Since moving to southwest Michigan, my workout routine has gotten more consistent, and at the same time, more repetitive. That’s both the good news and the challenge.

On the good side, training with what people in the fitness business call “specificity” (aka doing the movements you want to get better at) helps me get stronger and faster. If you want to run a faster 5K, you have to actually run faster. If you want to lift heavier weight, you have to squat, press, and pull consistently with progressive overload. 

And it just so happened that with fewer boutique fitness options at my fingertips, that’s exactly what I’ve been doing. My new workout plan fits my environment. I use a Ladies Who Lift plan at the gym three times a week, I log miles to and from the lake in between heavy lifts, and I top it off with a barn yoga class every Sunday.

But here’s the tradeoff: repetitive effort can leave muscles and joints feeling sore. And one yoga class a week isn’t enough to undo the aches that come with heavier squats, hill sprints, and everyday living.

That’s where the products in NOW® Solutions CBD Body Care line entered my self-care routine and why our aSweatLife Ambassadors were excited to try them too.

Building Recovery Into the Plan

When the products landed on my doorstep, they were more than just new wellness items to test, they were a reminder that recovery deserves a spot in my weekly plan, not just the workouts themselves.

NOW®’s CBD bodycare line includes an array of products that fit different needs.

• NOW CBD Extra Strength Balm became my go-to for my IT bands, calves, and feet.
• NOW CBD Joint & Muscle Cream found a permanent home in my gym bag for my low back, where I’m prone to tightness.
• NOW CBD Massage Oil, infused with arnica and calendula, is a luxurious ritual after a long run or a lifting session.
• And for days I need a cooling reset, I add NOW Muscle Zen Essential Oil Blend to my lotion, with its peppermint-forward aroma that feels like a fresh start for tired muscles.
  

Incorporating these products hasn’t been about an instant fix, it’s about creating small, daily moments of care that add up to resilience. And I’m not the only one who feels this way.

Ambassadors Share Their CBD Experience

One of the best parts of being in the aSweatLife community is hearing how others build wellness into their lives. Here’s what a few Ambassadors had to say about adding the CBD line from NOW® to their recovery toolkit:

“I love NOW products. I grew up in Bloomingdale, IL [where NOW is headquartered] so I have that special connection, but what’s more is that their products are good. I trust them. I trust the higher testing standards. In terms of the CBD products, they came at the right time. I am achy so I have been using all four. I love them all equally, honestly.” – Lauren 

“Loved the packaging. It was very simple. I also loved the diversity of the products! The essential oil I was able to mix with a lotion that I already use—it was a good way to get a little bit of CBD in my lotion to use for my legs without going overboard. When I had my longer run days I would use the cream or the lotion to help expedite recovery in my legs. And the massage oil I was able to use in conjunction with my scraper. All in all, I loved the variety and was able to use all of them in different ways!” – Monika

“The cream was great before working out, and after for recovery! I felt like I was getting the best of both worlds.” – Jessica

What’s in the Bottle: A Quick Guide to CBD

We’ve heard a lot about the hemp plant over the past few years in a new, legal context. Regardless of how much we’ve heard about it, there are still a lot of questions about how it all works.

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) contains a variety of beneficial compounds called cannabinoids, the most well-known being CBD (cannabidiol) and THC. Unlike THC, CBD is non-intoxicating, and NOW uses broad-spectrum hemp extract in its body care line.

That means you get CBD plus other naturally occurring cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids without the impairing effects of THC. It’s a choice designed for anyone who wants the benefits of the hemp plant while keeping things clear-headed.

Why CBD Topicals Belong in a Recovery Toolkit

There’s a growing body of research supporting the use of CBD in topical formulations. Combined with soothing botanicals like menthol, arnica, and calendula, NOW’s CBD products are designed to support muscles and joints after training, provide temporary, localized relief in the areas you need most, and fit seamlessly into a daily self-care ritual.

For athletes and everyday movers alike, these products are best used consistently, up to four times daily, whenever you want to support your recovery.

The Bigger Picture: Caring for Your Whole Self

Taking care of yourself isn’t just about showing up for the workout. It’s about what happens between the reps, runs, and yoga poses. It’s how you rest, recover, and nourish your body.

For our Ambassador crew and for me personally, adding CBD to a self-care routine has been about creating balance. We’re still chasing heavier lifts and faster splits, but we’re also paying attention to the signals our bodies send. That balance is what keeps us moving forward for the long run.

Where to find NOW® Solutions CBD Body Care

The NOW® Solutions CBD Body Care line is cruelty-free, gluten-free, and rigorously tested, so you can trust what you’re putting on your skin as much as you trust the training plan you follow.

Because wellness isn’t just about how hard you work. It’s also about how well you care for yourself, something we’re proud to live out together at aSweatLife.

For our fall marathoners, now is the perfect time to grab these products to support your training and recovery routine.  The CBD products are 25% off at nowfoods.com/cbd through October 31, 2025.