BUT HAVE YOU EVER TRIED WORKING OUT… ON WEED?!

DECEMBER 16, 2019

There’s definitely a stereotype attached to cannabis that says users are lazy, couch-locked, and generally inactive. But that’s not what the numbers say.

WEED AND WORKING OUT

According to a University of Colorado-Boulder research study conducted in the western United States, 52% of those surveyed said they made cannabis a part of their regiment, 70% said it increased their enjoyment of the activity and 78% said it aided in their post workout recovery.

Benefits

So what is cannabis doing to benefit peoples ability to work out? First of all, it helps people focus on their task at hand with a particular attention to slowing down and concentrating on form. In addition, it can help with increasing levels of motivation, endurance and tolerance, making each exercise easy to execute for longer periods of time. This also means an individual is more likely to workout on a more consistent basis.

Post Workout

Cannabis assists in the post workout as well, by reducing the body’s inflammation process and allows muscles to relax, making the following day much less painful to endure.

Evidence

Dr. Dayna McCarthy, at the Icahn School of Medicine, states that there is evidence that the chemical compounds in cannabissuch as terpenes, THC and CBD, can reduce pain and inflammation, as well as activate receptors in the brain that mimic positive endorphins and dopamine receptors. “It’s counterintuitive, but there have been some studies to show that cannabis can help motivate you,” she said, “and there have been some studies that show cannabinoids can be beneficial in reducing anxiety,” which can improve athletic performance. As for recovery, “CBD (cannabidiol) has properties that can decrease inflammation, ease pain, stiffness and inflammation… as well as decrease delayed onset muscle soreness.”

Hindrances

So we know how much cannabis can increase our performance during a workout, but can it hinder us as well? The answer is… of course. Cottonmouth has long been a side effect of cannabis use and it’s no different at the gym. So be sure you bring a sizable water bottle and stay hydrated. It should also be noted that certain strains, especially indica-dominant leaning strains, may decrease your motivation, making is harder to finish a complete workout. So be sure you know what strain you’re dealing with and how it interacts with your personal endocannabinoid system so you can maximize your workout to the fullest.

Try It!

So, if you haven’t tried weed and working out, perhaps you’ll give it a second thought. Who knows, you may just ‘hit’ those goals a little easier with a little help from such an unusual suspect, cannabis.

See you at the gym!