The Benefits of CBD for Weightlifters

Athletes are always looking to gain an edge on their competition, so it’s no surprise that CBD and its potential benefits is quickly gaining popularity among athletes, particularly weightlifters.

CBD’s properties can be beneficial for any person using weight training as part of their wellness regimen; however, athletes participating in more intensive sports such as CrossFit, powerlifting, bodybuilding, and Olympic lifting who put enormous amounts of strain on their bodies while training and competing could notice CBD’s benefits to a higher degree.

How can CBD help weightlifters achieve maximum results? Learn more below.

Common Weightlifting Ailments

As with any sport, putting the mind and body through rigorous training and movements can result in anxiety, aches, pains, and more. What are the most common issues seen among weightlifters?

• Anxiety: Like athletes in other sports, weightlifters are driven by performance and results, and performance anxiety can get in the way of a weightlifter completing a lift or a specified number of repetitions.
• Muscle Inflammation: Performing complex movements to move large volumes or weight or completing a set number of repetitions requires muscle training and growth. However, incorrect form or overtraining can result in inflammation that can limit a weightlifter’s training schedule.
• Muscle Pull or Strain: When a muscle is fatigued or used improperly, over-stretching and tears can occur. Due to weightlifting’s reliance on compound movements, most weightlifters experience this injury at some point.
• Joint Pain: Putting stress on a weightlifter’s joints through repetitive movements or through lifts that involve heavy weight can wreak havoc on the body. Conditions usually include simple strains and tendonitis.

How CBD Can Help Weightlifters

Pre-Workout

Fueling the body is essential, regardless of which sport an athlete participates in. In weightlifting, especially, muscles are pushed to the max during intense training sessions. Of course, these athletes need to eat the right foods to achieve expected results, but supplying the body with additional cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids can also play a vital role in performance.

Recovery

A big misconception about weightlifting is that muscle growth occurs during training. In reality, muscle is built while sleeping and during recovery periods. When a weight is lifted, damage is done to muscle proteins. The body’s response is to build new, larger muscle proteins, creating larger size and strength in the damaged muscle. However, damaging muscle proteins can cause the ailments mentioned earlier, inhibiting sleep and recovery.

When CBD is introduced into the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS)—a system that helps regulate several important bodily functions—CBD loosely binds to CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are primarily found in the brain and are associated with mood, energy levels, pain, and appetite. CB2 receptors, on the other hand, are found throughout the rest of the body and help manage inflammation. Supplementing the body with CBD helps the ECS do its job more effectively and, in turn, could alleviate common weightlifting issues.

Which CBD Products Are Best for Weightlifting?

The best products depend on each athlete’s specific needs, as there’s no set CBD dosage for weightlifters. However, here are some general guidelines:

• Pre-workout: Before hitting the gym for a tough workout, try using CBD oil or an edible. Start with a dose of a full spectrum CBD tincture or gummy to help the body relax and loosen up.
• Mid-workout: Feeling overwhelmed during a hard session? Pop in a piece of CBD gum, a perfect way to get a cannabinoid boost while pumping iron.
• Post-workout: To target a specific muscle group when experiencing aches and pains, try a CBD topical cream.
• Recovery days: Some of the top CBD uses are for pain and inflammation. Tinctures, gummies, and topicals are all great ways to alleviate these common weightlifting issues.

Things Weightlifters Should Know About CBD Use

According to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), CBD is on the approved substances list, so weightlifters competing in sports regulated by this governing body can safely use CBD products. However, you should verify that CBD is allowed by any other respective sport’s regulations to ensure compliance.

Also, before purchasing any CBD product, check for verified lab results to ensure safety and reliability. Since CBD contains trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), you’ll want to be sure that the product doesn’t contain more than 0.3% THC.

If you’re an athlete looking to get a leg up in training and performance, check out Frontier Jackson’s full line of CBD products.