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Losing Weight

Date: May 08 2009

Themes: Health, How To

Grammar: First Conditional

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Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

These days, it seems like a lot of people are obsessed with getting thin. But skinny hasn’t always been considered beautiful. Until recently, the ideal female figure was soft and curvy. And in some cultures, a bit of extra weight is still considered a good thing. But in the US, thin is definitely in, for men and women alike.

With so much pressure to be skinny, some people try to lose weight in extreme ways. But there are safe, healthy ways toget in shape, too. Listen to Devan and Beren talk about different strategies for shaving off those unwanted pounds and for a man’s perspective, take a look at Dale’s blog about losing weight.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Beren

Devan

Beren: Do you work out?

Devan: I do. I try to work out a fair amount. I don’t do it as often as I should. Like some people, you know, exercise several times a week. I don’t even get to the gym every week necessarily. But I try to go as often as I can. Because if you don’t hit the gym, you won’t get toned. And I want to have a toned body.

Beren: Well, I’m trying to shave off some pounds. I’m trying to figure out the best way to lose weight. But all my friends are into fad dieting, like fasting’s a really big one right now. Like there’s the “Miracle Cleanse.”

Devan: Yeah, my personal belief is it’s all about everything in moderation. I don’t think any of those fad diets really work. So, it’s all just about getting exercise, eating less. It’s just…Everything’s in moderation, you know? I’m all about just having a healthy lifestyle. Eating more fruits and vegetables and drinking lots of water and hitting the gym. That’s what works for me.

Beren: Cool. Well, I’ll keep that in mind.

Devan: Well, good luck getting in shape.

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Discussion

Beren would like to lose a little weight, but she isn’t sure how to do it. Some of her friends have tried to lose a lot of weight quickly by fasting. But Devan thinks that starving yourself in order to lose weight is unhealthy.

For Devan, the best way to get in shape is to eat healthy foods and work out. Some people who fast or try other fad diets, like eating nothing but red meat for every meal, do lose some weight, but quickly gain it back as soon as they go off the diet. Some people can eat whatever they want, never exercise, and still remain thin. But for most of us, staying in shape requires a consistent effort to be healthy.

What do you think is the best way to lose weight? Are people too obsessed with being thin?

Comments

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alaleh63

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

I think I have same problem, I gained 6 Kg in 6 month because of my studying, and now whenever i look in the mirror I get so upset about my outfit. I dont wanna be so skinny but in shape. Therefore, I started a diet last week which emphasis on calory counting in our daily take up.

hope it works!

kongxianghongyl

China

The best way to lose weight is that to eat less and to act more.

Marcelolic

Brazil

hehehe this subject is great and polemic! I love it! :)

This is interesting,girls of the world got different opinions about it! but there is just one main point! Longevity of our body ;) Not think in having a "culture" body in the present,but a healthy body in his old age ;)

Then,girls of the world even if you don't want to get in shape at the gym,search a regular physical activity,anything! Feel happy to do it :) because is already proved that physical activity in old age is very important…and If you take care yourself now,you will not to have many troubles in the future ;)

sliena

China

hehe..i still remenber,when i was in the primary school and middle school..i got a little fatand short:(..no boys like me ,they called me “fat girl”!At that time ,i really hated myself and always felt inferior to others …so i tried my best to do many exercises…played baskeball ,badminton,running…ect.but it’s so funny…i didn’t lose weight,on the contry,i got fatter than before^o..so i changed my mind,i choesed dance…i am the fatest in my dance class…nobody believed that i can dance without any basic skills before.
so i just want to prove that i can dance !!
i made my great efforts,finally..i made it !and more thiner than before…really felf happy and have a feeling of success!!
Now..i am very thin..just want to be fatter than before!!
hehe..so funny..!

tina0241

Hong Kong

and i would not prefer to hit the gym!!!!!!!!!

that make people toned.

if girls are toned,that was disgusting=(

tina0241

Hong Kong

oh man !!!!i'm trying to get thin now too!!=(

actually,i don't like to do exercise.

so,i prefer to eat less.

eat more vegetables and eat less starch(eg rice)

that make me thin easyly.but after doing a diet,you will get fat SO FAST if you eat many again!!!

be carefull!!!!!!!

Aneta_91

Poland

Yea..Some people are really obsessed with being thin..for example Me..:)I can't stop thinking about how many calories i ate or I'll eat. It's really stupid the way i'm living now..but i can't stop doing that..Becouse of eating not much i had a health problem so i think the best way to shave off some pounds are exercises and healthy foods such as fruit or vegetables.

stella861013

China

i don't think i'm thin,but i think it's healthy for me.

Samantha472

Russian Federation

My weight is normal enough. but I'd like to lose 1-2kgs by summer to look well in bikini.

angly120

China

i don't need to lost weight

addud

Indonesia

i am so skiny, i want to add my weight

Radiowagner

Brazil

For to have a good lifestyle, we have to eat less but constant in the day. Eat fruits and vegetables when to be with angry, and drink very water in the day. You have to pratice sports too.

Marcelolic

Brazil

Balanced diet,not this crasies diets! Regular physical activity! is on the street or in a gym and priciple,be happy ;)

Marcelolic

Brazil

hahaha Now I'm in my area!

I'm work out teacher and Personal Trainer so,what can I say?

First,you have to know what you want! for ex, "I want to have health! and I want to can perform my daily tasks!" So you have to practice any regular physical activity at least 3 times a week and more,a balanced diet ;) because the better form to be well is to do a balanced diet! Not this crazies diets!

I always say to my pupils,eat to 3 to 3 hours,so this is the principle ;)

Second,if you want to get in shape,this claim is more "expensive"! The payment is your dedication and frequence to physical activity…is on the street or in a gym :)

We can't be hypocritical in saying that "beauty" is not essential,because the real "beauty" comes from our health :)

At least,if you want to get really in shape you must to sweat the shirt! And not stay at home eating popcorn, watching tv and crying because you don’t lose weight! ;)

If you are "little" fat and is happy,this is it!!!! :)

特务小艾

China

Yes，I agree。I am on a diet but I eat healthy，I eat less than before because I used to eat too much。And now I just eat what my body really needs……I eat regularly……

duckie

Peru

Well ther big problem to me is during the winter i eat too much cholotes and candies, sweet cakes in this time and i get weight….

Bassou

Tunisia

nowadays people are 'paying' a lot for being skinny or 'sexy'...but in my opinion it's just wasting of time because the beauty is in mind and heart not in body..I mean "u can be beautiful not by body,but by science". it doesn't mean that I'm against keeping healthy. I'm for keeping healthy but not in this way (diet). and I've never asked my girl to have a diet (even she is a bit fat). and I see that the beautiful body isn't the skinny but the full body(not fat).

Ca_Brazil

Brazil

many people are really obsessed to get thin theses days, i know because i worked in an esthetic clinic back in the day, some of them spent a lot of money there but sometimes it didnt work out because they thought it was just take some medicines, you know. For me what really works is eating healthy food and working out in moderation, i mean, respecting your limits and dont try to be someone that you probably cant be…

_enigma_

Germany

I never became a obsessed person with getting thin till nowadays because of I put on weight for 6 months thus I wanna shave off some pounds too but all my family say that It is not needed to lose weight but I think that I should hit the gym to get toned ( or to get in shape) and I should eat moderate amounts of food. I never will be into fad dieting , all matter is to keep your mouth open in moderation when you see a delicious cake…hihi.. I hope that I can get my belly in shape soon without fad diet and fast.

csteilpo

Germany

in my opinion you have to find the balance between eating the right things and work out or do some sports. that is the only way to get a toned body and keep it. if you can't change your way of life continuously, you only will have succes for a short period. that would be depressing