Cannabis use in the fitness industry has long been a controversial topic. Some athletes swear by its healing and recovery-enhancing properties, and others are skeptical about its effects. Well, if you fall into the latter category, then maybe the time has come to re-evaluate your position, and maybe even introduce marijuana into your fitness lifestyle.
Why? Well for one, the scientific community thinks the stuff is good for you, and for another, anecdotal testimonies from athletes around the world would suggest that there might be some game-changing benefits of indulging a few times a week.
Here is how marijuana can change your fitness lifestyle for the better.
Battle Inflammation Like a Pro
Contrary to popular belief, marijuana use doesn’t have to bring with it the psychoactive effects so many aspiring users fear. The two most popular and widely researched cannabinoids on the market are the CBD and THC, and only one of these (THC) is the psychoactive agent you may or may not want to take. CBD, on the other hand, is the most promising cannabinoid when it comes to reducing muscle and joint inflammation, and expediting the entire post-workout recovery process – but without the proverbial “high.”
This becomes especially important for athletes who have experienced injuries in the past, as their muscle and connective tissue tends to flare up after a particularly tough workout. Likewise, strength athletes as well as performance athletes can use cannabis as a way to reduce whole-body inflammation during those grueling peak weeks right before a competition.
Reduce Muscle Soreness and Pain
Inflammation is your body’s natural way of adapting to the stress of working out; a way of toughening up for the next training session, so to speak. Now, too much inflammation is bad, and it can disrupt your entire training week in a very negative way. When inflammation is too high, then you move into the realm of muscle, joint, and connective tissue pain.
Moreover, this will lead to prolonged soreness that will inevitably hinder every workout that follows. Studies have shown that marijuana can alleviate chronic pain as well as acute pain such as muscle spasms and soreness. You can use it to treat pain after working out, and you can definitely use it to banish muscle soreness in order to prepare your body for the next training session.
Get in the Zone, Banish Performance Anxiety
Athletes from all fields tend to suffer from higher or lower levels of performance anxiety – a state of nervousness and fright that holds you back from displaying your true potential, and performing at your best. Getting in the zone is not an easy thing to do, particularly before a tough workout or a competition where you only get one shot at the number one spot.
That said, marijuana has been shown to improve mental acuity in athletes. You can use potent marijuana concentrates to ease your mind and put yourself in a state of awareness and control. Be sure to use vaporizers instead of conventional smoking methods in order to avoid putting pressure on your airways before your workout.
Sleep Like a Baby, Perform Like a Beast
Aside from giving you the munchies, marijuana is also well-known for its ability to put you out cold when you most need it. Because of its soothing effect and analgesic properties, cannabis can help you unwind and relax at the end of a long day, and thus greatly improve your sleeping habits.
This benefit is especially beneficial to athletes with workout-induced insomnia. The drive and zeal you experience after a tough workout is powerful enough to keep you awake for hours, and thus impede your post-workout recovery process. Remember, proper sleep is imperative for a thriving fitness lifestyle, and marijuana might just be the remedy your mind needs for a good night’s sleep.
Prevent Painful Muscle Spasms
Arguably, there is nothing worse than a mid-workout muscle spasm that just won’t go away. Oftentimes, these spasms can be crippling and they can easily prevent you from completing your workout. While you shouldn’t ignore the cause of the problem, which is usually a micronutrient deficiency, a lack of sleep, or too much physical stress, you shouldn’t refrain from treating the problem when it comes up. Cannabis is a powerful remedy that can help you alleviate the pain, and eliminate muscle spasms during and after a workout.
Long gone are the days when marijuana was another taboo topic in the fitness industry. In the modern world, medical professionals and athletes are openly advocating the use of recreational marijuana, and the health benefits it brings to athletes. By partaking on a regular basis, you can take your fitness game to the next level.
Battle Inflammation Like a Pro
Contrary to popular belief, marijuana use doesn’t have to bring with it the psychoactive effects so many aspiring users fear. The two most popular and widely researched cannabinoids on the market are the CBD and THC, and only one of these (THC) is the psychoactive agent you may or may not want to take. CBD, on the other hand, is the most promising cannabinoid when it comes to reducing muscle and joint inflammation, and expediting the entire post-workout recovery process – but without the proverbial “high.”
This becomes especially important for athletes who have experienced injuries in the past, as their muscle and connective tissue tends to flare up after a particularly tough workout. Likewise, strength athletes as well as performance athletes can use cannabis as a way to reduce whole-body inflammation during those grueling peak weeks right before a competition.
Reduce Muscle Soreness and Pain
Inflammation is your body’s natural way of adapting to the stress of working out; a way of toughening up for the next training session, so to speak. Now, too much inflammation is bad, and it can disrupt your entire training week in a very negative way. When inflammation is too high, then you move into the realm of muscle, joint, and connective tissue pain.
Moreover, this will lead to prolonged soreness that will inevitably hinder every workout that follows. Studies have shown that marijuana can alleviate chronic pain as well as acute pain such as muscle spasms and soreness. You can use it to treat pain after working out, and you can definitely use it to banish muscle soreness in order to prepare your body for the next training session.
Get in the Zone, Banish Performance Anxiety
Athletes from all fields tend to suffer from higher or lower levels of performance anxiety – a state of nervousness and fright that holds you back from displaying your true potential, and performing at your best. Getting in the zone is not an easy thing to do, particularly before a tough workout or a competition where you only get one shot at the number one spot.
That said, marijuana has been shown to improve mental acuity in athletes. You can use potent marijuana concentrates to ease your mind and put yourself in a state of awareness and control. Be sure to use vaporizers instead of conventional smoking methods in order to avoid putting pressure on your airways before your workout.
Sleep Like a Baby, Perform Like a Beast
Aside from giving you the munchies, marijuana is also well-known for its ability to put you out cold when you most need it. Because of its soothing effect and analgesic properties, cannabis can help you unwind and relax at the end of a long day, and thus greatly improve your sleeping habits.
This benefit is especially beneficial to athletes with workout-induced insomnia. The drive and zeal you experience after a tough workout is powerful enough to keep you awake for hours, and thus impede your post-workout recovery process. Remember, proper sleep is imperative for a thriving fitness lifestyle, and marijuana might just be the remedy your mind needs for a good night’s sleep.
Prevent Painful Muscle Spasms
Arguably, there is nothing worse than a mid-workout muscle spasm that just won’t go away. Oftentimes, these spasms can be crippling and they can easily prevent you from completing your workout. While you shouldn’t ignore the cause of the problem, which is usually a micronutrient deficiency, a lack of sleep, or too much physical stress, you shouldn’t refrain from treating the problem when it comes up. Cannabis is a powerful remedy that can help you alleviate the pain, and eliminate muscle spasms during and after a workout.
Long gone are the days when marijuana was another taboo topic in the fitness industry. In the modern world, medical professionals and athletes are openly advocating the use of recreational marijuana, and the health benefits it brings to athletes. By partaking on a regular basis, you can take your fitness game to the next level.