What are the benefits of exercising while being high?
Exercising when you're high on cannabis, that seems like a very special combination. Most people think of being high as relaxing on the couch and having your head in the clouds. Who's up for a tough workout? If you use cannabis you can also get the munchies, which is just as unadvisable if you want to get fit. Still, there may be something to be said for exercising when you're high. It can actually improve your motivation and be good for your stamina.
A strange combination: exercising when you're high?
Using cannabis is becoming more mainstream. Athletes also admit that they sometimes light a joint (like the famous swimmer Michael Phelps). Long-distance cyclist Roger Boyd likes to ride his bike while stoned. He drove about 30,500 km in two years, including through Europe, India, Australia and New Zealand. And that while he was vaping.
“People have a negative view of cannabis users,” he told the Daily Star. “while they don't have that from people who drink alcohol. And that while alcohol is much more harmful.” Boyd admits he loves getting on his bike and exercising while stoned. And there are more athletes who say that cannabis actually makes them perform better. Is there scientific evidence that being high has a positive effect on your workout?
Why exercise when you're high?
Many people will light a joint simply because they enjoy the effects or for their health. In general, the opinion is that cannabis does not directly encourage you to exercise. Still, being high can have positive effects on your training. Below you can read more about the possible benefits it can have.
Increase your motivation
Some athletes report that smoking weed before exercising improves their motivation. Smoking ensures that they get more pleasure from training and that they can persevere better, even when the going gets tough. For example, you could do a few more repetitions of an exercise. Even if a workout gets boring, like a treadmill workout, it's better to stick with it when you're high. This way you can train longer than if you hadn't smoked.
Positive effect on fitness
Research shows that weed users exercise an average of 2 ½ hours per week longer than non-users . This is probably due to the effects mentioned above, which means that people get more enjoyment out of their workout and it is easier to keep up with it. But whichever way you look at it, a longer workout should be manageable. There is therefore a good chance that cannabis will have a positive effect on the condition.
Helps with recovery
The same research shows that cannabis can help with recovery after exercise. 77% of participants said they needed less time to recover after a workout. It is possible that the anti-inflammatory properties of cannabis play a role in this.
Reasons not to exercise when you are high
Although exercising after smoking a joint can have benefits, there are also reasons not to do this.
Influence on the heart and blood vessels
Using cannabis can lead to an increased heart rate and blood pressure. It may even increase the risk of a heart attack. The dose you take also plays a role here, meaning the more you use, the greater the effect on the heart and blood vessels. If you are healthy, however, this risk is not great and will not have much of an effect on your training. Nevertheless, this is something to take into account, especially if you do suffer from high blood pressure or heart problems.
Security
One of the most important things to keep an eye on is your own safety and that of others. If you want to exercise while you're high, you should keep in mind that cannabis can be sedating and have a negative effect on your coordination. It can also affect your mood and cause euphoria, for example. This allows you to estimate risks less well. That can of course be quite dangerous when exercising. You can fall faster, maybe go beyond your own limits or are a traffic hazard.
How can you safely combine sports with being high?
Using cannabis before exercise can have benefits. But it is wise to make sure you do this safely. Note the following points:
Adjust your dose
Even if you use weed regularly, it's best to adjust your dose when you want to exercise. Experts recommend taking a lower dose than you think you need. You want to achieve a different effect than when you use recreationally. Your goal is not to get a cracking high, but you want to achieve a mild high that has a slight impact on your consciousness. This makes it possible to perform well. It is recommended to start with a small amount of 5 mg THC. See how you feel about that and increase with a few milligrams more next time.
Choose an appropriate sport
It is also wise to choose the right sport that you want to do when you are high. This is mainly about safety. If your coordination and concentration is impaired, it is therefore not a good idea to go climbing or cycling or running around the city. Because of the effects on the heart rate, a cardio workout is also not recommended.
Strength sports and a fat-burning workout to lose weight can work well in combination with weed. Indoor training is the safest, for example running on a treadmill, a workout on an exercise bike, weight lifting or yoga. If you're concerned about the judgments of others, opt for a cozy home workout.
Want to take advantage of the positive effects of cannabinoids during exercise without getting high? Then CBD Oil a good option. This does not contain THC, but a full spectrum oil does contain all cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids from the hemp plant.
