After our article on the effect of alcohol on exercise, we bring you another a very popular vice that many younger exercisers slip into from time to time. As you can probably tell from the title of the article, we're going to talk about marijuana today, and we'll try to capture both the positive and negative qualities of this drug in a completely unbiased way here as well.
What are the positive effects of smoking marijuana on exercise?
Believe it or not, even smoking marijuana can have some benefits in terms of gaining muscle mass. Some of the most important ones, which we'll elaborate on below, include improving sleep quality, relaxing physical and mentaltension, activation of the endocannabinoid system, regulation of blood sugar levels and possible improvement in concentration, but this is highly individual.
1. May improve concentration
Let us mention at the outset a point which, as we mentioned above, is highly individual. While smoking marijuana can completely scatter the thoughts of some, many yogis findbelieve that this herb will calm them down, harmonise them and help them concentrate better on the activity at hand.
In some extreme sports , it can also overcome some fear. But positive doping tests for THC have also been found in boxer Mike Tyson and tennis player John McEnroe, among many other top athletes.
2. It activates the endocannabinoid system
The endocannabinoid system itself is very interesting. It is a system that influences basic physiological functions of the organism, e.g.such as muscle pain, appetite and memory, by releasing the body's own cannabinoids.
During physical exercise, cannabinoid production increases, and therefore the occasional use of herbal phytocannabinoids multiplies these protective mechanisms.
3. Helps regulate blood sugar levels
V one study published in the American Journal of Medicine found that regular marijuana users had up to 16% lower insulin levels. At the same time, insulin sensitivity decreased by about the same amount.
In practice, this means that smoking marijuana can theoretically improve fat burning with regular use. However, this conflicts somewhat with the fact that marijuana can induce uncontrollableeating, as we mention in the negative effects section later in the article.
4. Improves sleep quality
It's certainly not news to you that marijuana improves sleep quality. However, this is absolutely essential for proper recovery, as we have already stated in our separate article on the subject. During sleep, the body produces more growth hormone and testosterone, which ensures the repair of damaged muscle fibers and therefore their growth.
What are the negative effects of smoking marijuana on exercise?
Since there are two sides to every coin , even smoking marijuana doesn't just have positive effects. Some of its biggest negatives include uncontrollable overeating, poorer attention span, longer reaction time as well as decreased strength performance. So let's break down each point one by one.
1. It lowers growth hormone levels
We'll start right off with a point that probably comes as a surprise to most of you. In one of the professional studies that regular smoking of marijuana lowers growth hormone levels. Basically, this happens in the same way that the body builds up resistance to insulin.
Long-term marijuana use reduces CB1 receptor sensitivity, interrupting the signaling pathway mTORimpairs protein synthesis and reduces insulin secretion itself.
2. It causes uncontrollable overeating
Uncontrollable overeating is a point that probably doesn't need much discussion. If you've ever smoked marijuana, you probably know what we're talking about. You come home at night and you're so hungry that you eat the entire fridge and its contents.
Even if it only happens from time to time, it can ruin your diet for days.
3. It increases reaction time
Prolonged reaction time and impaired attention span are other points that don't need too much discussion. Some scientific findings however, have found that in the long term, heavy users have shown impaired memory tests, psychomotor speed and manual dexterity.
Thus, in the long term, marijuana use is definitely not a good option.
4. It causes respiratory problems
Respiratory problems associated with marijuana use are not uncommon either. In addition to the development of asthma, bronchitis, and tumors, it is believed to many studies marijuana has been implicated in tuberculosis and, in extreme cases, oral cancer.
A significant problem arises when regular marijuana smoking is combined with an alreadyuse of growth hormone or other substances that rapidly accelerate the development of tumours.
What about marijuana before a workout?
Marijuana before a workout is, in my subjective opinion, the worst possible idea ever. While there may be exceptions, 95% of the time you won't be able to fully concentrate on the workout, let alone maintain that proper mind-muscle connection throughout the entire series.
Not to mention that it can induce drowsiness, increase reaction time, and decrease growth hormone levels during training.
How about marijuana after a workout?
If you train in the evening, smoking marijuana after training is not such a problem. Since you can improve the quality of sleep with this drug, it definitely poses no danger to potential users once in a while.
The next question, however, is whether it makes any sense at all to exercise regularly and follow a certain diet if you want to somehow disrupt it with weed on a more regular basis.
So what is the conclusion?
While marijuana has its positives, it's important to remember that the negatives clearly and it is impossible to summarize all aspects of this vice in one article. Although we have only mentioned a small part of the effects, we hope thatthat it has helped you in some way in forming an overall opinion of marijuana.
We at MyFitnessio certainly don't want to play the role of someone who strictly follows a diet and training plan and never takes steps away, e.g.For example, we like to indulge in alcohol from time to time, but our attitude towards drugs is very negative and we certainly do not recommend or encourage them to anyone.
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In conclusion, we can only remind you that you can write your opinions in the comments section.We will be happy to read them and answer them if necessary!
More episodes from the Fitness Vices series:
- Fitness Vices Series #1: How Does Alcohol Affect Exercise?
- Fitness Vices Series #2: What effect does marijuana have on working out?
- Fitness Vices Series #3: What Effect Does Smoking Have on Exercise?
- Fitness Vices Series #4: What are the pros and cons of anabolic steroids?
- Fitness series on vices #5: To what extent is drinking coffee beneficial?
- Fitness series on vices #6: Why is an uncontrolled cheat day a fast track to the bottom?
- Fitness series on vices #7: What is the effect of energy drinks on health?
- Fitness series on vices #8: Can fat burners really help with weight loss?
Why can you trust us?
Hey! Hey! I'm Mirek and I've been working at World Fitness almost since the beginning, except for a small break. But before that I lived only in the gym for a few years, doing deadlifts and power triathlon, going to competitions and winning a few medals.
Probably the one I value the most is the national record in the WUAP federation. But besides working out, I was also interested in food and supplements, I liked to enjoy my free timeI used to read different researches and professional books in my free time to know as much as possible.