CBD Pre-Workout: Can It Enhance Your Fitness Routine?

Working out is not always the easiest thing. for that reason many people turn to supplements before they work out to give them increase energy as well as supplements after they work out to help with the repair process for all of the muscle fibers that were torn and the inflammation that accompanies a heavy workout. 

Pre-workout supplements are a way to stimulate blood flow without having to endure a lengthy cardiovascular session. Athletes can find powders that dissolve in milk or water or infusions that provide things like:

• Creatine
• L-glutamine
• Vitamin B
• Caffeine

All of the ingredients common in pre-workout supplements are designed to boost energy and help with repair and recovery. In fact, some products are divided into pre and post-workout options, one of which is for better workouts, and the other for better recovery later that night. 

Many of the ingredients in common pre-workout supplements help raise nitric oxide levels while promoting energy. As CBD products have grown in popularity, so has the potential for a pre-workout with CBD. 

What explains this increase in popularity? Several factors. 

• For starters, CBD for pre-workout is a more natural way to get a pre-workout supplement without any of the unwanted side effects of more traditional ingredients.
• Pre-workout CBD comes with ingredients that can control pain levels and inflammation, which can improve the workout quality even in a limited time frame.

How might CBD affect energy levels, focus, and motivation? There are several potential benefits of CBD pre-workout.

Pain and inflammation reduction

CBD can help manage pre-existing pain and inflammation, potentially leading to improved workout performance. How?

Your endocannabinoid system is a complex system which regulates several functions, such as:

• Appetite
• Mood
• Sleep
• Memory
• Reproduction 

Within this system, cells are responsible for signaling the areas within their control. There are three components within the endocannabinoid system.

1. First, there are the endocannabinoids produced by your body, which are very similar to the endocannabinoids found in hemp plants, like CBD.
2. Second, there are the receptors that bind to these endocannabinoids–naturally produced or otherwise. These are found throughout the body and are divided into two main receptors, CB1 and CB2. CB1 is located in the central nervous system, and CB2 is in the peripheral nervous system. Endocannabinoids can connect with either, and where they connect determines how they manage systems, including pain and inflammation. 
3. Third, there are the enzymes that break down and remove endocannabinoids once they have served their purpose. 

CBD helps with pain by inhibiting certain endocannabinoid signals in CB1 and CB2, cutting off the pain signals traveling between your central nervous systema nd your brain stem. 

CBD can link to CB2 and signal your immune cells to reduce inflammation, which not only reduces inflammation during a workout but can also help relieve pain. Under normal circumstances, when you work out, you tear the muscle fibers, and then they get inflamed, which provides an opportunity for them to rebuild even stronger. But if too much inflammation and too much pain happens immediately, it can take away from the quality of your workout by removing your motivation. With a CBD pre-workout, you have the opportunity to potentially override this pain and inflammation until after you have completed a stronger workout.

Note: Be advised that inflammation is a normal part of the process, and if you take too much of any substance to try and reduce inflammation, you can inhibit the repair process and how quickly your muscles can grow stronger. 

Anxiety and stress reduction

CBD’s effects on reducing pre-workout anxiety or stress are strongly evidenced by research, which has confirmed its usefulness as a regular treatment for acute anxiety and a legitimate pharmacological alternative for social anxiety disorder. 

For many people during the workout, particularly when they are otherwise busy and stressed, it can be difficult to stay motivated and to keep energy levels high. This can contribute to:

1. Poor workout quality
2. Higher risk of injury
3. Shorter workouts 

For that reason many people consider a pre-workout with CBD beneficial because it contributes to a more focused and effective exercise session, doing away with the anxiety and stress that might otherwise inhibit the quality and duration of the workout while also alleviating risks of injury from lack of focus.

Tangentially, studies have assessed CBD and its relationship to heart rate variability, and confirmed that CBD prework can have a positive effect on heart rate, by increasing sedation and improving anticipatory stress regulation. As such, you can avoid the feeling of being “pumped” or easily maxed out because of high heart rate that often accompanies other pre-workouts. 

Improved sleep quality

CBD is known for inducing sleep and making it easier to stay asleep once you get there. The enhanced sleep resulting from regular CBD use can enhance recovery and performance because it enables you to remain asleep during a critical time for your body to make repairs to damaged tissue. 

Research indicates that CBD can extend sleep time, which can be great for those who have just worked out. Many traditional pre-workouts have a lot of caffeine and other stimulants in them, which can make it difficult to fall asleep that night if you work out too closely to the end of the day. However, CBD products can reduce stress hormones, which makes it easier for people to fall asleep. 

By controlling the cortisol in your body, you can reduce how frequently you wake up at night too, leaving you well rested when you wake. 

Similarly, many people can gain enhanced recovery because CBD might support muscle recovery through its anti-inflammatory properties. As mentioned, the pain management and anti-inflammatory component of CBD can help reduce inflammation, which, by its nature, expedites the recovery time. This means you can get to your next workout sooner. 

So how can you use a pre-workout CBD product successfully? make sure you understand the recommended dose and the timing.

Recommended doses for taking CBD before workouts

There are several individual factors that affect CBD dosage, including:

• Weight
• Age
• Metabolism
• Health conditions
• Tolerance

Generally, there is a recommendation for dosages between 20 mg and 40 mg per serving.

When you look at a CBD product it will list the amount of CBD in that product usually in milligrams. In most cases products from reputable companies will differentiate between the amount in milligrams per dose and per container size.

Be aware that if you are using a pre-workout that is a shot, you might be advised to take the entire shop before a workout, but if you are using something like an oil or a tincture that you are adding to a protein shake or your water, you might have to go off the recommendation per dropper full of oil. 

A good rule for mild, moderate, and severe symptoms is the following: 1 mg per 10 pounds for moderate improvement. 

Note: Higher doses may be recommended to treat specific symptoms or conditions, like an aforementioned anxiety disorder, but as a pre-workout supplement, it is better not to exceed this recommendation.  

CBD for pre-workout: Timing

As is the case with any pre-workout, a pre-workout with CBD needs to be taken out of a specific time. It’s up to you to look at the onset, which refers to how quickly something takes effect, and then to monitor the onset in your own body based on the product you are using.

For example, some products like the Lemon Orange Active Shot have an onset around 15 to 20 minutes. you should start to feel the effects within that time frame at which point you can begin your workout. be advised that in some people it takes a little bit longer like 30 minutes and then others it might activate sooner.

Tip: If you keep a workout list or any type of notes, add information in those notes about the onset, noting when you took your CBD pre-workout and when it kicked in. Then, note how you felt during and after the workout. This can be useful in determining the exact amount and type you like best. 

CBD for pre-workout can come in many forms and what might work best for you is contingent upon your style, personal preferences, and traditional workout routine.

Oils

Oils are infusions that have concentrated amounts of CBD and other complementary ingredients. If you pick oils, you can’t be selective about whether they focus on energy, stress reduction, or pain management and mix one or more based on the appropriate dosage into an existing drink like a protein shake. Alternatively, you can put them directly under your tongue for faster absorption.

Edibles

Edibles are food based products that you consume like gummies and these can be fast and simple ways to avoid bulking up the amount of things you have to eat or drink before a workout. people who don’t like to drink large shakes or chuck a water bottle before a workout might prefer something like this. 

Shots

Shots are often an easier way to get a CBD pre-workout because they are small, like a regular 8-ounce mixture you might make at home using traditional pre-workout powder. 

These are often fast-acting, like the Lemon Orange Active Shot, which has 50mg CBD and 5 mg CBG per shot. It also has 40mg of caffeine from green tea, vitamin C for energy and recovery, with a delightful lemon-orange flavor. There are terpenes designed to support pain relief and energy, including:

• Alpha-Pinene
• Beta-Pinene
• Limonene

The mixture of these ingredients combined with the use of nanotechnology for rapid onset and ultimate bioavailability means you have an uplifting product that gives you the energy to be productive and have a great workout without the jitters or shaking that come with other pre-workout supplements. 

Broad vs. full spectrum

With all CBD pre-workout supplements, you need to be aware of whether the product is broad or full spectrum. 

• Full-spectrum CBD products contain THC, which does not get filtered out during the cannabinoid extraction process.
• Broad-spectrum CBD does not have THC. If a product is labeled as “no THC,” then it is a broad-spectrum product. 

Note: There is not enough THC in full-spectrum products to get you high. Legal limits are up to 0.3% THC. 

Be sure to pick the kind of product, including the type and the spectrum that works best for your circumstances, taking into consideration health concerns or work limitations. 

There are several potential benefits and considerations of using CBD as a pre-workout supplement. If you are interested in selecting high-quality CBD products aimed at enhancing workout routines, conduct your own research and consult with healthcare professionals before introducing CBD into your fitness routines.