Losing+Weight

English lesson

Losing Weight
May 08 2009 Intro 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 to |get 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. Dialogue Beren: Do you work out? 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.
 * 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.

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? Grammar Point
 * First Conditional**

Devan tells Beren, “**If** you **don’t hit** the gym, you **won’t get** toned.” She’s using the **first conditional** here to talk about something that //will probably happen// in the future as the result of something else that //happens// in the present. If you work out now, you will probably get toned in the future.

The first conditional consists of **two clauses**, one with **If + simple present verb** and the second with **simple future verb**, as in, “**If** you **hit** the gym, you **will get** in shape.”

Try using the first conditional to talk about what **will happen** if you **eat** lots of unhealthy foods. Quiz ...
 * 1) What does Devan think Beren should do to lose weight?
 * Fast.
 * Hit the gym.
 * Try a fad diet.
 * Eat nothing but fruit.
 * 1) Which of these will help you get toned?
 * Working out.
 * Dieting.
 * Fasting.
 * Overeating.
 * 1) Which of these is a “fad diet”?
 * Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables.
 * Not eating too many sweets.
 * Only eating rice and water.
 * 1) If you eat more fruits and vegetables, you _ healthier.
 * are
 * have been
 * will be
 * would be
 * 1) Which one uses the first conditional correctly?
 * I’ll go out tonight if I’ll be feeling better.
 * If he doesn’t study, he won’t do well on the exam.
 * Will you come over this weekend?

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