Cannabis & Fitness: Working Out High

Stoners have always been labeled as lazy, but that is far from the truth. Yes some stoners are lazy, but that's a personality trait, you can't blame that solely on the use of marijuana. But today we are here to discuss cannabis use and fitness!

I personally smoke after I work out. It helps me unwind and relaxes my sore, tight muscles after a lifting session. Some people like RJ, fellow writer for TheWeedtube, says he enjoys smoking prior to working out and has even timed an edible to kick in once his workout was over.

When I smoke before a workout I zone in and complete my reps without that mundane feeling of repetition. I sometimes don't even realize how far I've gone in my workout, only to be surprised when it's my last set. This can be a positive for people who find the repetitiveness of working out to be boring.

A paper published in Frontiers in Public Health said 8 in 10 marijuana users (in states where cannabis is legal) ingest cannabis before or after their workout. Two-thirds (67%) said they use it both before and after.

“There is a stereotype that cannabis use leads people to be lazy and couch-locked and not physically active, but these data suggest that this is not the case,” wrote senior author Angela Bryan, a professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience and the Institute for Cognitive Science.

https://www.studyfinds.org/marijuana-use-before-after-workouts-may-make-exercising-more-enjoyable-boost-recovery-study/

A survey of 600 cannabis users living in legal cannabis states reported getting 43 more minutes of exercise a week when they smoked before or shortly after working out than those who didn't.

On top of that, 52% said they were more motivated to workout when they added cannabis to their workouts, 70% said they enjoyed their workouts more and 78% said it helped with recovery.

There are some health concerns with cannabis use and exercise though. Cannabis is known to increase your heart rate, blood pressure and heart attack risk for an hour after smoking it. However, this is mainly a concern for people with existing heart conditions. The rise in blood pressure could result in feeling dizzy or lightheaded. It's important to always listen to your body when working out.

The other main concern is 'the euphoric and sedative-like effects' can alter a person's reaction time and coordination, according to heathline.com. The lack of coordination can cause accidents in the gym, resulting in serious injury. You could drop a weight on yourself, trip over something or not have proper form.

One important factor to keep in mind is everyone reacts differently to cannabis. So if you know when you're high you lose all coordination, then it's probably best you exercise sober and use cannabis after your workout as a recovery method. If you get solid focus and better coordination, then maybe try a few tokes before your next workout and see how your body reacts. The only way to know and learn about how your body and cannabis react is to watch yourself, study yourself and learn how you feel before, during and after a smoke sesh.

https://mashable.com/2018/02/07/weed-marijuana-yoga-spa-denver/

If you're the type of person who gets very sore and stiff after a workout, try using cannabis after. Cannabis is known to help with pain and soreness. Try incorporating cannabis in your stretching routine. Since it helps relax your muscles, you may feel more flexible and get a better stretch. 

If working out isn't your thing try going for a walk or hike high instead of plopping on the couch. See if your motivation shifts. Maybe you'll zone out and pass the time faster. Maybe it'll help you push past the burn, resulting in you going farther than usual!

I challenge all my fellow stoners to get moving the next time you toke up! Take your dog for a walk, do yoga, hula hoop or go for a jog. Do something that raises your heart rate. Show people that being a stoner does not mean you are lazy! I hope this article encourages you to get active next time you light up!

sources:

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/heres-why-working-out-while-high-is-probably-a-bad-idea#5

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/cannabis-users-who-mix-weed-and-tend-to-workouts-exercise-more-2019-05-01

https://www.menshealth.com/health/a27343908/cannabis-exercise-recovery-study/

https://www.gq.com/story/cbd-fitness-supplements