesting a THC-dominant product.

Perhaps you’re not in a good place mentally or emotionally. Even if you’re determined to get in some exercise, your performance can easily be affected by a troubled mind. Taking a product heavier in CBD can put you at ease so you can focus on your gains.

Furthermore, if you’re feeling lethargic, CBD-heavy strains could give you the pick-me-up you need. Our endocannabinoid system helps regulate our bodies, and since CBD connects to receptors within that system, it can give us more energy when our tanks are running on empty.

When consuming cannabis as a pre-workout, you want to take a small dose. It’s not a good idea to take enough to experience psychotropic sensations. Your best bet is to experiment with hybrid strains containing a 1:1 ratio of CBD and THC to counteract any undesired effects. In terms of intake method, vaping can be your friend here. It’s generally regarded as a safer alternative to traditional smoking, and because it gets to work faster, you’re less likely to take too much.

What if you’ve been lifting heavy and you want something to help with your recovery? If so, CBD is the cannabinoid for you. An ideal product for such purposes would either be a CBD isolate or something with a CBD to THC ratio of 20:1. And the sooner you consume following your workout, the better. Because timeliness is important for recovery, vaping is also ideal in this case.

Keep Safety in Mind

Remember that tolerance levels vary from person to person. Some may need more than others to feel any different. Whenever experimenting with cannabis, ease into it and disengage from physical activities if anything feels off.

It’s not a good idea to consume cannabis every time you work out. Not only do you run the risk of forming a habit, but you would grow used to products over time, forcing you to increase your dosage.

Before working cannabis into your exercise routine, be sure to have a conversation with your doctor, as it can sometimes interact with medications. From there, talk to your local budtender to find the right strain. They can offer guidance on safe dosage and intake. And as we always advise, make sure you’re purchasing from a reputable source, especially when buying cannabis products for exercise purposes.

Resources:

https://www.mensjournal.com/health-fitness/how-to-work-weed-into-your-workout-thc-cbd-for-recovery/
https://www.thecannifornian.com/cannabis-health/sports-cannabis-culture/5-health-benefits-of-cbd-for-fitness-and-bodybuilding/
https://www.issaonline.com/blog/index.cfm/2019/fitness-benefits-of-cbd-oil-does-it-live-up-to-the-hype