Intended Audience
The article is intended for younger audiences as well as other groups that perform weekly exercises, such as the elderly, people who suffer from obesity, and patients undergoing restorative physical therapy. These populations are most likely to find themselves using the internet in search of exercise tips and any related information regarding maintaining a positive mood after an exercise (Angle).
The article is written in relatively simple terms, which are easy to understand for people who are not very familiar with sports medicine. As it was published in a fitness journal, the author frequently uses nonprofessional terms, such as “high” and “buzz” in order to interact with the audience in a more casual and personal manner, as is often the case with self-help and fitness articles, which aim to create an impression of a personalized consultation for the viewer.
The Thesis of the Article
The thesis of the article, though not explicitly stated in the introduction section, can be summarized in the following way: Endocannabinoids, in combination with aerobic exercises, proper training routine, as well as psychological and environmental motivation, can extend the post-workout afterglow and improve the results of physical exercise. This thesis was assembled based on what the article was about – the introduction section explicitly mentioned endocannabinoids and their role in human metabolism and maintaining the “exercise high,” whereas the rest of the article was divided into subsections in order to prove and support the thesis mentioned above.
Other points mentioned were the influence of training routine (doing exercises early and on an empty stomach), performing aerobic exercises in combination with strength training, receiving motivation from self-praise and peer influence, and mood-improving and stress-relieving qualities of nature and fresh air (Angle). Thus, every single major point had to be included in the thesis statement.
Article Summary
The article talks about the underrated influence of lipid molecules, also known as Endocannabinoids, in influencing human metabolism and getting the body “high” after physical exercise. There are many factors contributing to the post-workout buzz (Angle). The author seeks to highlight the most important hormonal and psychological motivators behind the blissful feeling, based on evidence-based practice and peer-reviewed information.
The first piece of advice given in the scope of this article is to perform aerobic exercises. The author cites findings of research conducted by the University of Arizona, which have discovered that moderate aerobic exercises engage the endocannabinoid system, which cannot be achieved through strength exercises alone (Angle). At the same time, it is advised not to overextend oneself during aerobic exercises.
Another piece of advice given by the author is to skip breakfast before doing exercise. According to the author’s sources, the endocannabinoid system is best engaged early in the morning when hungry, as it was historically used by humans to help hunt and gather food. However, the author does not seem to mention any side-effects of exercising on an empty stomach (Angle).
Lastly, Angle brings up several points about the importance of psychological, social, and environmental factors in performing an exercise. Some of the techniques mentioned in the article include talking to oneself and giving self-praise for the efforts, exercising with a friend in order to improve results of endurance workouts, and performing activities outdoors in order to gain a reduce stress and improve the mood and will to exercise (Angle).
Work Cited
Angle, Sarah. “How to Make your Exercise High Last.” Highbeam Research. 2016. Web.