Common-Sense Fitness

Do you find that most magazine articles about health and fitness suggest ‘solutions’ that are much too expensive or difficult for you? Well, don’t worry – there are a number of easy ways to keep fit and stay healthy.

The first step is obvious: if you are a smoker, you should stop. Smoking is a leading cause of cancer, heart disease and a lot of other health problems. It is also bad for non-smokers who have to breathe in other people’s smoke. The result of giving up smoking would be a healthier lifestyle, for you and everyone around you.

It is also a good idea to get some exercise. You don’t need to join a gym to do this. Instead, walk quickly around your neighbourhood for thirty minutes, three or four times a week. If you do this, you will find you have much more energy.

Finally, you should make sure you eat healthily, especially if you are overweight. If you cut down on fats and eat more fruit and vegetables, you will lose weight naturally. As a result, you will be fitter, feel better and live longer.

So, what can we do to lead a longer and healthier life? The answer is simple. Stop smoking, get some exercise and improve your diet. In my view, these three easy steps are the keys to good health.

1. Find the phrase/ sentence in the introduction which states the topic of the article.

2. What style is the article written in – formal or semi-formal? Why has this style been used?

3. What suggestions does the writer make? In which paragraphs?

4. Find the phrases used to make suggestions, then suggest suitable alternative phrases.

5. What result does the writer expect if the reader follows each of her suggestions?

6. Find the phrases used to introduce these results, then suggest suitable alternative phrases.

7. What writing technique has been used in the conclusion? What other techniques can be used?

8. Suggest a suitable alternative final paragraph.

(Successful Writing. Intermediate. St’s book. p.140)

17. Read the article below. What title would you give to it? What techniques did the writer use to attract readers’ attention?

Have you been having trouble deciding whether to go on a beach or a city holiday? The best solution is to combine the two and go to India.

Why not begin your holiday in New Delhi, the nation’s busy capital? As a first-time visitor, you can expect to be shocked by your first impressions of this fascinating city. The noisy mixture of car horns and street sellers loudly advertising their goods, as well as the sight of street children begging at the traffic lights, often puts tourists off. However, there is much more to New Delhi than this.

New Delhi is rich in historic sights. One of the most famous of these is the Red Fort, where you can visit the bazaar at the entrance and gaze at the beautiful red sandstone architecture of the fort itself. Another building which you certainly shouldn’t miss is the Rashtrapati Bhavan. This presidential home with 340 rooms is surrounded by acres of attractive gardens. If you want a break from sightseeing, the best thing you can do is visit Connaught Place. In this shopping centre, you can buy beautiful clothes in the many boutiques or have a delicious meal in one of the restaurants.

When you have tired yourself out exploring New Delhi, you can spend the second half of your holiday in Goa. Don’t forget to head for Palolem Beach, as this is the ideal spot for enjoying the spectacular Goan sunset. The beach is on a quiet island, so you will be guaranteed a peaceful and relaxing time. If you want to check out the local wildlife, there are a number of sanctuaries around the resort. Visit the Bondla Sanctuary and see lions and snakes. You can even have an elephant ride!

India’s major cities and beach resorts offer many truly magical experiences. Travel to India and enjoy a holiday with a difference.

(Click On 3. T’s book. p.57)

18. Rewrite the articles below applying different techniques to make them more attractive.

A	All the rage: clothes and fashion

Read the newspaper article below about how different types of clothes are appropriate for different types of people and situations.

Karen Hyland, 22, a self-confessed 'scruff', about to graduate from the University of East Anglia this summer, is among those desperately seeking a speedy transition from the campus uniform of jeans, trainers and sweatshirts to smart suit and shoes, without resorting to the pastel, power outfits favoured by New Labour's fresh female intake. Short skirts are to be avoided, as are Eighties shoulder pads, but no one wants to look frumpy and the student budget is inevitably tight. 'I have to create a new image for my proposed career in television,' explained Karen. 'Money aside, choosing the right outfit for my pending interviews is giving me nearly as much worry as my finals. 'What Karen needed was The Interview Suit – something smart, young and modern, which would be suitable for most office dress codes, while being individual enough to convince prospective employers that she could bring personality and flair to the job.

(English Vocabulary in Use. Advanced. p.62)

B	We are what we eat

This article is about the language used to label food products.

As a food label is often nothing more than an advert to tempt you to buy product, you should pay particular attention to the choice of words used. Always watch out for the word 'flavour', as this may mean that the product contains synthetic ingredients. Chocolate-flavour topping, for example, will not contain chocolate, even though chocolate-flavoured topping will contain a small percentage – so read carefully. Many manufacturers also use a range of meaningless descriptions. Feel-good words, such as 'wholesome', 'farmhouse', 'original' and 'traditional' do not mean anything. Other words such as 'farm fresh' and 'country fresh' also intentionally blur the true nature of a product's source. 'Fresh egg pasta', for example, means that the pasta was indeed made with real and not powdered eggs, but maybe months ago. Words that you can trust are 'organic', 'wholemeal', 'natural mineral water', 'Fair Trade', 'free-range' and the 'V’ vegetarian symbol.

Consumer pressure over GM foods has led to better labelling but loopholes still exist. GM product derivatives, such as starches, sugars, fats and oils where no genetically modified protein or DNA material still remains, still go unlabelled in many products such as cereal bars, fish fingers, jellies and vegetable burgers.

Take particular care over low-fat and low-sugar products. Guidelines state that 'low-fat' foods must not have more than 5 per cent fat, while 'reduced fat' means that the total fat content is 25 per cent less than the standard versions of the same product. The terms 'light' or 'lite' are meaningless since they could refer to texture, fat content, sugar content or even colour.

(English Vocabulary in Use. Advanced. p.74)

C	Diet, sport and fitness

Cholesterol and health

Cholesterol only becomes a problem when you have too much of it and it starts to promote the production of a fatty plaque that can clog the arteries. Interruption of blood flow to a main heart vessel can cause a heart attack; a blocked blood vessel on the way to the brain could cause a stroke.

Some say that cholesterol-rich foods such as eggs, shellfish and offal should be banished from the diet, but these foods don't significantly raise cholesterol levels. The cholesterol in them is broken down quite efficiently and then excreted, so they are fine to eat in moderation.

Fibre produces substances that help to clear the blood of bad cholesterol and acts as a 'buffer', so less fat is brought into contact with blood vessels and less is absorbed. Fibre also keeps bad cholesterol within the gut from where it can be excreted.

Running and calories

Running, or swift walking, uses the major muscle groups, making it the most efficient form of cardiovascular exercise. It has been shown to have a positive effect on blood fats by reducing cholesterol levels. It also lowers blood pressure and helps diabetics by improving glucose tolerance and reducing insulin resistance.

Running is a very efficient way to burn calories. Converting your weight into pounds and then multiplying the result by 75 per cent will give you the amount you burn per mile. The average is about 500 calories for every three miles. If you did this three times a week, you'd lose 1/2 lb a week, 2 lb a month or 24 lb a year.

This all-round form of exercise is used in the treatment of mental illness and depression, because it is thought to raise levels of the mood enhancer, serotonin.

(English Vocabulary in Use. Advanced. p.134)

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