5 Mistakes To Avoid While Using Cannabis For Your Fitness

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Cannabis needs no introduction in the health and wellness quarters. Extracts from the plant have been used from time immemorial to manage various medical conditions, including pain, anxiety, low libido, etc.

Due to its potent medicinal properties, the popularity of cannabis now extends beyond the health and wellness sector. You can also use some of its compounds to optimize your workouts. However, for cannabis to work for your fitness needs, you must proceed with caution and avoid common beginner mistakes.

Read on to uncover the top five mistakes to avoid while using cannabis for fitness.

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1.   Spending Too Much Money but Getting No Value for It

Quality cannabis products are anything but cheap. While the cannabis industry is relatively regulated, cases abound of consumers who spent hundreds of dollars on ineffective cannabis products. Investing in substandard cannabis products means that you do not get value for your money. It also exposes you to potential side effects.

When it comes to investing in cannabis products for your workouts, there are only two ways to guarantee your money. First, always buy weed online from trusted vendors. These must be suppliers who enjoy positive reviews across reputable online review platforms.

Most importantly, inquire about the methods of extraction and lab test results, while also familiarizing yourself with the cannabinoids percentage.

2.   Choosing the Wrong Compound

Cannabis products fall under three main categories, namely isolates, broad-spectrum, and full-spectrum products. Isolates refer to products that contain only one cannabinoid. For instance, CBD isolates comprise only cannabidiol. Isolates are ideal for people who’re exclusively looking to enjoy the benefits of a particular compound of cannabis.

Broad-spectrum products refer to products formulated without the mind-altering compound, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is the compound in cannabis that accounts for the plant’s most psychoactive properties. If you’re looking to optimize your workouts without subjecting yourself to the famous “high,” your best bet is to choose broad-spectrum cannabis products.

Lastly, full-spectrum products refer to cannabis products that contain cannabidiol, tetrahydrocannabinol, and a host of other compounds. Full-spectrum products are recommended for seasoned cannabis users. They’re particularly encouraged if you’re looking to synergize the therapeutic effects of the different compounds of the cannabis plant. When used together, CBD, THC, and other cannabinoids and terpenoids in full-spectrum products deliver compounded medicinal benefits known as the entourage effect.

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3.   Expecting Too Much Too Soon

There’s no denying the fact that cannabis is a beneficial herb. According to research, cannabis packs powerful analgesic properties, which can help pain management during your workouts. Cannabis extracts like CBD help delay or reduces the severity of Delayed Onset of Muscle Soreness (DOMS).

By acting against exercise-induced pain, cannabis can help you to stay focused while also ensuring that your workouts do not suffer downtimes. Another way cannabis can improve your fitness is by relieving anxiety and workout-related fatigue.

But despite all the documented evidence on the performance-enhancing abilities of cannabis, it may not work for you. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the product you’re using is ineffective. It might as well imply that you’re expecting too much too soon.

The convention is to use cannabis for some time and allow your body to familiarize itself with it. But even after letting it some time, the herb might still not deliver your intended workout goals, depending on your body’s interactions with it.

4.   Ignoring Dosing Instructions

Cannabis has no ideal dosage. Generally, the amount of cannabis that you consume for your workouts depends on;

• Your age and body weight
• Your body chemistry, which includes aspects like your metabolic rate, sensitivity, and dependency on cannabis
• The method of consumption.
• The strength of cannabis in each product
• The severity of the pain, anxiety, or inflammation that you’re trying to treat

The fact that cannabis has no ideal dose should come as pleasant news. That’s because users can experiment with smaller doses until they achieve their perfect dose, popularly known as the ‘sweet spot.’

It’s important to remember that cannabis is counterproductive if used in large amounts, and more cannabis doesn’t necessarily help you achieve your workout goals faster.

To establish your ideal dose, start slow, especially if you’re a new user. Monitor how your body responds to cannabis and then gradually increase your doses until the condition you’re trying to treat goes away.

5.   Wrong Method of Administration

There are several ways to consume cannabis, including;

• Sublingual administration, where you drip cannabis oil tinctures underneath your tongue and then swallow
• Swallowing cannabis-infused capsules, pills, and tablets
• Cannabis edibles like baked goods, gummies, candies, chocolates, and beverage drinks
• Vaping cannabis e-juice.
• Smoking cannabis buds or flowers.
• Topical application of cannabis-enriched beauty and skincare products

Each of these methods comes with its pros and cons.

For instance, smoking cannabis flowers, vaping cannabis e-liquids, and dripping cannabis oil tinctures underneath the tongue have been identified as the fastest-acting methods to consume the herb. These methods also come with higher bioavailability. On the other hand, edibles and pills come with long-lasting effects.

Conclusion

Before using cannabis for your fitness, you should first understand the methods of consumption that work for you. For instance, ointments would be more effective against skin inflammation, whereas edibles are excellent for warding off DOMS.

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Cannabis remains one of the most effective herbs against pain, anxiety, inflammation, insomnia, etc. That makes it the go-to herb if you’re keen on boosting your workouts, or just to keep fit. But before incorporating cannabis into your fitness routine, remember to avoid the five common beginner mistakes highlighted above.