CBD Product Reviewer
Alexis Koutoulakos
Female | 35-44
Exercise Recovery
Professionally Alexis is a personal trainer and group fitness instructor, teaching 6 classes per week to counterbalance her office job at the company she owns with her husband.
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Products Reviewed
H. Hemp
CBD Oil Tincture 500mg – Natural
$49.99
PRODUCT RATING
H. Hemp | CBD Oil | Exercise Recovery
WEEK 1
Part 1
The intention was to use the CBD oil for workout recovery purposes. However, I recently experienced an injury, which has mandated that I pare back my workouts, specifically weight training until my back has healed. I took my first dose of Honest Hemp CBD oil yesterday in an effort to combat some of the pain I’m experiencing. I took my dose of CBD oil in the late afternoon, and was able to relax and sleep well overnight. I have awoken on day 2 with the same back pain that I’ve been experiencing for the past week. I am taking my second dose of CBD oil (day 2) at 9am in hopes of staving off the intense pain so that I am able to engage in cardio exercise mid-day. When not injured, my typical routine at the gym is to complete approximately 30-40 minutes of high intensity cardio (running, elliptical, stair stepper, etc), incorporating interval training. The cardio workout is then followed by approximately 30 minutes of strength training. Throughout the week I will usually incorporate one upper body routine, one lower body routine, and a full body circuit. I regularly perform this routine 5 or 6 days per week. If I am training for a race I will engage in longer steady-state running (usually running @ zone 3 or 4) for 60 or more minutes per session. I tailor my strength sessions to the needs of the race that I am training for. If it is a triathlon, I focus more on full body circuits, whereas if I am training specifically for a run race, I will focus my strength workouts on my lower body and core.
Part 2
I woke up with an injury to my back 9 days ago. As of the last 3 or 4 days, my pain on a regular basis has hovered between a 4 and 5 due to the subluxation of a vertebrae in my neck. I have been getting regular chiropractic adjustments, which I feel has been of great benefit. However, I’m not recovering as fast as I would like to be. I struggle with being forced to take “rest days,” and this has been as much of a psychological challenge as it is physical. After seeing my chiropractor yesterday for the 3rd adjustment, I consider myself about 80% recovered. Even with this improvement, I have not returned to my regular exercise routine. I returned to moderate cardio workouts a few days ago, but am still experiencing enough pain to know that I’m not ready to resume my normally challenging strength training. I took my dose of CBD oil at 9am this morning and didn’t really notice any significant changes…until around 12:30 in the afternoon when I habitually prepared myself to head to the gym with the intention of running 30 minutes on the treadmill before leading a private training session. The fact that my pain didn’t make me second guess my commitment to exercise today speaks volumes to the pain relief I experienced. There was no specific moment that I became aware that the pain dissipated, but I was able to go about my afternoon participating in my normal routine (exercise, errands, house cleaning, playing with my kids) without significant and behavior-altering pain. The CBD oil is the only new treatment protocol that I have introduced into my recovery toolbox.
Part 3
Yesterday was the first day in a week and a half with virtually no pain. I’ll preface this by saying that I woke up in the same amount of pain (about a 4 on a scale of 1-10) as I have since I began recovering from my back injury. I woke up around 6am, and knowing that I was scheduled to teach at 8:30 in the morning, I took my CBD oil dose at 7am. There’s no specific moment when I find myself saying “aha, it’s kicked in…I’m good to go.” It’s a cumulative effect, where I often find myself mid-physical activity and recognize that I’m not wincing, shirking away, or making modifications to avoid exacerbating the pain. I taught my class, able to demonstrate the strength-based moves with minimal weight, but full range of motion. After a successful class, I returned home to kids that needed playing with, house-cleaning responsibilities, errands to run, and no hesitation to do any of them because of my back. The CBD oil allowed me to proceed through my day as I normally would before the pain. I was fully operational, for the first time in what seems like a long time. I also successfully managed to complete a 60 minute treadmill run with zero pain. I’m still avoiding load-bearing weight training for a few more days. I return for a fourth chiropractic appointment tomorrow where we will evaluate my progress and decide when I am able to resume my normally strength training routine.
$49.99
WEEK 2
Part 1
Since beginning my CBD oil regimen, I now take my dose early every morning. I’ve noticed that this has significantly altered the discomfort that I experience throughout the day. I wake up uncomfortable (not necessarily “in pain”) every morning, but within an hour or so of taking the CBD oil I notice that I’m moving more fluidly than I do without the CBD. I just received my fourth chiropractic adjustment. This was also an opportunity for my chiropractor to evaluate my readiness to return to strength training. I’ve officially received the go ahead to participate in low weight/high repetition strength training. Having not strength trained in two weeks, I anticipate being sore following this afternoon’s session. I typically strength train at about a 7 or 8 (perceived intensity). For today I will consciously choose to work closer to a level 5. Post-workout report: I successfully completed 40 minutes of cardio training, followed by 20 minutes of upper body strength work. My perceived exertion level during the strength portion was likely closer to a 7 (than the 5 I was planning on). The CBD oil allowed me to work a combination of shoulders, biceps, triceps, and pectoral muscles during this session. I worked with a moderate weight, without any pain. I exercised very consciously, paying close attention to any atypical sensations (pinching, burning, radiating, etc.). I made a point to select lighter weights to accommodate for the lack of strength training for the past 14 days. I anticipate delayed onset muscle soreness for the next 48 hours or so.
Part 2
I woke up this morning in even less discomfort than yesterday from my recent back injury. I did immediately notice my upper body from yesterday’s workout, but I imagine that the CBD oil has significantly minimized the delayed onset muscle soreness that I anticipated experiencing this morning. I woke up at 5am in order to teach a high intensity interval training class and forgot to take my CBD oil dose before heading out the door. I think this speaks to the low level of discomfort I experienced upon waking. I planned on taking my CBD oil at 7:30 this morning and then headed straight to the gym for a typical cardio-strength training session. I ended up taking my CBD oil AFTER my workout around 10:30 this morning. Today’s gym session’s focus was lower body, which I intended to push a little harder than I did for my upper body routine yesterday. However, I have not trained my lower body in two weeks either, so I anticipate there will be delayed onset muscle soreness for the next 48 hours. During this 20 minute lower body training session I began with glute activation exercises before starting heavier-load exercises. I selected slightly lighter weights today, but made sure that I still had a reasonable amount of resistance. Immediately after the workout I noticed that “swollen” feeling in my glutes, which typically signifies an intense effort and soreness to come tomorrow. I will re-evaluate the level of my delayed onset muscle soreness in the morning.
Part 3
I am sore this morning. I believe the intensity of yesterday’s lower body workout had a significant effect. There’s no way of knowing if I would be experiencing more intense delayed onset muscle soreness if I weren’t taking the CBD oil on a daily basis. However, there’s a pretty clear correlation between the daily CBD oil dosing, and the noticeable decrease in my pain levels surrounding my back injury. I’m grateful to have expedited my recovery and been able to return to my regular exercise routine. My back is still uncomfortable upon waking, but with initial movement and my CBD oil dose early in the morning, I’m able to move through my daily responsibilities (which often significantly depend on my physical body functioning at a high level) with relative ease. I was able to teach two classes, complete with full range exercise demonstrations, with no discomfort. Today’s workout consisted of 40 minutes of running on the treadmill followed by a 20 minute upper body workout. As this was the second upper body strength session since receiving clearance to return to weight training, I increased the intensity (resistance and reps) compared to Monday’s session. I felt good, worked hard, and felt accomplished at the end of the hour. My lower body is still sore from yesterday’s workout, but I imagine that the CBD oil has impacted the degree of delayed onset muscle soreness that I may have experienced without the CBD.
$49.99
WEEK 3
Part 1
Today officially marks two weeks since I woke up in agony from subluxated vertebrae in my cervical spine. When in the throes of the pain, I honestly felt like time was moving at a significantly slower rate. Any movement involving my thoracic or cervical spine (including any movement of my neck) was excruciating. Having experienced subluxation of my ribs in the past, I immediately knew that something had become misaligned. It didn’t take long for me to seek chiropractic support, as I was in debilitating pain. His immediate diagnosis was subluxation of c1 and c2, which was caused by extremely tight or strained trapezius muscles. I accepted that there would not be an immediate fix, but deep down I hoped that the initial chiropractic adjustment would magically and immediately alleviate some of the pain. The chiropractor was able to successfully realign the vertebra with the first two adjustments. However, the muscles were still so inflamed that the congestion I experienced in my upper back was going to take a considerable amount of time before I felt any relief. As is my new current norm, I woke up with tightness and soreness on the left side of my neck. I immediately applied heat to the area as I drank my morning cup of coffee. I then proceeded to take my daily CBD oil dose around 9 this morning. Since that time, I have noticed slight tightness in my neck, but I also probably notice it more today since I am working at my desk and have not yet been engaged in any physical activity. Being active throughout the day definitely has an influence on the level of discomfort I am feeling. The more sedentary I am, the more aware I am of the tension in my neck.
Part 2
Since I’ve returned to strength training, my lower body workouts have resulted in at least 48 hours of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). I’m continuing to take my CBD oil on a daily basis. I’m not noticing any significant effects of the CBD oil dosing as it pertains to muscle soreness. However, I recognize that there is no way to know how much soreness I would be experiencing post-workout without the regular CBD oil usage. With that said, the CBD oil has had a more noticeable effect on pain from injury. My back and neck are still in the process of recovering. This means that I tend to wake up in moderate discomfort from the vertebral subluxation three weeks ago. Having acquired a new contoured memory foam pillow has improved my sleeping situation. I’m a side sleeper, so having a pillow that allows for proper height and support of my neck alignment has been integral. Since the CBD oil is successfully complimenting my recovery from injury, I have been able to resume my typical workout routine (high effort cardio combined with moderate length strength circuits) six days per week. This boost to my recovery has greatly impacted the quality of my mental health, as I struggle when I am unable to exercise. I depend very heavily on my workout routine to maintain my mental fortitude, relieve stress, and experience the serotonin boost from an elevated heart rate.
Part 3
It has now officially been three weeks since waking up in extreme pain due to subluxated cervical vertebrae. Upon that initial waking I would have rated my pain between an eight and nine (on a scale of one to ten), inching closer to the nine with certain specific neck movements. Upon waking this morning I would classify my sensation as “discomfort” versus the “pain” I was in previously. Three weeks out and I am consistently taking my CBD oil dose every morning in hopes that it continues to support my injury recovery. It has certainly allowed me to reinstate my vigorous daily exercise routine, for which I am extremely grateful. Not only has this been a benefit to me personally, but professionally as well. As a personal trainer and group fitness instructor, I depend on the complete functioning of my body in order to show up to work and successfully lead my classes (which includes physical demonstration and hands-on support to my clients); all of which impacts my ability to generate revenue. When my body is not functioning properly due to pain or illness, it actually results in lost income. The new daily CBD oil protocol has expedited my recovery and allowed me to return to work faster than I would have expected without the support of the CBD.
$49.99
WEEK 4
Part 1
This past weekend I created a new glute training program and have committed to the program for the next 12 weeks. It is created as a progressive load program, divided into three four-week training periods. Historically I’ve had challenges activating my glutes bi-laterally and previously worked with a sports-specific physical therapist to learn how to activate my glutes while attending to a pinched nerve in my mid-back. These two parts of the body are so intertwined that it’s virtually impossible to attend to issues with one, without acknowledging the areas for improvement in the other. Since that time, I’ve become able to successfully activate my glute muscles. Activation was the starting point. The next objective is to build strength. This program begins with activation exercises, segues into body weight/moderate weight exercises, and ends with a few critical heavy load exercises. Since I typically don’t prioritize lower body strength training I imagined that this first week of glute focused workouts would lead to significant delayed onset muscle soreness, and walking moderately like a penguin for a few days. I’m pleased to say that while I certainly have been made more aware of my glutes due to mild soreness, the discomfort following a workout is nothing close to what I anticipated, and I credit this to the daily use of CBD oil. I’m grateful to have this [CBD oil] tool in my arsenal, especially as I am undertaking this new training protocol, which includes the lifting of substantially heavier weights than I am accustomed to.
Part 2
This has been a very challenging week. My week began as normal, average energy, same amount of discomfort in my neck from the subluxated vertebrae a few weeks ago, and typical work responsibilities. Monday began as normal. I woke up, made it to the gym first thing in the morning. Completed my typical cardio/strength session. I proceeded with my day as usual. It was mid-afternoon when I was made aware that my youngest daughter, who recently turned three, was acting out-of-sorts; exhibiting lethargy and general malaise. Her condition worsened throughout the evening, so my husband and I made the decision to keep her home from school the following day, considering the rampant contagion of coronavirus (among other flus, colds, and other conditions). Long story short, we ended up at Children’s Hospital Urgent Care around 9:30pm on Tuesday night. She was diagnosed with Croup and provided a dose of steroids. This sequence of events led to decreased sleep for me on Tuesday night, having to wake up at 4:45 in the morning on Wednesday in order to teach my early morning class. Sleep deprivation has had a lingering effect. That coupled with being surrounded by germs, tending to a sick child, and trying to do my best to not let my professional responsibilities fall by the wayside has resulted in significant lack of energy. I feel drained. I’m optimistic that I’m not going to catch the virus my kid has, but I’m still definitely contending with some challenges to my normal level of functioning. I’m hopeful that a good night’s sleep, my dose of CBD oil in the morning, and a return to my typical workout regimen will get me back to feeling more like myself in no time.
Part 3
Today is my last testimonial for this CBD oil experience. It’s officially been four weeks of consistent daily use with the intention of increasing recovery post-exercise. Due to the situation when this process began, the use of the CBD oil was altered slightly, and ended up being used more for pain mitigation and expedited recovery from an injury. It seems serendipitous that this CBD oil experiment began when it did. In the first few weeks immediately following my vertebral subluxation, I am confident in saying that the CBD oil regimen positively impacted my recovery by decreasing my pain and minimizing the amount of time before I was able to resume my regular activities. Since my recovery stagnated around 90% improvement a week ago (seeing no significant improvement since that time), I have resumed my regular daily workout routine; slowly reintroducing weight training and intelligently increasing the load. I’m grateful to be strength training again and to no longer be experiencing constant pain. For the past week I’ve been able to utilize the CBD oil primarily for exercise recovery. I’ve recently introduced a glute training protocol, and since I am in my first week of intentional training, I anticipated significant soreness in between training sessions. I am happy to report that while I have experienced mild delayed onset muscle soreness following a glute-specific workout, it has been manageable and has not prevented me from being able to complete the following day’s workout. All-in-all I would say that this experience has been positive and I am likely to seek CBD oil as an alternative therapy, especially when I’ve experienced a significant injury. I have confidence that the CBD oil will positively support my recovery and decrease my experience of the associated pain.
$49.99