The Greener Pre & Post Workout Supplement: Cannabis

What do a mixed martial artist, football player, and pro snowboarder have in common besides a love for adrenaline rushes and athleticism? They all approve of cannabis as a training tool. Nick Diaz, Nate Jackson, and Ross Rebagliati are among a growing group of athletes that claim cannabis can be used as a supplement to either help improve focus or recover after a day’s hard work in the field.

As the negative stigma of the plant is slowly shredded by society, the benefits of it are reaching out not only to patients with ailments, but to those of us that are searching for an alternative to the supplements on the market we know can cause harm to the body and/or mind. Here’s a few realities about cannabis that might make you consider trying it as either a pre or post workout supplement.

Enhanced Runner’s High

Because THC is stored in the fat cells of the human body, what do you think happens when fat is being burned during the workout of a cannabis consumer? A study confirmed that “exercise enhances plasma THC levels in regular cannabis users.” Not only will a pumped-up workout regime grant you a natural runner’s high, stored THC has the potential to enhance the effects. This might be worth considering if caffeine isn’t your thing.

Increased Focus, Motivation, & Better Form

There are hundreds of strains out on the market today, and a great deal of them have been known to improve focus, concentration, and/or motivation rather than the stigma of creating laziness. These strains are generally sativa or hybrids – ones that affect the mind more so than the body. When consumed in proper doses before a workout, cannabis can improve the focus of a trainer, allowing them to stay on track without distraction and the motivation will come when one has the ability to keep on pumping that iron or running those miles even as muscles start to burn. One triathlete, Clifford Drusinsky, stated this about cannabis:

“Marijuana relaxes me and allows me to go into a controlled, meditational place. When I get high, I train smarter and focus on form.”

Discover More: Best Consumption Methods & Performance Enhancing Strains for Athletes

Natural Energy Boost

Other strains (some being the same as those that increase focus/motivation) provide the consumer with a surge of energy, truly killing the myth that all weed will make you unmotivated and lazy. If you’ve ever tried the strain “Green Crack,” the name tells it all. Cannabis naturally increases heart rate while simultaneously relaxing smooth muscles, including arteries, so getting oxygen to both the brain and body comes easier in much the same way caffeine might.

Keeps You Going Longer

This is a given once you’ve found the right strain that increases both your motivation and energy. Many of us feel tired after doing some cardio and/or getting in a few sets. However, as cannabis increases both motivation and energy – this type of high can last anywhere from 45 minutes up to three hours depending on strain and body type. You’ll certainly last 45 minutes, but the great majority of cannabis highs last longer – an average of an hour and a half/two hours.

Eases Tension & Pain

If you’re not one to dally with your pre-workout routine and are looking for relief after a burning session, you can turn towards the indica varieties of cannabis to help ease the strain of workout in a similar way a hot tub might (except, far less wet). Indica varieties affect the body more than the mind, relaxing muscles and helping ease any discomfort. Many patients turn towards this type of cannabis to ease pain associated with ailments.

Discover More: 9 Best Cannabis Strains for Post-Workout Tension

Control Appetite

No matter what your fitness goals are – losing weight or gaining – there’s a strain for you that can either suppress or increase appetite. Many that train to gain muscle will find that consuming an appetite-enhancing strain after a workout readies them for a big meal in order to fuel their muscles. Others that are trying to lose weight can consume a strain before or after training to suppress their appetite depending on when they’re feeling hungry.

Relax & Rest

Some of us have problems sleeping when consuming pre-workout supplements. Instead of turning towards more manmade products and chemicals to help with our sleep schedule, cannabis naturally does the job for us. Various indica strains are known for their ability to induce sleep while simultaneously relaxing the body. These are the strains that gave cannabis the negative “lazy” stigma. When used before bedtime however, these strains can be quite useful. The best part? You won’t feel groggy in the morning and you’ll be ready to take on the day!