Cannabidiol is having a massive moment in the health and wellness industry.
Better known as CBD, the plant extract has proved popular for enhancing general well-being.
CBD oil is now making its way into the fitness industry. It may be useful to encourage wellness after a workout and have more effective fitness sessions.
In this guide, we are going to take a deeper look into CBD and weight training:
- Why CBD oil can help with weightlifting
- What are the potential benefits of using CBD oil for weightlifting?
- And how to use CBD oil for weightlifting
In this guide:
CBD oil for weightlifting: How does it work?
CBD is popping up in every industry these days. CBD is a molecule extracted from the cannabis or hemp plant that has become a popular supplement for those looking to enhance their overall sense of well-being.
So, what exactly does this mean for weightlifting?
After working out, most fitness fanatics consume a protein shake or protein-rich foods to repair their muscles.
Protein contains essential amino acids, which are the building blocks of all life. These essential nutrients help to repair torn muscle fibres, which is what leads to muscle growth and an increase in strength.
The focus after a workout is to help these muscles to repair and to control inflammation, which is what leads to delayed onset muscle soreness, or DOMS.
CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is responsible for maintaining balance throughout the body. This system is involved in everything from pain and inflammation response to hormone release.
By supporting the ECS, you can ensure the body has what it needs to recover after a tough workout. It is safe to take CBD after a workout, as well as before.
Yet, to attain the best results, it may be better to use it after a workout to promote your health after exercising.
Read more: CBD for pain
In addition, CBD may help you to wind down at night, ensuring you get the rest you need to recover properly. It might also be effective for maintaining focus, which is essential for achieving a good mind-muscle connection while lifting weights.
Is CBD oil good for weight training?
The balancing processes of CBD suggest that it could be effective in encouraging health and well-being in the body.
If you’re a regular in the gym, you’ll be familiar with the muscle soreness that often happens after a workout. Equally, you will know how good it feels to replenish your muscles with active ingredients that benefit repair and recovery.
Athletes and weightlifters know that they need to fuel their bodies to be able to reach their potential, and CBD is just another way to support your body.
Those who have better overall general health will experience muscle repair much faster than those who have poor health and well-being.
This is where CBD comes in. CBD encourages your general health and well-being, which can make you less prone to muscle tears and damage and mean your muscles repair faster.
How CBD oil supports weight lifting
Improves general wellbeing
CBD interacts with the ECS to improve overall wellness, which is important for weight training
Improves sleep for muscle recovery
CBD may lead to better sleep which encourages protein synthesis necessary for muscle repair
Better focus during workouts
CBD may improve focus during workouts for a better mind-muscle connection
Less prone to injuries
By supporting wellness and recovery, CBD may make you less prone to muscle injuries
Does CBD oil build muscle?
Muscle is not built in the gym. We build muscle after a workout by nourishing our bodies and then giving them time to rest. During sleep, our body allows time for protein to synthesize.
Protein synthesis repairs muscle damage, which occurs during exercise and weightlifting. When muscles are repeatedly stressed, broken and then repaired, they grow.
This process of breaking down and repairing muscle can lead to soreness which is caused by inflammation in the muscle. This can make it difficult to stick to a schedule, as you might feel too sore to return.
Training with sore muscles can also lead you to compensate for weaknesses, and this can lead to injury. By using CBD topicals to help control muscle soreness, you might find you are able to stick to a schedule and train more effectively.
In addition, using CBD for sleep is also very common. Cannabidiol before bed is popular because of its relaxing, rebalancing effects, which aid in getting a better night’s rest. CBD may encourage better sleep, which encourages protein synthesis, where muscle repair can take place.
In short, CBD is not necessarily the key to building muscle, as that is what proteins are there to do, but CBD does help to nourish the body for better protein synthesis.
Benefits of CBD oil weight training
There are several ways that CBD can help to support a weight training programme. This includes:
- Supporting rest and recovery
- Improving concentration while working out
- Supporting overall health and wellbeing
CBD is the ideal addition to your post-workout smoothie as it will help to support your body and your ECS. You could also consider muscle balm rubs, which provide spot relief from pain.
The ingredients found in CBD muscle balms will penetrate deep into the joint or muscle and provide heating/cooling therapy, which is often recommended for soreness after a workout.
Read more: CBD superfood smoothies & shakes
Is CBD oil good before a workout?
Using CBD before a workout can balance your mood (which is influenced by the ECS), which may help improve performance.
CBD oil is commonly known and used for improving mood due to its close work with the endocannabinoid system. This is ideal if you feel anxious about working out, which can happen as you begin to lift heavier.
If you would like to use it before a workout, it may be best added to a smoothie or a drink of choice. You can also take CBD oil drops under your tongue around 30 minutes before your workout.
Read more: CBD oil for anxiety
Is CBD oil good after a workout?
When you consume or apply CBD oil after a workout, the compound works with the endocannabinoid system and encourages overall well-being.
You might choose to take CBD in the evening after a workout to help you to wind down and prepare for rest. The important thing when choosing to add CBD to your routine is to stay consistent.
Consistency is key with all supplements, and CBD is no different. You should try taking it at the same time for at least 30 days to see if it has an impact on your training.
If you are using CBD topicals, such as our muscle balm, you can apply this after a workout to areas where you typically feel sore or tight. It’s an excellent addition to your cooldown routine to help improve blood flow to muscles and joints.
How do you use CBD oil for weightlifting?
When using CBD for weightlifting, you can decide whether you would prefer to ingest it or rub it onto your skin. Popular methods include:
Sublingual CBD for weight training
The most popular way to enjoy CBD is with oral drops. These are placed under the tongue, where the cannabinoids are absorbed directly into the bloodstream.
Edible CBD before and after gym
Another popular way to add CBD to your weightlifting routine is with edible treats. The most common edibles are gummy sweets, which are popular as a pre-workout snack as they provide a readily available energy source for your muscles.
You could also add CBD oil drops to a smoothie or drink, either before or after your workout.
Topical CBD for sore muscles
If you would prefer to rub CBD on the affected area, you can use various skin products. The most common CBD rub products include oils or CBD-infused balms and lotions.
Massage after a workout is great for improving mobility and blood flow to the muscles. These CBD topicals will also contain heating/cooling ingredients that will help to improve blood flow to the area.
It’s also possible to combine multiple CBD products to achieve the desired effect. For example, you might enjoy some CBD gummies to help fuel your workout, follow this with a CBD protein shake, and then end the day with muscle balm before bed.
Whatever method you choose, it’s important to make sure you understand the pros and cons of each.
Recommended for inflammation:
CBD Balm
A soothing CBD rub with a natural calming effect on sore muscles.
CBD dosage to use for weightlifting
When choosing how to take CBD oil, you also need to consider the strength of the CBD oil you will use and to ideal dosage for your needs. There is no standard dosing for CBD, so you may need to experiment to find what works best for you.
For those new to CBD oil and who would prefer to consume it, it is ideal to start with a daily dose of between 10 and 15mg. If you do not notice any effect, you can increase the dose by 5 to 10 mg per day until you feel relief.
For the ingestion method, the maximum dose of CBD oil for weightlifting is 70 mg per day. It is essential to understand that it is possible to witness the effects with a lower dose.
Adverse side effects may occur if a person is unfamiliar with the product or uses too much, including dizziness or drowsiness. But, the side effects will be short-lived.
It is ideal to start small with your daily doses and build up your tolerance to avoid such side effects. If the side effects do not stop, it is advised to stop taking the CBD product and seek medical advice.
Alternatively, wait for the side effects to subside before trying it again.
Read more: CBD dosage
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Final thoughts
Whether you are new to exercise and weightlifting or not, everyone will suffer from sore muscles. Sore muscles always need repairing in order to relieve pain and grow.
CBD’s rebalancing properties may help with encouraging overall wellness within the body, which can therefore help to speed up the recovery process.
One of CBD’s main benefits is to restore balance within the body, which can help maintain your health after a workout.
