Health
1. Ways of describing level of health/ fitness
The following collocations mean ‘maintain a certain level of fitness/health’:
Keep fit/ Keep healthy/ Keep in shape/ Keep active
Stay fit/ Stay healthy/ Stay in shape/ Stay active
As you can see, ‘keep‘ and ‘stay‘ are key verbs that we tend to use often, while fit, healthy and active and key adjectives.
Get back to/ into/at sth are used to indicate returning to exercise after taking time off.
Out of shape is when we are not in ideal shape (either overweight or our general fitness is subpar).
To get into shape/ To get out of shape are used to show the process of becoming fit or becoming unfit. To let yourself go also means to become unfit/ out of shape.
To be in shape means that you are fit and/or have a good physique.
Work out is the phrasal verb that means to exercise while a workout is the noun.
Examples:
I like to keep fit by cycling.
Cycling helps me stay in shape.
I need to get back into running.
I’m so out of shape after the holidays!
I’m 100% getting into shape after the holidays!
I’m in pretty good shape at the moment.
I’m so out of shape.. I need. to get back to the gym ASAP!
I workout most days because I want to get into shape for a half-marathon coming up!
2. Instead of ‘Go to the gym’→ Hit the gym/ Head to the gym
You can absolutely say ‘go to the gym‘, but these are some more conversational ways.
Examples:
I’m heading to the gym after class.
I’m going to hit the gym hard this evening!
I usually hit the gym in the morning
3. Mentioning hydration/ water intake: Stay/ Keep Hydrated/ Get dehydrated
Stay/Keep hydrated mean ‘keeping a good level of water intake/ hydration’, while ‘get dehydrated‘ is a result of low water intake.
Examples:
I always tell my mates to keep hydrated if they’re hiking in the mountains.
I always have a bottle of water by my desk as I try to stay hydrated.
I sometimes get dehydrated, so I definitely need to drink more water!
4. Mentioning Diet/ Nutrition: Balanced diet/ Well-rounded diet/ Proper nutrition
Balanced diet/ Well-rounded diet/ Proper nutrition all relate to having a balance of protein, carbs and vegetables.
TO GET nutrients/ vitamins & minerals
Examples:
I try to eat a balanced diet.
I eat a well-rounded diet with lots of veggies, some lean meats and good carbs!
I think people don’t have proper nutrition these days!
I need to get more Vitamin D because of our weather, so I take a supplement.
It’s quite hard for my to get enough iron in my diet.
5. Mentioning snacking/ unhealthy eating: to indulge in/ To pig out on/ to binge on/ to snack on/ to treat yourself
TO INDULGE IN sth means to allow yourself to eat something, mostly excessively and OVERINDULGE IN sth means that you definitely overdid it! TO PIG OUT ON sth means the same but with the emphasis being that you were greedy or gluttonous. TO TREAT YOURSELF means to allow yourself to eat something as a reward for your good behaviour or because you think you deserve it. TO BINGE ON sth means to eat something excessively, usually in a short period of time and uncontrollably. TO SNACK ON sth means simply to eat something small between meals. This can be healthy or unhealthy.
Examples:
I love pigging out on McDonald’s on the weekend!
Sometimes I treat myself with a bar of chocolate!
I binged on Haribo sweets and popcorn during the movie!
I occasionally indulge in some cake.
My mate is always snacking on crisps at work!
I definitely overindulged by getting a pizza and a burger last night!
6. Talking about Weight: Putting on/losing weight
Gain weight→ PUT ON weight
Lose weight/ lose a few pounds/ lose a few kilos
Maintain weight: Keep your weight the same/ Keep or stay the same weight.
Examples:
I’ve put on so much weight over the winter.
I’ve worked hard to maintain my weight.. I try to go to the gym at least 3 times per week.
I think I need to loose a few pounds before the summer!
I’ve been dieting recently to lose a bit of weight.
7. Talking about Sleep: HEAD TO BED/ HIT THE SACK/ GET X HOURS SLEEP
You can absolutely say ‘go to bed‘. These are just some more options.
TO HEAD to bed at 11pm. (to head = to go)
Hit the sack = go to bed/sleep.
TO GET/SLEEP 8 hours of sleep
Examples:
I get 7-8hrs of sleep per night.
I sleep 7-8hrs per night.
I head to bed around 10pm.
I usually watch a bit of TV and then hit the sack around 11pm.
8. Describing Reducing, Eliminating habits: Cut down on/ Cut out/ to up sth
Reduce: Cut down (on) sth
Eliminate: Cut out sth
Increase: To up sth
Examples:
I really need to cut down on the amount of chocolate I eat.
I recently cut out coffee altogether and now I’m miserable!
I need to up the number of times I go to the gym!
Examiner: How do you like to keep healthy?
Student: Well I like to stay in shape by hitting the gym and occasionally heading to the swimming pool.
Examiner: How often do you exercise?
Student: I try to get to the gym at least three times a week and head to the pool once or twice.
Examiner: Are there any health habits you would like to change or improve?
Student: I think I need to cut down on chocolate for sure. I also indulge in fast food on the weekends.. so I’d maybe like to change that to twice per month..
Examiner: Is it easy to keep fit where you live?
Student: Yes, there are piles of fitness facilities, so it’s relatively easy to stay active.
Examiner: What do you think is more important, eating healthily or doing exercise?
Student: Both are super important, but I reckon eating healthily. I think keeping a balanced diet and getting proper nutrition are probably the best things you can do for your health.
Examiner: How important is sleep to you? How many hours of sleep do you usually get?
Student: Sleep is very important. I get about seven to eight hours of sleep each night to feel well-rested, so I hit the sack around 11pm.
Examiner: What kind of food do you usually eat?
Student: I try to have a well-rounded diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins and avoid junk food.. but obviously I pig out on some unhealthy food from time to time.
Examiner: Do you think people in your country are generally health-conscious? Why or why not?
Student: I’d say they are actually. I know heaps of people who’ve cut out alcohol completely… others I know are heading to the gym more than 3 times per week.. and lots of my friends try to up their steps per day.
Examiner: What do you do to relieve stress in your daily life?
Student: I usually go for a run or read a book. Both help me to unwind and clear my head.
1. How do you like to keep healthy?
2. How often do you exercise?
3. Are there any health habits you would like to change or improve?
4. Is it easy to keep fit where you live?
5. What do you think is more important, eating healthily or doing exercise?
6. How important is sleep to you? How many hours of sleep do you usually get?
7. What kind of food do you usually eat?
8. Do you pay attention to your diet?
9. Do you think people in your country are generally health-conscious? Why or why not?
10. What do you do to relieve stress in your daily life?
11. Are there any health-related activities or hobbies you enjoy?
i) Describe something you do to keep healthy.
You should say:
-what this activity is
-when you do it
-how often you do it
and explain why you think it’s a good way to look after your health.
ii) Describe a time when you were ill.
You should say:
-when this was
-what your symptoms were
-how long the illness lasted
and say how it affected your life at the time.
1. What costs are involved when you are ill in your country?
2. What are the most popular ways of keeping healthy in your country?
3. Do you think most people worry more about their health as they get older?
4. In your experience, are people too quick to take time off work when they’re ill?
5. How can people be encouraged to stay healthy?
6. Why do you think some people continue bad habits when they know that they are damaging to their health?
7. Do women pay more attention to their health than men?
8. How can children be encouraged to adopt healthy eating habits?
9. Do you think people have become more health conscious in recent years?
10. What is the best way of helping people with an addiction?
11. Could governments do more to promote healthier lifestyle options?
12. How do you think people will stay healthy in the future?
Make up a story about a fictional character using each set of words. You must integrate all of these words in the correct tense into your story.
E.g. If the set includes the following: Get back into shape, get dehydrated, well-rounded diet and cut out, the story could be something like this: “Shaun used to do sport all the time, but he let himself go a bit after getting a girlfriend! One day Shaun woke up and said “enough is enough! I’m going to get back into shape! No more chocolate and junk food! I’m going to cut it out completely! And I’ll keep a bottle of water with me at all times so I don’t get dehydrated during the day! Oh, and I better sort out my food. I need a well-rounded diet with plenty of protein and veg!”
Set 1:
Keep in shape
Hit the gym
Stay hydrated
Binge on
Set 2:
Get into shape
Head to the gym
Proper nutrition
Hit the sack
Set 3:
Out of shape
Cut down on
Pig out on
Put on weight
Fill in the appropriate vocabulary in the correct tense from the following list to complete the story. The words may be used more than once or not used at all.
Keep fit/ Keep healthy/ Keep in shape/ Keep active, Stay fit/ Stay healthy/ Stay in shape/ Stay active, Out of shape, To get into shape/ To get out of shape, Be in shape, Work out, Hit the gym/ Head to the gym, Stay/ Keep Hydrated/ Get dehydrated, Balanced diet/ Well-rounded diet/ Proper nutrition, to indulge in/ To pig out on/ to binge on/ to snack on/ to treat yourself, Putting on/losing weight/ Cut down on/ Cut out/ to up sth
After months of staying at home and not exercising, Jake realized he was completely (1) __________. He used to (2) __________ by jogging every morning and going to the gym, but lately, he had been too busy with work. Determined to (3) __________, he decided to (4) __________ three times a week and also (5) __________ for strength training.
His trainer advised him to follow a (6) __________ to ensure he got all the necessary nutrients. Jake also made an effort to (7) __________ by drinking plenty of water throughout the day. He knew he had to (8) __________ sugary drinks and junk food, as they were making him feel sluggish.
However, he still allowed himself to (9) __________ his favorite dessert once a week as a reward. After a few weeks of consistent effort, he noticed he was no longer (10) __________ and felt much more energetic. His hard work was paying off, and he was proud to (11) __________ again.
Now, he encourages his friends to (12) __________ too, reminding them that even small changes can make a big difference in their health!
Answers
After months of staying at home and not exercising, Jake realised he was completely (1) out of shape. He used to (2) stay fit by jogging every morning and going to the gym, but lately, he had been too busy with work. Determined to (3) get into shape
, he decided to (4) work out three times a week and also (5) hit the gym (or head to the gym) for strength training.
His trainer advised him to follow a (6) balanced diet (or well-rounded diet / proper nutrition) to ensure he got all the necessary nutrients. Jake also made an effort to (7) stay hydrated (or keep hydrated)_ by drinking plenty of water throughout the day. He knew he had to (8) cut down on (or cut out) sugary drinks and junk food, as they were making him feel sluggish.
However, he still allowed himself to (9) treat himself (or indulge in / pig out on / binge on / snack on) his favourite dessert once a week as a reward. After a few weeks of consistent effort, he noticed he was no longer (10) out of shape and felt much more energetic. His hard work was paying off, and he was proud to (11) be in shape again.
Now, he encourages his friends to (12) keep active (or stay active) too, reminding them that even small changes can make a big difference in their health!
