Should you smoke Marijuana if you workout?
August 13, 2009 by Shaun
Filed under The Fitness Bug
If you are a current smoker of tobacco and are deciding to get really serious about working out and keeping fit, then the best thing to do would be to quit it all together. Most of us know the dangers of smoking, as the ads do a pretty good job of not hiding it. Unless you have been living under a rock and don’t know then here are the dangers of smoking tobacco:
- Reduced oxygen to the muscles
- Can cause lung cancer
- Heart disease and strokes
- Smoking causes fat deposits to narrow and block blood vessels, which leads to heart attack.
- And others
Throughout all of my life I never have been a smoker so most of the above never did apply to me directly. But one thing that has always intrigued me over the years was what the affect of smoking marijuana has on people who work out, as there never has been a solid answer. I guess the reason why there is no solid answer could be the same reasons to why we don’t know why drinking alcohol affects some while not affecting others. Quite simply it affects different people in different ways.
Below I’ll outline two scenarios that I have become familiar with from meeting those who smoke marijuana and workout.
Scenario 1
I workout, smoke marijuana and I feel great!
This group of people tend to have very well developed bodies, are pretty sure of themselves and would smoke every other day of the week. They state that smoking:
Before a workout – Helps them to keep better form and concentrate on specific muscles more effectively.
After a work - They get a epinephrine high from the workout plus the high from the marijuana smoke, which leads to an overall better performance.
- Running or biking after smoking marijuana allows them to keep up excellent rhythm and push their selves harder than usual.
Scenario 2
I can’t workout and smoke marijuana. It makes me feel awful!
This group of people tend to be of slim to average build and would make statements such as:
- I wouldn’t recommend smoking while, before, or after working out, as I’ve done that twice and thrown up both times. It really is not a pleasant experience.
- If I smoke before I work out I get really lazy and cannot get motivated. Besides, smoking marijuana produces estrogen and by having that in your system you cannot get that solid muscle feel from working out that the non-smokers get.
After looking at both scenarios I guess we can conclude that smoking marijuana is just the same as working out and drinking alcohol (Alcohol and Exercising). If you smoke it and it makes you feel good with no ‘currently known’ side effects… STICK TO IT! If you smoke it and it makes you feel like crap, give up working out or QUIT IT!
And if you have other ‘issues’, then you could check out the best luxury drug treatment centers.
What are your experiences from smoking Marijuana while exercising or from those you know that have?
See you in the comments.
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Link to this page
No personal experience…lol…BUT a seriously entertaining read, nonetheless.
You’re a great writer! =o)
Well…it was the first post so far where i hadn’t actually experienced what i wrote about… hehe. Will be back to ACTUAL experience from tomorrow. Thanks
I smoke (marijuana) just about every day and sometimes it has a positive effect on my workout and sometimes I just get lazy. If I eat properly throughout the day and smoke (not heavily) prior to a work out it has a positive effect on my focus and motivation. However, if I am feeling particularly lazy on any given day and smoke prior to a workout it has hindered my workout.
The best balance for myself I found was not smoking prior to a workout but smoking after. It is absolutely relaxing. Good write up!
P.S- I also use a vaporizer now to take most of the impact of smoking off of my lungs. Great thing to have if your a smoker and love to work out.
Hi Julian
There has been quite a response to this since i posted this and i have to say, your answer and clarifications have been one of the best responses yet.
Over the years i met many that just simply could not smoke before a workout as it made them ‘lazy’ as you stated, but i knew even more that couldn’t smoke and workout at all, as smoking it would prevent them from gaining any weight (muscle mass).
I think your recommendation tom smoking after a workout would suit many rather than before. Maybe those who do smoke before are just strong minded? Maybe you could answer that.
The idea of using a vaporizer is also something that could benefit those who are reading this and who have asked themselves this question, but not had an idea how to balance both.
I know what you mean. I am a long-time smoker with absolutely no willpower when it comes to quitting. The reason I’m still alive is because I switched to these new, healthy cigarettes. Check out my blog at healthysmoker.blogspot.com!
I see your blog is new and ‘green’. Did you smoke marijuana at all?
No personal experience to draw from one on this one but I’ve been facinasted with the subject (getting high after a workout) ever since I’ve heard reports of it’s rampant use throughout all the major sports. Not from a performance enhancing standpoint but from a stress release ascept where athletes get so wound up before and during a game. Many of them struggle to decompress and hence they gravitate towards pot as a way to ‘get back down to earth’.
I’d still like to see some controlled studies before I throw my conclusive opinion behind one side or another.
Mike
Good points Mike
And most do still agree that taking it is a good thing
I’ve been serious about bodybuilding the last 4 years, and found weed to be a nice “supplement”, before and after workouts, but never RIGHT before. I work 2nd shift and train in the morning. I smoke a little when I get up, then eat a great breakfast, digest my food, and by the time I drive to the gym the intensity of my high has come down enough that it won’t screw up my workout (although today at the gym I couldn’t find my keys which were on the floor next to the bench press, which I attribute to the weed).
Post-workout, and not until after my post workout meal, I smoke again, eventually take a nice nap, and go to work. I’ve also found weed makes me far less likely to drink alcohol, which definitely interferes with weightlifting progress, missing workouts, etc. And less likely to exhibit roid rage and flip out on someone.
Fortunately I have a connection who only has top notch stuff that only takes one or 2 hits to do the job. I refuse to smoke hippy weed that destroys your lungs before you feel anything.
Thanks for your detailed personal insight Tom. It’s a similar thing to what I’ve heard many smokers speak of…. to smoke weed before a workout. Which in fact enhances performance somewhat. However, there are a selective few who simply cannot handle the ‘high’ effects that weed gives. Even worse, it affects their ability to put on muscle mass. Maybe you could share your thoughts on that issue and why you think that happens?
What’s your personal most beloved variety of grass?
Sup, is it easy for you to buy marijuana legitimately via the web? In the event u folks have, might you vouch for purchasing a little for a second time?
I’ve been becoming all uneasy and zonked out there currently soon after hitting some intense marijuana in recent months…
Any of you folks struggling with this? Could be I basically have to limit the quantity Im blazing huh…?
black people smoke weed and still have six packs thick muscle etc …. born with a gift i guess
Possibly…
Couldnt be more true
Do you smoke?
I almost never see smokers talk about online support groups to stop smoking. Places such as stop smoking message boards can help you to stop smoking with no alternatives. Got an urge, just make a thread and get help quick. It really helps! Just give it a try, you will be quite surprised the amount of users will attempt to help you stop. Best wishes.
Thanks for your insights Alan.
I like the way you put it. It truly does differ person to person.
I smoke weed about every day. I also work out about every day. I vaporize, and eat marijuana snacks more than i smoke out of bongs or pipes.
I take creatine and a lot of vitamins including mass amounts of b2.
I have found that the biggest difference of working out while smoking weed vs. not. is the recovery time. Whether its during, after or even way later in the day, my recovery speed seems to more than double.
I lift hard and heavy, and when i am smoking weed regularly i can lift work the same muscles every day if i want to, and not be sore(I still switch up muscles on a 3 day cycle). This is just my personal experience and i believe also has a lot to do with my lifestyle, and diet. But marijuana is undoubtedly a major factor.
I would love to know if there is any research on the effects of marijuana on muscle recovery.
Very interesting to know J-man. That’s the first I’ve heard in terms of benefits, and in such detail too. What is your current diet and lifestyle?
Shaun,
Incredible topic. Hope you’re ready for this one. I’ve personally always loved smoking the green. Ironically, I also happen to be a former D-1 athlete. Although, in all reality how ironic is it really with more and more athletes admitting their own personal satisfaction from the sticky icky, right Ricky? I’m very interested in this issue and would like to share with you my personal experience. It all started in highschool, actually middle school, where I would puff the magic dragon 1-2 times a week, but hadn’t been introduced to any form of weightlifting. Mostly endurance training and sport-specific exercises. It was obvious to me marijuana affected my cardio bigtime.
The issue that I’m concerned with is more complex. I’m intrigued with the relationship between MJ abuse and ability to build muscle. As a freshman in college, I weighed 175 pounds in August, and for the first time in my life was placed on a strict weight lifting regimen (3x/week), meanwhile consuming on avg. 4000 cals/day. By winter break (Late Dec.), I weighed 195 pounds and only increased 1.5% body fat. During this time, I did not smoke at all due to the NCAA drug testing policy. And no, although tempting, I stayed clear from that shit Canseco threw all of his former buddies under the bus for.
After college, I stopped lifting and dwindled back down to my 175 lb. usual self stemming from lack of exercise, poor dieting, and reigniting the flame with my future wife, Mary Jane. Now having no interest in pursuing my sport and a significant interest in smoking the herb, I started hitting the weights again. This time around, lets just say I made up for my lack of smoking in college. To give a general idea, 1g of MJ in each blunt, and 6-7 blunts a day, on a light day of smoking. A typical morning would consist of opening my eyelids from a state of paralysis from last night’s “session”, reaching for a lighter along with a pre-rolled “L” (as us smokers like to call it), burn it down, eat breakfast, burn another, hit the gym, grab a shake, smoke again..you get the idea.
I consider smoking and hitting the gym the best of both worlds. Not because I’m cheeched and enjoy zoning out to the local college broad’s ass in front of me on the elliptical, but because that’s exactly what happens when I combine the two. I feel in the zone. Just like you mentioned, I felt as if I could “concentrate” on certain muscles, as well as being much more aware of proper form. Contrastingly, I did notice a slight decrease in my intensity.
This time around, it seemed almost impossible to put on mass. I lifted 3-4 times a week, little results. 5-6 times a week, same deal. This being the reason I am so intrigued with the issue. I can attribute 3 factors, 1 of which you already listed to why I have had a miserable time attempting to gain muscle:
1) MJ produces estrogen.
2) Lack of intensity @ gym = less testosterone production.
3) MJ destroys my appetite until the evening munchies. – Ate healthy, just not nearly as much as I would when clean. Prob around 2800 cals/day.
Would appreciate any further info on this particular topic. Also interested to know what compelled you to write this.
Anyways, it’s about that time to roll one up, but I figured I would take the time and share with you the story of a washed-up degenerate pothead who still enjoys getting his swell on for the ladies.
C
That was indeed quite a response Colin. Great detailed story, from what I can see, the most experienced commenter yet on the issue.
What intrigued me to write it?
Well, back in my late teens (In my 20′s now) it was a common thing for people to smoke the stuff. But it never interested me one bit. I was too busy focusing on training and other interests. However, I got to see first hand how marijuana consumption affected certain individuals. The information has always been in the back of my brain. But it wasn’t until I started Stay-Fit Bug until it became relevant to talk on the issue. An issue that is rarely discussed, but clearly relevant. And not talked about as much as say the effects of alcohol consumption on weightlifting ( I’ll talk about this in more detail in a few weeks). But it’s covered briefly here
>> http://www.stayfitbug.com/the-fitness-bug/the-top-8-reasons-why-youre-scrawny-and-the-other-dude-is-not/
Shaun, props on another great article. You def know your shit! The reason I spent the time commenting on the issue is because it’s amazing how little evidence is out there. I frequently come across various bodybuilding forums stating MJ use has no affect on building muscle. Me more than anyone wishes that were the case. Thanks for the quick reply. I’ll be keeping an eye out for your future posts.
C
Thanks Colin
That is indeed the case. More interesting things to come no doubt. Email or RSS to stay updated without having to check back as often.
I was reading this article because I’m kind of in this situation where my mom smokes weed. And we’ve started to go work out at the gym, and she takes a couple ‘hits’ before we get there and after when we leave. I’ve asked her before why does she do that. and she just says its kind of like a boost. Im glad its boosting her energy, but im really scared for my mom’s health and i dont want her to be working out one day and just pass out. so someone please help me and tell if what she is doing is OK. She’s 39 and a single parent so she’s basically all I have and I just want to know just incase I have time to warn her and maybe she will stop!
PS when she works out at the gym, she hits the tredmill on incline and when i see her she is sweating a lot and usually does about 1 mile and a half or 2 it depends.. then she does some leg workouts. please just tell me if what she doing is Ok for her health?
Wendy, it’s great of you to consider your mother’s progress in the gym and overall well being, however I feel you have nothing to worry about. It sounds like she is making a good effort to stay fit and I think it’s cool you two are work out buddies! Admirable as it is there is many factors to attribute to one’s success in the gym, and I can tell you Marijuana is probably not the cause of any negative side effects you’ll see from your mom (minus maybe a slight lack of concentration).
This is definitely an interesting article, and apparently a popular topic of late circulating around many fitness message boards. In my personal experience, the kind Mary Jane has never had any negative effects on my workouts. Now, I usually just refrain from smoking til after a workout, but I’ve been upping my own personal fitness of late trying to get back in good shape for this summer, all the while continuing my ganja smoking habits that I’ve had for years. TBH, I’ve actually made it a point to lighten up on alcohol consumption to supplement my workout, but never considered giving up pot. In just the last three weeks of working out I’m already starting to see definition again, I feel more energized and reinvigorated, and it makes my evening smoking session that much more relaxing after a hard day at the gym.
Again, to all the naysayers that claim pot is detrimental to your workouts, I believe it’s simply not true. On that note, a close friend of mine is a very successful personal fitness trainer (she owns her own gym too), and she’s been a stoner for as long as I’ve known her. She’s one of the most fit women I’ve ever seen, and she takes a massive bong hit before anything she does, including leaving the house for the gym.
I’d say, to each their own. I know I hate working out while stoned, simply because I’m always more in the mood to listen to some tunes and chillax, which is why I save it for after. I eat healthy, stick to my workout regiments, and smoke pot every day. I’ve never felt better, and my results speaks for itself.
Funny thing by best friend is biracial and smokes a tone of pot. He never workouts but is more ripped than me and Im at the gym everyday. lol
Could be down to good genetics and good diet. That alone can keep you ripped without ever touching weights.
Im 19 and I work out every morning for 2 hours and then spend one hour relaxing in steam rooms and sauna’s. I don’t reccommend smoking before a workout session but using a joint as a reward at the end of my efforts has worked for me. The Steam room clears your airways and relaxes muscles. After having a spliff i feel my muscles relax and i get better quality rest before i run my restaurant in the evenings.
I think any thing in excess can be damaging but by incorporating something that I and a lot of others enjoy into my own healthy lifestyle helps me feel on top of my game.
The biggest problem I have is not understanding how such things like coffee and alcohol can be socially acceptable but still have the same amount of withdrawal effects as some drugs.
Just because some things are socially acceptable doesn’t mean they’re any less of a drug. I know I’d rather smoke a joint after a work out than have a 6 pack or 6 cups of coffee daily
This will indeed always be a much talked about topic Gen.
Hi there I smoke 3 to four joints a day I used to be 17 stones in weight I’m now 13 stone and I run 15 to 18 miles to work with my handy olbas oil and I can do 100 press ups and 100 sit-ups after a run thank god for weed! It focuses me big time I use the sauna steam room too! I don’t drink liquor that shit sucks when it comes to training it’s good to see there others like me! What made me lose weight? A divorce!! Thank god I got remarried to a babe !!! Lifes so fickin good!
Hey
My name is Cruz.
I am intriqued on this subject and it has been an intrests of mine for a long time.
I started lifting weight about 3 years ago
When I first started I was very scrawny weighting around 119
Now I stand at 175 and very low body fat
All this while smoking marijuana everyday, before a workout, after or during…
I think success is psychologal, that being said everybody is different as far as brain chemistry goes…
I think marijuana enhances a mood your’re already in… for example
If you feel kind of lazzy it’ll enhance that…
If you feel energized and motivated… it’ll enhance that…
But I think it varies.. there’s been days where I’ve felt a little lazzy and after taking 1-2 hits BAM! motivated to workout!
I say whatever… whatever works for you!
50% of something is better then 100% of nothing…
I am currently at a point in my workouts where this topic is a big issue for me. I have enjoyed smoking a bowl before I begin my pre workout warm up. My warm up consists of stretching and some basic body weight leg exercises along with some isometrics.
Then its off to the gym for the real workout.
By the time i get to the gym, i feel focused and ready to get to business. The Marijuana makes me feel more “in tune” with my body and my muscles. I have actually corrected my form on many exercises since I started smoking Pre workout.
The downside, my cardio is almost non existent. I can go hard but then need a while to catch my breath and continue.
I keep reading that Marijuana raises your heart rate. Can this cause me problems in the gym when im lifing?
I feel great, but am I just too high to notice the damage I am doing to myself?
These are the questions going through my head right now.
It might be a mental thing…
In the back of your mind it doesn’t make sense that you can go hard and smoke together… it’s what we’ve been told this whole time.
Marijuana raises the H/B up 20-50 beats more per min. that’s around 50%.
This is also a good thing because you get more blood and oxygen into the muscle.
Exercsing also raises your heart beat
Sex also raises your heart beat..
Don’t worry so much!
Keep training and keep toking!
This topic has definately been of interest to me for quite a while, and it’s great to read posts from others with similar interests.
I absolutely love working out, followed by a little herbage as well. Being a medicinal smoker, I am a strong supporter of the green, but if your situation is at all simular to mine I probably would not recommend it prior to hiting the gym, especially if you love good pre-workout as I do.
I have been been into bodybuilding for about five years now, and have been smoking weed on a regular basis for about two, in order to control my seizures. I generally work out in the mornings, usually followed by a post-workout bowl and protein shake. I find that after a good workout, weed seems to help me recover quicker than before I started smoking.
On top of recovery, it also seems to help me get my heart rate down much quicker. Generally after taking a pre-workout, followed by 45 minutes on the weights I usually have a pretty high heart rate, which can generally make me feel a little uneasy.
I probably wouldn’t recommend it before working out if you have epilepsy like myself. On one occasion, I smoked about two hours before the gym, and had a couple scoops of super-pump just before, which actually triggered a seizure during my workout.
That doctor told me that while weed is great for controlling seizures, the state of neurological depression that it induces, followed by the the kick that most stimulants give you can actually induce seizures because of the extreme jumps you brain takes, with regards to neurological activity.
I love weed for both it’s medicinal properties, an of coarse the relaxing effects you get from it. I’m sure I will always continue smoking after my workouts, as I stated before, if you use it before working out, I would not recommend mixing it with pre-workout supplements.
I live in colorado and recently got my MMJ licence, not because im riddled with cancer but for an old back injury. Well, i put on more pound than i would like to admite. Someone suggested to me one day that i should try working out on weed. My god that was some of the best advice i have ever heard. Here is how i have been doing it: Get a good Setiva end weed to modavait. Indica will make you stay in the car and/or drive off in search of some chips. I smoke half a bowl or half a joint)sitting in my car in the parking lot. Dont get to waisted that you cant walk or feel shit, you dont wana get crushed or tear or bend something that isnt suppose to bend that way. then go find an eliptical or bike(something you can hold onto till your focused). turn on some music and just go. let your imagination take you away from the pain. By the time the machine beeps at me that an hour is up and i am already 2 miles in and 800 cals burned befor i am gentaly released by the marijuana into the open arms of my brains endorphens. This inturn alows you to go just that much further without dangerously pushing yourself. look, its not like its going to make a super fat ass into a greek god over night. What it does do, is alow this super fat ass to get modavated enough to lose atleast 10 pounds every 2weeks. it keeps me up beat befor and after a work out which leads to better moral. AND THAT RIGHT THERE IS THE KEY! A possitive outlook is the difference between GIVING UP THE NEXT DAY or you wake up with a hurt, soar body not use to working out and being modavated enough to say “time to hit the gym again”. Oh and that left over half of your work out joint is the perfect period to the end of a great work out.
Wow, I can totally relate to the first example, Im a smoker(Weed) and I workout my body developed and matured at a young age and im a solid person at 6ft
I find I can bike or run at a much increased constant pace than when im under no influence by focusing my mind on the music in my ears or perfecting the rhythm of my strides – anything but the muscles calling for rest, also find im mentally able to focus on pushing myself harder, getting to the last rep of each set when working muscle groups,
I have come to this conclusion about myself over about 3 years now and only just thought about looking into it online
Glad to see some people out there feel the same as I do!
Very interesting about the skinnier people having negative effects, does get the brain thinking about why this could be, Sadly smoking is illegal in my country and going to the gym, getting everyones attention and putting this topic towards them probably wont net very good results!
Still a popular topic
hi
i have been reading all your comments, some are true some are wrong… as for me weed + gym has always been a good thing for me. i used to be a very fat kid who was lazy and all. but than i wanted to get a muscular body! so i always smoked before and after all my workouts! always eat 6 times a day and now i’m fully ripped with muscles!
I just smoked before working out for my first time today. Im not a heavy smoker and I smoke as often as 3 times a month for the last year. Typically when I smoke I am not motivated to do anything except relax and watch videos or listen to music or eat. I have tried doing activities while I am high but I dont like it. I feel like I do the activities with more focus and concentration sober than while I am high. When I worked out today I had smoked about 3 or 4 hours before so I wasn’t even high but its the soonest I have ever smoked and worked out afterwards and I had a terrible workout. Normally I will workout for about an hour and I had to stop after about 20 minutes because I felt way too hot and light headed and weak. I did chest today and normally I can bench 185 for 5 sets of 5. Today after a couple set of 135 and 165 I couldnt do 135 for 5 reps. My strength was just drained and I had no motivation to lift anything. It was a really depressing workout and probably the worst workout I have ever had. I felt a little naseaus and headache as well. I will never smoke before working out again. However, smoking after a workout is something I have not had a problem with.
My main concern is marijuana’s effects on building muscle and after today’s workout I dont think marijuana is something that I will continue to do since it effected my workout so much.