Whether we lift weights or jog, we all know exercise is good for our physical and mental health. However, most of us find it difficult to find the time, energy, or motivation to stick to a fitness routine.
For many people, the secret to sustained activity may be getting high before, after, or even during a workout. Cannabis can make exercise more fun and keep people motivated, claims Josiah Hesse, a cannabis journalist who spoke with athletes, researchers, and experts for a new book named “Runner’s High.”
Some of the world’s most successful athletes, he claims, are people who enjoy moving their bodies, frequently with the help of THC to augment the good vibes.
THC, the psychoactive element in cannabis, is chemically similar to natural substances our bodies produce during exercise. Using cannabis correctly may improve the advantages of working out while alleviating side effects such as aches and exhaustion.
This article will look at how to work weed into your workout.
- Turn to CBD oil for Repetitive, Long Workouts
Most of us have heard about athletes who light up to improve their endurance. That’s partly because of the synthetic runner’s high—you’re enhancing the sensation by combining exertion and CBD—but also because of the cannabinoid’s painkilling properties. Pain-free and having your muscles not beg you to quit jogging makes it much simpler to continue.
According to particular physiological research, cannabis may alleviate asthma brought on by exercise by causing bronchodilation.
Additionally, CBD oil promote muscle relaxation, improve focus, and modify your perception of time, all of which can help you get through a tedious session on the stationary cycle.
- Start Low and Slow
On a low-risk training day, consider getting high before your workout. According to a 2017 analysis of studies published in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, some people could not finish their workouts after using drugs. And remember that each person has a particular endocannabinoid system that influences how they react to the hundreds of chemicals found in cannabis.
The essential thing to remember is that your objective is to improve your workout, not to get high. The least amount of cannabis required to produce the desired effects is what you want to use.
Significantly, choose a strain with little THC (below 15 percent). And, if at all feasible, higher CBD concentrations (1:1 THC to CBD would be best), as cannabinoids interact with one another, and CBD can help counteract the side effects of excessive THC.
Then choose to vape since it is less dangerous than smoking. It also works and wears off quickly. Most significantly, vaping almost quickly produces effects, making dose control more straightforward. Inhale one puff, and then wait five minutes to assess your feelings.
- Use it if You’re Thinking of Skipping Training
According to a recent study from UC Boulder, almost 50% of pre-workout smokers believe that getting high increases their enthusiasm to work out. THC appears to be most helpful anecdotally before and during endurance exercise.
Because of the sluggish stoner persona may seem paradoxical, but according to the study, THC may cause the runner’s high. The dopamine and reward pathways in the brain are coupled to your endocannabinoid receptors, which explains how exercise produces that euphoric feeling.
Since marijuana’s cannabinoids also stimulate these receptors, taking THC may produce an unnatural runner’s high that motivates you to go for a run to satisfy your craving.
- Save it for Your Long Runs or Rides
Low-risk endurance activity may benefit from THC, but avoid smoking before every session. THC use in high doses and daily can result in dependence or full-blown addiction.
In addition, athletes must safeguard their lungs. According to UCLA research, marijuana smoke still contains several carcinogens, even though science has not yet established a connection between smoking marijuana and lung cancer. Studies also link regular marijuana use with chronic bronchitis and respiratory problems like coughing and phlegm production.
Save it for days when you genuinely need the motivational boost and pain relief to reduce your risk.
- Take CBD ASAP for Recovery
Preliminary evidence indicates that cannabinoids lower general pain, muscle spasms, stiffness, and inflammation in humans, even though we don’t have any studies particularly examining cannabis and the pain and inflammation of a strenuous workout. Additionally, some scientific evidence suggests that the chemicals lower levels of IL-6 and TNF, two pro-inflammatory cytokines generated during exercise.
CBD is likely the ingredient that will help you recover the fastest because it reduces inflammation and can help you get back up and move more quickly. Studies have shown it relieves inflammatory pains like osteoarthritis in animals and IBS in humans.
THC and CBD both have anti-inflammatory and soreness-relieving properties; thus, combining CBD with a tiny quantity of active THC, such as a 15:1 or 20:1, may help an athlete return to intensive workouts faster.
In brief, the athlete should use either a CBD isolate or a 20:1 formula.
Bottomline
Finally, it’s up to you whether or not to use CBD based on your comfort level with the current state of cannabinoid research. However, you should consult your doctor first, just as you should before beginning any supplement regimen. You might be at the vanguard of a new wellness movement that takes workout recovery to the next level—and you could even help make 4/20 a day for everyone to hit the gym.
