CBD Builds Muscle

A COMPETITOR’S POINT OF VIEW

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As a pro figure competitor and mother living in a small rural town, I often find myself getting pulled in a million directions, whether it be chasing my goals in sport, trying to maintain children’s needs, or making sure that I look and feel my best. I love my lifestyle, but I’ve learned the hard way that I’m not invincible. Fatigue, stress, and burn out can and will happen if I don’t take care of myself. Over the past 3 years, I have competed on average of 6 times a year while trying to lift heavy to keep and grow muscles in the very competitive Pro Figure class. In need of balance and relief from constant knee and joint pain, I heard about CBD (cannabidiol) oil. It was being touted as a help against stress and anxiety, which is a benefit I need from time to time.

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CAN I PASS A DRUG TEST IF I TAKE CBD?

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I am a conservative person by nature and compete in an organization (PNBA) that does Olympic-level drug testing where THC (the active ingredient in marijuana) is banned. Unsure if CBD could really help me and worried about legalities (even morality), I cautiously tried a CBD oil blend that showed it was free of banned substances, including THC, and was absorbed better than regular CBD oils (find it HERE). This was important because the research I saw showed that most CBD oils are only absorbed by about 5% (1).

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It was time to delve further into the research because the results were immediate and overwhelmingly beneficial. I found that CBD, a compound found in hemp, has many benefits like helping with inflammation (2) and anxiety (3). CBD is nonpsychoactive, which means you can’t get a high when using it. Cannabinoids attend to the endocannabinoid system, which is a network of receptors found throughout the whole body and is about homeostasis. The endocannabinoid system regulates a variety of biological and cognitive processes like pain sensation, mood, and memory (4). The CBD oil I took did just that (5); I felt focused, and even more excitingly, I finally had pain relief.

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Since I’ve added CBD to my lifestyle, my knees and shoulders have stopped hurting, whether I’m lifting heavy in the off-season to build muscle, or doing high volume in-season trying to cut.

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ANOTHER IMPORTANT NOTE

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No longer dealing with knee or shoulder pain, I am able to tremendously increase my weight in all my major lifts, thus helping to build even more muscle and recover quicker! I know CBD has helped me build muscle. I also deal with some anxiety issues, and the CBD allows me to focus on the mind-muscle connection.

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BOTTOM LINE

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If you are wondering if CBD oil can help you, but you’re worried about the legalities, know that true CBD oil, without THC, is legal in all 50 states. There are many banned ingredients available to buy in the store, so having an option for those who compete, makes CBD oil that much more exciting. My suggestion is to make sure the company you buy CBD oil from confirms it is THC free, WADA compliant, and can be absorbed well. If they meet all the criteria except absorption, make sure to take your CBD after a meal that contains fat (1). Research shows fat increases absorption, thus making CBD oils work even better. Most importantly, be sure the CBD you choose to use comes from natural sources.

 

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Here is a short list of what CBD has been proven to help with:

1. SOCIAL ANXIETY
2. NERVE DISORDERS
3. PAIN (MUSCLE, JOINT, ARTHRITIC)
4. ACNE..

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WRITTEN BY: HILARY GRANT

HILARY GRANT  @naturalfitsisters

Want to learn more about Doug Grant, Hilary’s trainer? Visit https://www.douggrant.com/

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REFERENCES

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5009397/

2. https://www.jci.org/articles/view/64628

3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3079847/

4. https://www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/legislative-activities/testimony-to-congress/2015/biology-potential-therapeutic-effects-cannabidiol

5. https://www.amazon.com/Gains-Bulk-THORx-Enhanced-Therapeutic/dp/B084R8QFFF?ref_=ast_sto_dp