Here’s What Happened When I Used CBD Before & After a Workout

CBD Before Workout: Loosening and Limbering from the Inside Out

I already knew that CBD is a cannabinoid, or a plant-based compound derived from either cannabis or its cousin, hemp. Because CBD isn’t intoxicating (that cannabinoid is THC), I knew that it wouldn’t make me feel “high.” But I wondered if I would feel anything at all using it to prepare my muscles for exercise.

I tried both a CBD topical and a CBD oil ingestible. My sense was that they both worked in subtle ways to instill a very gentle sense of calm and preparedness. It wasn’t a huge revelation or a shift in perspective, but I found it quietly grounding. Because I can suffer from performance anxiety around workouts or other challenges, this sense of inner relaxation really helped set me up for deeper and more demanding workouts without worrying that I’d overdo it.

By the same token, I was actually grateful that the effects of the CBD were so subtle. I find that some products—like so-called “heat rubs”—are overly distracting, blocking normal pain signals and leading me to overexert myself. By comparison, I found that CBD didn’t completely numb the normal discomfort I associate with a good workout. It just turned down the volume of hair.

CBD After Workout: Loosening and Limbering from the Inside Out

CBD helped set me up for better workouts and it really came into its own after I was finished exercising. I’m familiar with what some personal trainers call "Delayed onset muscle soreness," or “DOMs.” It’s the usual stiffness and soreness that appears after hard physical exertion, and while I know it’s not anything to really worry about, it can be uncomfortable.

Well, guess what? Using CBD after a workout—again, in topical or edible CBD oil formats—made a huge difference in my experience of muscle strain. It didn’t disappear completely, and again, to be clear: it was never excruciating to begin with. But CBD really helped loosen up my tired muscles, offering a subtle and long-lasting sense they were healing and well supported.

Later, I wondered if part of this effect was due to something besides what the CBD was doing for my muscles. And it turns out that over and above the potential for CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties, it’s been shown to tame stress and improve sleep quality. I can’t be 100% sure, but my guess is that it’s these qualities that helped give me that feeling of relaxation and confidence in my own body. I can tell you this much: It made a huge difference in the way I approached each post-implementation workout. My body felt ready to tackle a new day of fitness. Now that I know there’s a gentle and plant-based medication I can lean on, I’m pretty sure it’s going to be my go-to workout buddy for the foreseeable future.

Do you have other questions about using CBD for workout recovery? Just ask! We’re here to help.