Luke Douglas is a fitness and health blogger at Ripped.me and a great fan of the gym and a healthy diet. He follows the trends in fitness, gym and healthy life and loves to share his knowledge through useful and informative articles.

Most of us will give ourselves the liberty to indulge our pot-induced munchies during the cold season, especially if you enjoy an occasional smoke during those wonderful holidays. That, however, leads to an extra layer or two of fat on those hips, and potentially leaves you less than optimally fit while summer approaches. Still, the famous runner’s high is somewhat of a novelty for many cannabis users, and as such, you need to make sure you learn more about the practice and how to make this pot-plus-workout combination work for you.

If you’re looking to shed fat without shedding the pot, here are a few handy tips on mixing and matching these two habits into your lifestyle. Make sure that you always listen to your body, though, as we’re all different, so leave room to adapt and change at any given time to stay fit and healthy!

Think low-intensity over HIIT

We all have our favorite way of consuming cannabis, and since there are so many different ways, you need to be mindful of its impact on your body, and especially your cardiovascular health and endurance. This is especially vital for smokers, due to this habit’s impact on your lungs and your heart. So, to counteract certain effects of smoking and to make sure you have a successful workout altogether, consider opting for steady-state cardio workouts over those HIIT sessions.

Yes, HIIT is very practical and time-efficient, and it’s easy to fit into any schedule, but slow and steady wins the race, at least when it comes to your typical ganja-infused day. This low-intensity option is a great way to boost your lung health, make sure your heart is strong, and avoid overburdening your body after you’ve consumed cannabis.

Support and injury-prevention

In addition to timing your workouts and your cannabis usage (to which we’ll get in a minute), there are other helpful things you can do in order to maximize your performance as well as the enjoyment of your pot practice. Take, for example, your gym bag. By choosing the right equipment, you can make sure that your performance will be higher, you’ll be safer during your workouts, and you can even prevent injuries.

Ensuring your safety and performance with the help of high-quality gym wear and supporting gear can make all the difference in helping your training become as productive as possible. It will put you in the right mindset, while form-fitting clothing will increase your mobility and flexibility, and your sturdy lifting shoes can help your ankles stay stable for the duration of your workout. So, even a little can go a long way when it comes to those additional steps you can take to boost your training on pot-smoking days.

Time your training

You most likely have your own cannabis-using ritual, whether that means lighting up when you come back from work, or taking a mid-day break with your dose of pot. However, you should also make sure that your training schedule is adapted to your day, including your work schedule and your cannabis habits. If it’s possible, it’s best to stick to a morning workout so that you can increase your energy levels and focus before your workday, while you enjoy your cannabis after work.

That is one of the finest, simplest solutions to keep both of these habits under control and let them provide the most benefits to your lifestyle. Another perk of working out in the morning is that you’ll have more energy to burn more calories, introduce those HIIT sessions, and be able to enjoy your munchies later in the day, guilt-free! Of course, that is provided that you choose healthy ways to enjoy your late-afternoon hunger-attack.

Get a gym buddy

Some people truly enjoy the feeling of working out while high. In fact, it has been shown that cannabis improves your running performance, by boosting recovery, helping you get a good night’s sleep afterwards, and reduces that muscle pain that happens after a vigorous training session. However, if you’re new to the practice, or you’re not certain how your body will behave while consuming cannabis, it’s best to get a training partner, one that’s not high during your workout.

Consider this your “designated driver”, or “designated exercise buddy” if you will, so that you can have peace of mind when it comes to training safely and effectively.

Introduce plyometric exercises

Depending on the strain of cannabis you consume and the frequency of the practice, you’ll likely notice that you’re sometimes a tad slower, your focus might be a bit impaired, and your balance not as reliable when you’re using cannabis. To counteract that effect, you can introduce more plyometric movements that will help you enhance your explosive force, your coordination, and of course, your cardiovascular resilience.

There are simple ways to make sure that both of these habits can exist in harmony as a part of your overall healthy lifestyle. Use these tips to ensure that fine balance, and enjoy both of these habits to their fullest!