Researchers found when workouts are too hard or too easy, people quit. But when cannabinoids make exercise feel better, people stick with it.

You hear a lot of people say “go hard!” or “embrace the suck!” Turns out those people actually enjoy it. If you’re not one of those people, you’re going to want to hear this.

Scientists wanted to know why some people keep exercising for years while others quit. So they studied 273 gym goers. They found something surprisingly simple: people who enjoy their workouts exercise more often, stick with it longer, and turn it into a habit. It wasn’t about willpower. It was about how the workout feels. When exercise feels too hard, people want to stop. When it feels too easy, people get bored. But when it feels challenging and doable, people enjoy it and they keep coming back for more. In fact, about 9 out of 10 people naturally choose an intensity that already feels right for them. The big lesson: if it feels good, you keep doing it.(1)

Now here’s where it gets really interesting. Another study looked at 49 regular cannabis users who went on two runs: one with cannabis and one without. The runners said the run felt more enjoyable when cannabis was involved. The difference wasn’t small or random: it was statistically meaningful (p = 0.004), which means it was very unlikely to be an accident. They also reported more positive feelings, less negative feelings, and more “runner’s high” sensations during the cannabis run. They didn’t run faster. They felt better doing it.(2)

A third study found that 80% of cannabis users mix cannabis and working out, with 70% saying it increases enjoyment, 78% saying it boosts recovery and 52% saying it motivates them.(3) Dispelling the myth that it makes you lazy.

Why does this matter? Your body already has a built-in system called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). One of its jobs is to help control mood, pain, stress, and enjoyment. When you exercise, your body releases natural cannabinoids (like anandamide) that help create the famous runner’s high.(4) Cannabinoids from plants work on this same system. So when this system is supported, exercise can feel better, more fun, and less uncomfortable.

This is by no means saying that cannabis solves all our problems. What this means is that cannabinoids, when administered correctly to fit your needs can create the consistency so many of us are looking for.

Put it all together and the story is simple:

When exercise feels better, people do it more.

Enjoyment isn’t a bonus. It’s the engine. OFFFIELD isn’t about forcing your body to suffer. It’s about helping your body and brain work together so movement feels good and when it feels good, you keep showing up.

That’s how consistency is built. That’s how longevity happens. And that’s how performance actually lasts.

 

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Footnotes / Sources

1. De Meester et al., 2022 — “Does intensity matter for exercise enjoyment and adherence?” (Study of 273 gym members showing enjoyment strongly predicts habit, frequency, and long-term consistency.)
   
   

2. YorkWilliams et al., 2023 — “Cannabis and Exercise: Real-World Running Study” (49 runners, cannabis condition showed significantly higher enjoyment, p = 0.004, more positive affect, less negative affect, more runner’s high.)
   
   

3. Front. Public Health, 2019 — “The New Runner's High? Examining Relationships Between Cannabis Use and Exercise Behavior in States With Legalized Cannabis”

4. Raichlen et al., 2012 / 2013 — Studies showing that anandamide (an endocannabinoid) rises during exercise and is a key driver of the runner’s high, not just endorphins.