Can CBD Improve Your Performance in The Gym?

With the popularity of CBD on the rise, you might be itching to try it.

Although it's true that nothing beats a healthy diet and quality sleep, CBD may have some benefits that you'll find interesting.

Before trying, an important thing to consider is seeing how CBD may affect your workout, especially if you're an athlete or an avid gym-goer.

What Is CBD?

CBD is one of the chemicals found in Cannabis, along with the more-famous THC. While THC has psychoactive properties, CBD doesn't have them at all. Some forms of CBD oil might contain a bit of THC, but most supplements are made from industrial hemp, which has a really low percentage of THC.

It comes in many forms: from pills and capsules, oils and edibles, to creams and vape pens.

You should probably be aware of the fact that the CBD industry is mostly unregulated, meaning that the dosages on the label might not be correct. Your best bet is to find a reputable manufacturer and stick with them if everything is fine.

It’s reported that CBD helps with anxiety, ADHD, schizophrenia, PTSD, and sleep problems.

CBD As a Pre-Workout

Taking CBD before a workout is probably a really bad idea, and here’s why.

While certain blogs may tell you that it lowers blood pressure and how that’s a benefit, it’s bad to lower your blood pressure during a training session.

To get any benefits from working out, we must stress our bodies. Our blood pressure going up is a natural process that helps us pump blood to our muscles faster. So just like breathing heavily during a workout session is expected, increasing your blood pressure is too.

If you’re suffering from hypertension, exercising can potentially help lower it, but getting a personal trainer and consulting your doctor is the best thing you can do.

CBD For Recovery & Post-Workout

Using CBD to recover from a hard workout session can actually be great for some people.

According to Kimberly A. Babson and colleagues, preliminary research shows that CBD supplements might help with insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness, and even REM sleep behavior disorder.

All of this means that CBD may improve the quality of your sleep, which is a fantastic thing if we consider how big of a role sleep plays in making gains.

Along with nutrition, getting quality sleep is most important when it comes to recovering from a workout. The body rebuilds itself the most during sleep. Therefore, it’s obvious that a sleep disorder will affect the quality of your workouts and impact the quality of your whole life.

CBD supplements also have an anti-inflammatory effect on your body. You can use it to treat joint and muscle pain, the best forms of CBD for such a task being topicals and tinctures.

This might be useful for athletes who aren't looking to gain muscle mass, but it's not ideal for the regular gym-goer.

If we aren't talking about an injury, inflammation is a normal and healthy response to training. Since we basically damage our muscles and connective tissues during the workout, our body calls for inflammation to start the healing process. The inflammatory process increases the blood flow to the affected muscles and joints and therefore clears out the waste from our muscles and fuels them with more energy.

Although a vital process in building muscle, it’s a great idea to reduce inflammation if you’re an athlete. Most athletes don’t want to gain too much muscle (bodybuilding-like size) because it may have the potential of slowing them down.

Using a natural anti-inflammatory supplement like CBD, you can reduce the damage done to your muscles and head into your next sports competition or training more recovered.

Conclusion

A lot more research needs to be done for us to fully grasp the effect of CBD on our training. While this is true, our knowledge of exercise physiology can give us insights into how this type of supplementation may affect us.

The World Anti-Doping Agency removed CBD from its banned substance list, so we are seeing many athletes start to use it instead of artificial anti-inflammatory drugs or other recovery aids.

Its anti-inflammatory properties aren't ideal for someone doing bodybuilding, but if you're training for strength or explosiveness, it can be another tool used for recovery.

CBD might help if you're suffering from sleep or anxiety problems, ADHD, and everything else mentioned in this article.

As mentioned before, it's important to note that the CBD supplementation industry isn't regulated. Along with dosage mislabeling, other cannabinoids might be present in the supplements, even though the label doesn't say so.

This can be a huge problem for athletes competing in tested federations.

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Machines vs. Free Weights: A Comprehensive Look at Strength Training

February 10, 2025

The debate over the superiority of machines versus free weights in strength training has persisted for decades. If you’re searching for a personal trainer in Nashville to help you navigate your fitness journey, understanding the roles of both training methods is essential. Rather than viewing them as competing approaches, it's crucial to recognize how they complement each other in an effective workout program. Machines: A Controlled Environment Machines offer a structured and guided approach to resistance training, making them a staple in almost every gym. Their defining characteristic is the fixed path of motion, which stabilizes the weight and controls movement. This design simplifies strength training, making it accessible to a broad audience, including beginners and those recovering from injuries. For individuals new to personal training in Nashville TN, machines can provide a safe introduction to resistance training. They help users focus on primary muscle engagement without worrying about balance and stabilization. For example, performing a chest press on a machine allows users to isolate the pectorals and triceps without the additional challenge of stabilizing a free weight. However, the structured nature of machines can also be a limitation. Since they guide the user along a predetermined path, they may not accommodate natural joint movement, potentially leading to discomfort or reinforcing imbalances over time. Additionally, machines often bypass stabilizing muscles, which are crucial for functional strength and overall balance. Machines shine in rehabilitation settings, allowing targeted muscle engagement without overloading injured areas. They are also highly beneficial for bodybuilders focusing on muscle isolation. By eliminating the need for stabilization, machines enable lifters to apply greater intensity to specific muscle groups without compromising form. Free Weights: Freedom and Functionality Free weights—including barbells, dumbbells, and kettlebells—offer unrestricted movement in multiple planes, making them highly effective for building functional strength. This versatility makes them an excellent choice for athletes and individuals seeking fitness training in Nashville that translates to real-world activities. Unlike machines, free weights demand more from the user, engaging a broader range of muscles with every exercise. For example, a barbell squat not only strengthens the quadriceps and glutes but also recruits the core, back, and smaller stabilizing muscles to maintain proper posture and control. Free weights allow for greater flexibility in workout design, with countless variations of exercises that can be tailored to specific goals. However, this freedom comes with a steeper learning curve. Without proper guidance, improper technique can lead to injury. This is where working with personal trainers in Nashville TN can be invaluable. Free weights are particularly effective for compound lifts such as squats, deadlifts, and presses, which work multiple muscle groups simultaneously. However, they can be intimidating for beginners who struggle with form or balance. This is where combining machines and free weights strategically can be beneficial. The False Dichotomy The debate between machines and free weights often presents them as opposing choices, but the truth is they serve different purposes and can coexist within a well-rounded training program. The best approach isn’t about choosing one over the other, but about utilizing both based on individual goals, experience level, and training context. For beginners, machines build confidence and establish foundational strength. As they progress, incorporating free weights enhances balance, coordination, and functional strength. For advanced lifters, machines provide a means to isolate specific muscles after heavy compound lifts. For example, a well-structured leg workout might include barbell squats to develop overall strength and coordination, followed by machine-based leg presses to target the quadriceps with greater intensity once stabilizing muscles are fatigued. Beyond the Gym The discussion also extends beyond gym settings. Many proponents of functional fitness argue that free weights better prepare the body for everyday movements like lifting, carrying, and climbing stairs. These activities require the integration of multiple muscle groups, similar to free-weight exercises. But one thing I am steadfast in saying is that “a strong body is a functional body.” So, any form of training that has a progressive strength element to it should be viewed as “functional,” whether it be machine or free weights. Yet, not everyone trains with functional fitness as their primary goal. For bodybuilders focusing on muscle hypertrophy, machines provide an efficient way to target specific muscles without exhausting stabilizers. This makes them particularly useful for individuals working with personal trainers in Nashville who specialize in body recomposition and aesthetics. Conclusion The choice between machines and free weights isn’t about right or wrong—it’s about how each fits into a well-designed training program. Machines provide safety and simplicity, making them ideal for beginners and focused isolation work. Free weights offer versatility and what is viewed as a more functional strength development, challenging the body in ways that extend beyond the gym. Instead of viewing them as competing options, think of machines and free weights as complementary tools. A personal trainer in Nashville TN can help you develop a program that strategically integrates both, ensuring optimal results based on your fitness level, goals, and needs. By leveraging the strengths of each method, you’ll maximize muscle growth, minimize limitations, and create a sustainable training regimen for long-term success. If you’re looking for expert guidance on incorporating machines and free weights into your workout routine, consider working with personal training in Nashville TN. Contact me today to take the next step in your fitness journey !