If you’ve recently obtained your medical marijuana card, you’re probably looking forward to medicating yourself with a dose of MMJ on a regular basis. However, you may be worrying about how it’s going to affect your overall fitness. The media would have you believe that anyone who touches cannabis instantly turns into a lazy couch potato but this is not the case. True, there are a few medical cannabis users that fit this stereotype, but there is no reason why it has to be so. We’ve got some top tips on how to fit medical marijuana into a healthy lifestyle.
Avoid Smoke
There are much healthier ways to consume medical marijuana than smoking.
Let’s look at the stereotypical ‘stoner’ again, often portrayed with a joint hanging out of his mouth. This is a passé trope that has long been outdated. There are several alternative ways to consume MMJ and smoking does not have to be one of them. These include edibles, tinctures, juicing and tea.
If you do love the ceremony of smoking medical cannabis, then why not try vaping? Studies have shown that this on-trend method of smoking MMJ is less damaging to your lungs as you can select the temperature that you ‘cook’ the MMJ at, thereby avoiding toxins as well as the damaging elements of tobacco that goes into rolled joints.
In relation to exercise, if you’re walking around with a chest full of smoke, you’ll going to be much less incentivized to go for a run or hit the gym. Concurrently, if you do exercise, the smoke in your lungs is going to have a negative effect on your workout.
It is possible to fit exercise and medical marijuana into a healthy lifestyle.
Medical Marijuana and Working Out
Plenty of pro-athletes have extolled the virtues of medical marijuana with none other than the ex-Governor of California and former Mr. Universe Arnold Schwarzenegger singing its praises. It can help relax your body after a workout and also increase your appetite if you’re looking to gain muscle mass. Many leading athletes agree that you can fit medical marijuana into a healthy lifestyle; you just have to be careful how you do it.
However, it’s important not to mix exercise and MMJ use directly. Dosing yourself before you head out to lift weights or go swimming is clearly a bad idea. It’s best to wait until after you exercise and want to relax before you take any medical cannabis.
One idea is to mix MMJ into your post-workout protein shake. As well as the protein powder, fruit and milk that delivers the protein and nutrients that you need to replenish your body with, you’ll also get your daily dose of medical marijuana. Just make sure to read up on Juicing Medical Cannabis: A How-To Guide to guarantee that you’re preparing your MMJ correctly.
Watching your calorie consumption is essential when assimilating medical marijuana into a healthy lifestyle.
Watch Out For The Munchies
It’s an uncontested fact that consuming cannabis will make you hungry; so how to avoid packing on the pounds while fitting medical marijuana into a healthy lifestyle?
Planning ahead is crucial here; once you have taken your MMJ, it’s unlikely that you’re going to want to hit the kitchen for anything other than opening the fridge door. Therefore, prepare some healthy snacks that you’ll want to eat once you’ve dosed to avoid carb-loading or hitting the chocolate and crisp packets.
If you plan on taking MMJ after you exercise, be sure to create a high-protein snack before you start your workout.
One way to avoid the munchies is to actually combine your MMJ with eating; edibles are a popular way to consume medical marijuana. There are plenty of recipes that show you how to mix of MMJ with healthy snacks (not just hash brownies!) that will give you the desired effects of MMJ without the potentially unhealthy increase in appetite.
Get The Right MMJ For You
You may have heard of THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) as a good thing in marijuana as it increases the psychotropic ‘high’ effect for the user. However, this is should not be the focus of medical marijuana users and instead they should concentrate on the CBD (Cannabidiol) content of the cannabis that they choose.
CBD-rich cannabis will help to relieve anxiety whereas THC-rich cannabis can have the opposite effect. If you are wanting to assimilate medical marijuana into a healthy lifestyle, you should choose a strain that has low THC levels and a higher CBD content. This will help you avoid the sluggish side effects associated with excessive marijuana use as well as allow you to function in a normal fashion even after you’ve dosed.
If you’re unsure which strain to choose, head to a medical marijuana dispensary and ask the budmaster or staff there any questions and queries. They’ll be only too happy to help, as it’s their passion as well as their job.
It’s All About Moderation
Even when you’ve selected the perfect strain of medical marijuana for you, it’s easy to overdo your consumption. Arguably the most important aspect of fitting medical marijuana into a healthy lifestyle is moderation. Work out what your tolerance is and how large the dose has to be to treat your affliction without succumbing to any unwanted side effects.
If in doubt, err on the side of caution and start with small doses, gradually increasing them until you find your sweet spot.