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The Benefits Of Including Cannabis In Your Exercise Program

Mar 9

Two things make Colorado famous: its cannabis business, and its healthy population. What if you merged the two, though? The benefits of working out when intoxicated are many and varied. Studies show that doing out while high on cannabis may reduce heart rate, alleviate muscular pain, and increase endorphin production. When combined with cannabis topicals for healing, doing out while high is an excellent way to stay in shape without suffering pain or weariness afterwards!

A Whole New Meaning for "Runner's High"

When people hear the phrase "stoner," they often have certain preconceived thoughts. Furthermore, no athlete is seen in that image. Usually there's a sofa, a pizza box, and an episode of Family Guy.

But by putting on their running shoes and getting off the couch, the cannabis community is working to change that reputation! The benefits of working out when intoxicated are many and varied. Studies show that doing out while high on cannabis may reduce heart rate, alleviate muscular pain, and increase endorphin production.

Stoner Athletes: The Reality

According to studies looking at health trends, reality does not typically resemble the couch-bound stoner image we sometimes have in our heads. According to US researchers, cannabis users often have a slimmer physique than non-users. Eighty percent of users of cannabis say to use it either before or after exercise. Additionally, compared to non-users, people who mix cannabis use with exercise regimens work out an average of 138 minutes per week as opposed to 124 minutes.

These numbers suggest that there must be a unique advantage to mixing cannabis consumption with physical activity. (After all, hardly many individuals extol the merits of exercising when inebriated.)

Does Working Out While High Or Sober Affect Performance?

People who regularly workout and use cannabis say it makes working out more fun. This is not surprising considering how fun cannabis enhances most activities. Furthermore, it seems to reason that someone would participate in something more ardently and for a longer amount of time if they found it to be more pleasurable. This results in more thorough and prolonged training.

Many users also claim that using cannabis before work allows them to enter a meditative state, expend more energy, and work until they are physically weary rather of simply feeling tired.

Others claim that they may concentrate on their running form or specific muscle groups while being more conscious of their body. Thus, working out while intoxicated may promote calm and function as a type of meditation in and of itself.

Cannabis's Effects On Your Muscles When You Exercise

Some people claim that using cannabis before to exercising even has an impact on how their bodies feel afterwards. Cannabis usage might make exercising less physically demanding if it makes the person relaxed. It is well acknowledged that having tight muscles during exercise increases sensitivity to pain and injury.

Cannabis may affect more than just how one feels immediately after a workout; there are also significant long-term benefits. One research found that those who had used cannabis for at least six years were much less likely to become fat.

A Beneficial Method for Exercise Recovery

All of this makes sense, and it definitely explains why using cannabis while working out is tempting, but some study suggests there could be more to it than simply these coincidences.

Currently, there isn't a lot of controlled study on marijuana and exercise. This is also due to government restrictions on cannabis research. Others claim that endocannabinoids may, in theory, contribute to the euphoric benefits of exercise.

In a 2003 research, it was shown that after exercise, the endocannabinoid molecule anandamide levels rose in the blood of the participants. Cannabis targets these similar receptors, so it seems sense that THC makes getting a "runner's high" after working out easier than it would be otherwise.

Working out while high also increases the effectiveness of marijuana usage for muscle rehabilitation since it permits a deeper endorphin release after exercise and enhances general bodily wellness.

Use of Cannabis Prior to Exercise

Some cannabis products are not advised for usage before to exercise since they provide a higher "high" than others. Some users claim that edibles are the best option for a stoned exercise due to their longer onset and less distracting effects on coordination.

Others discover that trying to eat something appetizing while attempting to get in a workout in the morning or between leaving the workplace and supper just isn't practical.

For people who wish to smoke or vape cannabis before working out, there is considerable debate about whether sativa or indica strains are better to use.

Indicas generally cause a heavy body feeling that some individuals find distracting when exercising, but they are also commonly connected to relaxation and decreased anxiety, which may be advantageous before exercise. Sativas are more energizing, therefore it's possible that they might cause an unpleasant case of a racing heart in certain individuals.

There is really no right or wrong answer; it all relies on what best matches your requirements and circumstances.

Guidelines for Working Out While High

Here are some guidelines for using marijuana while working out:

A high THC dosage might be distracting rather than calming, so avoid taking it before exercising or during exercising.

  • Take it easy. Start with a little dosage and progressively increase it when you are initially using the cannabis. You really can't tell how your body will react unless you give it a go.
  • Before working out, refrain from consuming any extra chemicals, such as coffee or alcohol. This may help you prepare psychologically for exercise and provide the support you need to recover afterward.
  • Make sure you are in a safe environment. You may want to wait until after your first exercise before heading to the gym. Examine it at home or when out for a little neighborhood run. Avoid jogging in densely forested areas as well. Exercise at a location where help is accessible if you need it.
  • Consider using CBD to treat post-workout discomfort, inflammation, stiffness, and muscle cramps (more on this below).
  • Water is also important to keep in mind! Marijuana's diuretic effects may lead to dehydration, so be sure to stay hydrated before, during, and after your exercise.

Effects of Marijuana on the Body After Exercise

If you think that consuming marijuana while working out could be a bit too much for you or too risky for your chosen method of working out, there are alternative methods to harness the benefits of marijuana. It has been shown that a number of non-psychoactive medical cannabis components, including CBD, may aid with post-workout pain relief and muscle restoration.

CBD for Muscle Recovery

Both CBD and marijuana may make working out enjoyable for you, both before you start and after you finish. CBD's anti-inflammatory characteristics enable it to lessen the discomfort and pains that come with regular exercise. As a consequence, individuals may have quicker and less severe recovery following intense activity.

CBD products may be taken orally as a tincture or used topically as lotion or cream before and after exercising. Among CBD's benefits for muscle regeneration are:

  • Anti-inflammatory properties that may help to reduce inflammation and soreness after exercise.
  • Reducing the buildup of lactic acid in the muscles, which reduces post-exercise discomfort.
  • Additionally, CBD has certain skin-related antibacterial advantages. As a result, if you're considering taking CBD for your post-workout recovery, it may also help to reduce the risk of skin infections that might result from wiping sweat on an unclean towel.

Supplements for Cannabis Users' Fitness

Cannabis-based supplements for athletes are a newly emerging market that is growing quickly. The majority of supplements include a combination of CBD and other cannabis-derived compounds. These supplements may be utilized to provide athletes an advantage or a way to take medicine without becoming drunk, depending on what the athlete needs.

Due to the fact that this industry is so young, not many research have been done on these products and how they are used. One research in particular showed that the benefits of CBD for brain damage and recovery seemed to aid in reducing inflammation brought on by exercise as well as stiffness brought on by injuries.

Marijuana-containing supplements are widely used as pre-workout stimulants. They are used by athletes to concentrate and boost energy levels before to workouts.

It's possible that marijuana and using marijuana to get swole exercise were created for one other. While not everyone should use cannabis as part of their routine, those who do are benefiting from using CBD lotions or tinctures to reduce inflammation, soreness, and muscle cramping before or after doing out. A further benefit of marijuana is that it helps lessen post-exercise pain, which is especially important considering that CBD has been shown to enhance muscle regeneration and post-gym pain relief. If you need more energy before working out but don't want to go high, CBD tablets may be the solution you're looking for. 

If you're interested to know more about this topic, be sure to check this blog post from Bud Depot Dispensary.