CBD for Weight Loss

Cannabidiol (CBD) has been found to help with a number of different conditions, such as epilepsy, headaches, depression, anxiety, period pain and more. What if it could also help you drop fat off the scales? Help you get back into last summer’s clothes? Could CBD for weight loss be the answer to those pounds you can’t shift?

As we approach the New Year, you might be starting to think about weight loss goals. January is a typical time where people make vows not to drink alcohol, limit their treats and sign up to the gym. It might seem like a cliche, but More than 12 percent of gym members join in January, compared to an average of 8.3 percent per month for the full year.

However, joining the gym and buying the shopping for your healthy diet is the easy part. The things that might not come so easy is the getting to the gym, resisting the leftover Christmas chocolates and a cheeky takeaway on a Saturday night.

In this blog, we will share all the ways in which CBD may help you directly and indirectly on your weight loss journey.

What exactly is CBD?

Cannabidiol is a cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. This is one of the many cannabinoids present in the plant and has been used as an alternative therapy for thousands of years. While cannabis is illegal in many countries, CBD isn’t. This is because it doesn’t contain THC, which is the psychoactive part of the plant. You may notice that full-spectrum CBD contains THC, although this is around 0.2% which is the legal limit. This tiny amount will not get you high. It is literally only present due to the way in which it is extracted, along with terpenes.

You can find out about full-spectrum oils and e-liquids here

• What is Full Spectrum CBD Eliquid?

Can you use CBD for weight loss?

Researchers have said that CBD interacts with the human body’s endocannabinoid system. It is this interaction that can help with weight loss. In the body, you have CB1 and CB2 receptors. CB1 is found in the brain and the central nervous system and CB2 are found in the rest of the body. CBD interacts with these receptors and influences the body’s cannabinoids to block or activate the receptors. It is this action which is said to help with weight loss. 

CBD can reduce your appetite 

In order to succeed in your weight loss journey, you need to eat less and move more. It all comes down to calories in vs calories out equation. If you are eating too many calories then you will be in a surplus and will gain weight as a result. 

If you are someone with a high appetite then you might struggle with this. You might believe that CBD stimulates your appetite if you make the connection to cannabis. However, CBD will not give you “munchies” as it doesn’t contain THC. 

In 2012 there was a study that looked at the effect of three cannabinoids CBD, CBN and CBG on the appetite of rats. It was found that CBN increased it, whereas CBD and CBG decreased it. 

There has been a lot of anecdotal evidence to suggest that CBD suppresses appetite rather than stimulates it. 

Turn bad fat into good fat 

Cannabidiol has also been said to turn bad fat into good fat. CBD enables your body to break down fats and make the conversion. This is what is known as Brown and White fats. We talk about this more here:

• CBD and your metabolism – Why you need to love some fat

Getting enough sleep (and not having too much!)

Sleep affects weight loss. There has been a study that found that people who had less than six hours of sleep or more than eight hours per day were less likely to achieve weight loss than those who had between six and eight hours.

When you are tired you are more likely to reach for high energy, high sugar foods. These are often high in calories and low in nutrients. Tired bodies produce more of the hunger hormones, leptin, and ghrelin. 

That being said though, people who are sleep deprived tend to weigh more and have trouble shifting the weight than those who get a good sleep. Even when they follow the same diet. 

If you are struggling to turn Netflix off at a reasonable hour and get a decent night’s sleep, then there are a few things you could try:

• Meditate before bed
• Read a book before bed
• Use CBD oil for sleep
• Set a time cap on your TV programs 
• Have a warm bath

CBD can help you recover from a workout

If you are on a weight loss journey then chances are you are going to the gym. If you ever get sore after a gym session then you’ll be glad to know that CBD could help. It is known for helping to reduce pain and inflammation that you might feel after a tough session. The faster you recover the sooner you can get back into the gym.

Will CBD help with weight loss?

When you are looking to lose weight, there is no magic potion or pill. You need to eat less and move more. However, CBD might help with your appetite and work with the fat in your body to help turn it from bad to good fat. You’ll also get the added bonus of recovering from your sessions faster so you can train more often.

We all would like a quick fix to fitness. Maybe something that might help us to shed some fat and recover from a hard session faster. While we are pretty sure that there isn’t a magic pill, and weight loss takes work, dedication and a healthy lifestyle, there are things that can help.

CBD for gym recovery

Appetite control isn’t the only way in which CBD can help with your weight loss goals. When you go to the gym you may have noticed that you feel a little sore around 72 hours after the workout. If you had a particularly intense session you might feel sore before then. This is due to your muscle fibers breaking down ready to rebuild bigger and stronger.

Muscle soreness and pain can be eased off using CBD due to its pain and inflammation properties. This can have an effect on your weight loss as if you aren’t so sore you will be more inclined to go to the gym sooner.

As discussed above, CBD can also aid sleep. Sleep is a great way to recover from a tough workout! 

Anxiety 

CBD may also indirectly help with your weight loss. If you are someone who suffers from social anxiety and is nervous about going to the gym, then CBD may help. CBD has been researched to find that it reduces signs of anxiety, such as a raised heart rate. There have also been studies to show how it helps people feel more comfortable speaking in public situations.

Being too anxious to use the gym could really hold you back from your weight loss goals. A dose of CBD in the morning or 30 minutes before your workout, might give you the confidence for your session.

CBD for burning fat

CBD shows promise in helping break down fats and turn them into waste products. 

Another claim is that CBD melts away fat in the body by breaking down the fat and helping eliminate it from the body as waste. One study also found that CBD may help to turn white fat cells into brown fat cells. Brown fat cells burn energy as heat and therefore burn calories. 

Burning more calories is imperative for weight loss, so turning these cells from white to brown, using CBD could be a good idea. 

So could this herb be the ticket to weight loss?

CBD certainly shows some promise in helping with weight loss. If you have been struggling to lose a few pounds due to a large appetite or because you are unable to train enough due to soreness, then try CBD for weight loss.

Check out these CBD oils to try with your fat loss regime.