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CBD and CPC
Eric Belliveau • March 27, 2019

Now that Massachusetts has become a state where recreational marijuana is now legal it seems that CBD has become quite common and a popular thing to talk about. More and more CBD is showing up in many different products and places. There is a store at the mall dedicated to the stuff and offers lots of products made with CBD. Due to its increasing popularity more and more questions are popping up about what it is and what it is supposed to be used for. As someone who uses it regularly, I thought I would be a good person to shine some light on the situation and also some personal anecdotes.

***Let me be clear, I am in no way claiming to be an expert on the subject or telling anyone to use this product for any specific health issues. This blog is intended to give an opinion not any scientific evidence or claims. The information provided is also an accumulation of reading and research I have done, most of which comes from a company that I will site and give credit to at the end of this entry. Thanks.

After just a couple of days of taking CBD I noticed a pretty big difference...the sleep that I was getting was a better, more restful, quality sleep which made me feel a lot better throughout the day and I recovered more quickly from workouts.

What is it? CBD or Cannabidiol is a compound found in both hemp and marijuana plants. CBD is the non-psychoactive component (does not get you high), while THC is the psychoactive component (the stuff that gets you high) of these plants. All or most of the CBD that is processed and sold (legally) in the use is derived from the hemp plant, which contains higher amounts of CBD and lower amounts if any at all THC.

What it does? CBD affects certain receptors in the body that control many different processes in the body, processes that modulate and regulate things like mood and anxiety, pain, sleep patterns, memory, energy levels, stress, temperature regulation and even appetite among other things.

How can you take it? There are many forms of delivery into the body. I think most popular is either liquid drops taken orally or gummies that can be eaten. Lately there has been a huge amount of other products in which CBD can be found, anything from coffee to drinks to lotions and even dog treats. Products come in a variety of different dosage amounts and due to both the lack of actual scientific research and variability from person to person there are no strict dosage guidelines. It is widely recommended to start CBD at a lower dosage and gradually increase to find the desired effect each person is looking for. Overdosing is not possible since the body will excrete any excess that it cannot immediately process or utilize.

Again, there hasn’t been many formal clinical studies or trial on the effects or effectiveness of CBD, but there are lots of studies currently happening. On the other hand, there is a LOT of anecdotal evidence. Here is mine. I started using CBD a few months ago. I started with gummies and then went to using the liquid drops. My reasoning and purpose for trying CBD at first was for improved sleep. I have struggled for a while to get a good quality and restful sleep, sometimes it is hard for me to fall asleep other times I sleep very restlessly and wake up multiple times a night. After just a couple of days of taking CBD I noticed a pretty big difference. I wouldn’t say that my sleep patterns changed a whole lot, but what I noticed was that the sleep that I was getting was a better, more restful, quality sleep which made me feel a lot better throughout the day and I recovered more quickly from workouts. I was able to get right out of bed and didn’t feel groggy or have that dread of getting up kind of feeling in the morning. The other thing that I noticed was that it had a positive effect on my GI tract. I’ll spare you the gory details, so we’ll just say that I was pooping better.

I have used it on my shoulders when they are sore... and other areas of soreness or discomfort. Effects = almost immediate relief or at least a decreased amount of pain or discomfort.

I don’t tend to suffer from any real form of anxiety or stress. I know, surprise surprise. But my wife does, mostly due to her high stress job. Helping with stress and anxiety was one of the many things that she found to be a huge benefit from taking CBD. What she found was that stress and anxiety will probably always be there, but when taking CBD she was able recognize those times of higher anxiety, focus in on it, and is able to manage it a lot better so that it didn’t become something that interfered and caused an issue.

Another form of CBD that I have just recently started experimenting with is a CBD Balm. The balm is a “lotion” of sorts with beeswax and other topical oils and essential oils for different fragrances. I have used it on my shoulders when they are sore, used it on my knees before bed after a heavy day of squatting, elbows after a big over head day, and other areas of soreness or discomfort. Effects = almost immediate relief or at least a decreased amount of pain or discomfort. I’ve noticed it most in the lower extremities when I use it at night. I don’t have a “restless leg” issue, but I’m able to get comfortable, stay that way, and sleep better. I tend to get dry skin on my hands and face, yup, been using it for that as well and it’s improving. Kind of amazing!

So in summary, CBD is pretty awesome! It has had such a positive effect on both my wife and myself that we have and will continue taking/using it on a regular basis. As with anything this may not be for everyone but if you are interested in trying CBD I highly recommend it. If you have any questions I’d be happy to pass along any information I could on the subject.

Again I’m not an expert, these guys are https://miraclenutritionalproducts.com. Check them out if you want to dig a little bit more. If you’re looking to purchase any products, please keep in touch… I might know where you can find it.

Thanks guys!

Mike

The Meat Hangover

By Eric Belliveau • October 7, 2020
When it comes to taking meat out of your diet, some people have the idea that they will only see positive changes immediately following this choice. While those positive changes are definitely part of the deal, so is an adjustment period for your body.

We're Trying

By Eric Belliveau • September 23, 2020
We were all thrown on this crazy ride together. Emotions were running high but so were patience, empathy, inclusion, and respect. Most of us could rally behind the #WeAreInThisTogether manta. We wanted to do right by each other - donate to charities, lend a hand, check-in on one another. Do our part. As the days turn to weeks and the weeks into months these dispositions decayed rapidly. I know that this Quarantine order has been going on for a long time. I know that a great number of us do not agree on the why. I know an even greater number of us are “over it”. I am painfully aware of the difference of opinions surrounding the pandemic. It is impossible to NOT be aware of this. This leads us all to frustration, anger, resentment, and the feeling that you are not being heard. Very real and very human emotions! It is okay to feel this way. I am not only writing this from the perspective of a fellow struggling human. I do find myself struggling with everything I mentioned above. Not just daily but multiple times a day. My ability to focus has been challenged by my worry. My ability to create time for myself and focus on self-care has been derailed for fear of other things becoming more pressing. I work on this every day. I am not only writing this from the perspective of one of the business owners who were never given a playbook for this. For weeks on end I thought WTF happened to the business and how would our model need to change and remain viable, how each business owner had to either weather a period in which we were completely shut down or allowed to operate under capacity restrictions, etc. The unknown of what the timeline would bring and whether we would be able to continue our dreams or make an extremely difficult decision of not continuing. This still haunts every one of us daily. I AM very much writing this as a service provider! I am writing this as an impassioned human who genuinely loves what I do for a living. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to have built a career surrounding something I get excited about every day. I am making a stand for all of us that make their living in the service industry. To the receptionist, hostess, waiter, cook, dry cleaner, teacher, technician, barista, utility worker, automobile service technician… It is truly impossible to be inclusive of everyone here.  No one human mentioned above asked for this ‘situation’ we are in. We are sure as hell trying to provide a level of normalcy, service, care, and happiness to the lives in which we choose to serve. With added restrictions, added expense decreased capacity and the fear of being fined or shut down for doing it incorrectly, everyday.

The Meat Hangover

By Eric Belliveau • October 7, 2020
When it comes to taking meat out of your diet, some people have the idea that they will only see positive changes immediately following this choice. While those positive changes are definitely part of the deal, so is an adjustment period for your body.

We're Trying

By Eric Belliveau • September 23, 2020
We were all thrown on this crazy ride together. Emotions were running high but so were patience, empathy, inclusion, and respect. Most of us could rally behind the #WeAreInThisTogether manta. We wanted to do right by each other - donate to charities, lend a hand, check-in on one another. Do our part. As the days turn to weeks and the weeks into months these dispositions decayed rapidly. I know that this Quarantine order has been going on for a long time. I know that a great number of us do not agree on the why. I know an even greater number of us are “over it”. I am painfully aware of the difference of opinions surrounding the pandemic. It is impossible to NOT be aware of this. This leads us all to frustration, anger, resentment, and the feeling that you are not being heard. Very real and very human emotions! It is okay to feel this way. I am not only writing this from the perspective of a fellow struggling human. I do find myself struggling with everything I mentioned above. Not just daily but multiple times a day. My ability to focus has been challenged by my worry. My ability to create time for myself and focus on self-care has been derailed for fear of other things becoming more pressing. I work on this every day. I am not only writing this from the perspective of one of the business owners who were never given a playbook for this. For weeks on end I thought WTF happened to the business and how would our model need to change and remain viable, how each business owner had to either weather a period in which we were completely shut down or allowed to operate under capacity restrictions, etc. The unknown of what the timeline would bring and whether we would be able to continue our dreams or make an extremely difficult decision of not continuing. This still haunts every one of us daily. I AM very much writing this as a service provider! I am writing this as an impassioned human who genuinely loves what I do for a living. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to have built a career surrounding something I get excited about every day. I am making a stand for all of us that make their living in the service industry. To the receptionist, hostess, waiter, cook, dry cleaner, teacher, technician, barista, utility worker, automobile service technician… It is truly impossible to be inclusive of everyone here.  No one human mentioned above asked for this ‘situation’ we are in. We are sure as hell trying to provide a level of normalcy, service, care, and happiness to the lives in which we choose to serve. With added restrictions, added expense decreased capacity and the fear of being fined or shut down for doing it incorrectly, everyday.
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