How to Add Cannabis Into Your Workout Routines

Did you know that you could infuse cannabis into any activity? Yes, that includes adding cannabis into your workouts too! You’d be surprised how adding a bit of CBD or THC into your routine has shown to have several health benefits. These benefits range from reducing muscle inflammation to reducing the general anxiety of entering a crowded gym, especially during the pandemic.

In a survey of more than 1,000 cannabis users, 41.5% said they were incorporating more cannabis into their workout regimens during the pandemic. While smoking is by far the most popular way to consume cannabis for workouts, read on more for other ways to add cannabis into your workout routine!

1. Topicals
Topicals are a great way to introduce yourself into the world of cannabis. That’s right, you don’t have to smoke! Topicals are a wonderful option if you really aren’t trying to get high. In addition, if you want some general help with acnes, pains, and recovery, cannabis, or if you just solely want to use CBD, may help with that too. Applying either CBD or THC topically can reduce inflammation, ease soreness and help with muscle tension.

Pre & Post Workout Uses
If you’re a runner and you notice that your knees bother you after a run, try using a topical as well as making sure you stretch and ice the area. Your knees on your next run will thank you! Did you lift extra this week and your muscles are sore? Try some CBD and or THC muscle oil or lotion. Once you apply the topical in the effected area, you can expect to feel the effects within 10-20 minutes!

2. Tinctures
Another great avenue for adding cannabis into your workout routine is adding tinctures. Tinctures are extracted cannabis oils that you can drop under your tongue or even in your beverage. They are a great way to add cannabis into your system if you’re worried about inhalation for your lungs. Tinctures typically have a faster onset time of 15-30minutes whereas ingestibles can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours.

Pre & Post Workout Uses
Try adding a tincture into your water, or your pre / post protein shake. You can get a jump on your morning by adding a few drops into your pre-workout shake or morning coffee. In addition, for post workout recovery, try relaxing and stretching with the use of tinctures post workout. It's a great way to help those sore and tired muscles relax. Interested in learning more about topicals and tinctures? Check out our blog that’s all about it.

3. Ingestibles
Although topicals and tinctures are typically placed low on the list of ways to incorporate cannabis into workouts overall, these methods of ingestion are prevalent among those who wished to avoid the ashes caused by exercise. As mentioned before, ingestibles can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours for the effects to onset.

Pre & Post Workout Uses
Maybe you get too much in your head before your workout? A great way to feel great and to put your mind at ease is taking an edible before a long workout. It can help you get out of your head and into your body so you can focus on what you’re there to do. Just like making sure you’re stretched before you workout, it’s equally important to recovery after your workout. You can try adding an ingestible as part of your post workout recovery to help reduce inflammation and relax those muscles. Tinctures and edibles were reported as the most helpful for keeping post-workout pain at bay!

4. Smoking
The significant part about cannabis is that the whole plant can help. If you’re hesitant about being under the influence in a gym setting, then CBD is a great way to east into it. CBD helps reduce anxiety and inflammation without intoxicating effects.

Pre, During & Post Workout Uses
If you’re an experienced cannabis user, try incorporating it into your post-workout routine first! Smoking can help you focus on breathing and get to a more meditative or mindful state. After smoking, some people have expressed that the negative thoughts about getting tired and other physical discomfort during a run, hike, yoga session, etc. seem to melt away. In addition, smoking after you’ve worked out can help with muscle tension and sleep.

5. Mental Health Uses
Using cannabis isn’t just solely for your physical health, but it’s great for your mental health as well. Cannabis can help ease pain and anxiety around workout out. Cannabis can also be helpful for reducing gym-related anxiety, said Leland Radovanovic, the CEO of Conscious Communications, a cannabis and psychedelic communications strategy firm. Radovanovic said he takes a microdose (about two to three milligrams) of THC in the form of a small edible or hit of a vape pen before lifting weights. The mild effects help relieve anxiety and make him feel more positive and at ease.

"The mood change is subtle. Almost like a little weight off my shoulders," he said. "When you are trying to lift more than twice your body weight, the last thing that you need going through your mind is, 'There's no way I can do this.'"

If you’re having trouble finding the motivation, energy, or strength, cannabis may be just the tool you need! As we always say, it’s important to start low and go slow. We recommend that you start with beginner dosages especially if you’ve never tried any of these consumption methods. It’s always better to start with not enough than too much, and sometimes a little THC goes a long way. At GreenLabs, we have a wide variety of products for new patients as well as more seasoned cannabis enthusiast. If you’re looking to incorporate cannabis into you workout routine, we highly suggest it and if you have more questions, please speak to a budtender at GreenLabs about it today!