Diet and Weight Loss
What Do You Want to Know About Diet and Weight Loss?
In America, bigger is better. Pool table-sized flat-screen TVs show reality programs with larger-than-life personalities living in McMansions, and we watch while mindlessly eating our super-sized meals and diving into a gallon of cookie dough ice cream. According to the Centers for Disease Control and PreventionCDC), nearly 70 percent of U.S. adults are either overweight or obese.
When it comes to weight, bigger is decidedly not better.
The Obesity “Epidemic”
Being overweight or obese has dangerous, and often deadly, consequences. These include high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, joint pain, cancer, heart disease, and reduced life expectancy. And it’s not just adults. According to the CDC, nearly 20 percent of American children are obese, and the numbers are worse in African-American and Hispanic communities.
As our waistlines grow larger, so too does our diet and weight loss industry. The Internet, TV, and magazines bombard us with ads for weight loss supplements, diet plans, and surgeries. Store shelves burst with all things fat free, low carb, and reduced calorie. At any given time, it seems, the majority of Americans are trying to lose weight, trying to maintain weight loss, or at least thinking about a diet or weight loss plan. According to the American Heart Association, 154.7 million Americans are overweight or obese.
The Solution
The truth is that there’s no magic pill, diet, or exercise that will take off the weight. What matters is calories in and calories out. You will lose weight if you reduce your intake of calories below what calories you expend during the day through activity. You can do it via smart dietary changes and portion control.
Exercise is one way to increase calorie expenditure and is also an important component in the overall path to weight loss. In the process, you’ll find your health will improve. Problems like joint pain and depression may even disappear. Everyday activities like playing with your kids, taking the stairs at work, or simply walking around the block will become easier and far more enjoyable.
Weight loss comes through a determined effort of portion control versus activity. No fad diet or supplement can take the place of a sound and balanced weight loss plan. While these methods may provide quick results, they come with side effects and often unsustainable weight loss.
Healthy weight loss is sustainable weight loss. According to the Mayo Clinic, losing 1 to 2 pounds each week is the right pace for dieters to strive for. This involves lifestyle changes like:
- eating less fast food
- reducing portion sizes
- exercising several times a week
- eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables
- including whole grains for fiber intake
- staying hydrated with water and reducing or eliminating consumption of soft drinks and alcoholic beverages
Through reasonable goal setting and a steady, focused pursuit toward health, we can begin to slow or even stop the climbing rates of obesity in this country. But this begins with individuals making meaningful changes in their own lives.
Summary Of the Topic
Dieting is the practice of eating food in a regulated and supervised fashion to decrease, maintain, or increase body weight. Dieting is often used in combination with physical exercise to lose weight, commonly in those who are overweight or obese. Some people, however, follow a diet to gain weight (usually in the form of muscle). Diets can also be used to maintain a stable body weight.
Weight loss, in the context of medicine, health, or physical fitness refers to a reduction of the total body mass, due to a mean loss of fluid, body fat or adipose tissue and/or lean mass, namely bone mineral deposits, muscle, tendon, and other connective tissue. Weight loss can either occur unintentionally due to an underlying disease or arise from a conscious effort to improve an actual or perceived overweight or obese state. “Unexplained” weight loss that is not caused by reduction in calorific intake or exercise is called cachexia and may be a symptom of a serious medical condition. Intentional weight loss is commonly referred to as slimming.
Being overweight or obese has dangerous, and often deadly, consequences. These include high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, joint pain, cancer, heart disease, and reduced life expectancy. And it’s not just adults. According to the CDC, nearly 20 percent of American children are obese, and the numbers are worse in African-American and Hispanic communities. At any given time, it seems, the majority of Americans are trying to lose weight, trying to maintain weight loss, or at least thinking about a diet or weight loss plan. According to the American Heart Association, 154.7 million Americans are overweight or obese.
Diabetes is a problem with your body that causes blood glucose (sugar) levels to rise higher than normal. This is also called hyperglycemia. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. If you have type 2 diabetes your body does not use insulin properly. This is called insulin resistance. At first, your pancreas makes extra insulin to make up for it. But, over time it isn’t able to keep up and can’t make enough insulin to keep your blood glucose at normal levels.
The truth is that there’s no magic pill, diet, or exercise that will take off the weight. What matters is calories in and calories out. You will lose weight if you reduce your intake of calories below what calories you expend during the day through activity. You can do it via smart dietary changes and portion control.
Exercise is one way to increase calorie expenditure and is also an important component in the overall path to weight loss. In the process, you’ll find your health will improve. Problems like joint pain and depression may even disappear. Everyday activities like playing with your kids, taking the stairs at work, or simply walking around the block will become easier and far more enjoyable.
Weight loss comes through a determined effort of portion control versus activity. No fad diet or supplement can take the place of a sound and balanced weight loss plan. While these methods may provide quick results, they come with side effects and often unsustainable weight loss.
Healthy weight loss is sustainable weight loss. According to the Mayo Clinic, losing 1 to 2 pounds each week is the right pace for dieters to strive for. This involves lifestyle changes like:
- eating less fast food
- reducing portion sizes
- exercising several times a week
- eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables
- including whole grains for fiber intake
- staying hydrated with water and reducing or eliminating consumption of soft drinks and alcoholic beverages
Through reasonable goal setting and a steady, focused pursuit toward health, we can begin to slow or even stop the climbing rates of obesity in this country. But this begins with individuals making meaningful changes in their own lives.
Grammar
- Correlative Conjuction
Work in pairs to join words and groups of words of equal weight in a sentence. There are many different pairs of correlative conjunctions:
- ..or
- not only…but (also)
- ..nor
- ..and
- ..or
- just as…so
- ..the
- ..as
- as much…as
- no sooner…than
- ..than
Example From the Topic : “adults are either overweight or obese”
Another Example :
- You eitherdo your work or prepare for a trip to the office. (Either do, or repair)
- He is not onlyhandsome, but also (Not only A, but also B)
- Not onlyis he handsome, but also he is brilliant. (Not only is he A, but also he is B.)
- Neitherthe basketball team nor the football team is doing well.
- Boththe cross country team and the swimming team are doing well.
- You must decide whetheryou stay or you go. (It’s up to you)
- Whetheryou stay or you go, the film must start at 8 pm. (It’s not up to you)
- Just asmany Americans love basketball, so many Canadians love ice hockey.
- Themore you practice dribbling, the better you will get at it.
- Football is asfast as hockey (is (fast)).
- Football is as muchan addiction as a sport.
- No soonerdid she learn to ski, than the snow began to thaw.
- I would ratherswim than
- Modals
Modal verbs are special verbs which behave very differently from normal verbs. Here are some important differences:
- Modal verbs do not take “-s” in the third person.
Examples:
- He can speak Chinese.
- She should be here by 9:00.
- You use “not” to make modal verbs negative, even in Simple Present and Simple Past.
Examples:
- He should not be late.
- They might not come to the party.
- Many modal verbs cannot be used in the past tenses or the future tenses.
Examples:
- He will can go with us.Not Correct
- She musted study very hard.Not Correct
Common Modal Verbs
| Can Could May Might Must |
Ought to Shall Should Will Would |
Example from the Topic : You will lose weight if you reduce your intake of calories below what calories you expend during the day through activity.
You can do it via smart dietary changes and portion control.
Problems like joint pain and depression may even disappear
- Preposition
Prepositions are short words (on, in, to) that usually stand in front of nouns (sometimes also in front of gerund verbs).
Even advanced learners of English find prepositions difficult, as a 1:1 translation is usually not possible. One preposition in your native language might have several translations depending on the situation.
There are hardly any rules as to when to use which preposition. The only way to learn prepositions is looking them up in a dictionary, reading a lot in English (literatur) and learning useful phrases off by heart (study tips).
The following table contains rules for some of the most frequently used prepositions in English:
Prepositions – Time
| English | Usage | Example |
| · on | § days of the week | § on Monday |
| · in | § months / seasons
§ time of day § year § after a certain period of time (when?) |
§ in August / in winter
§ in the morning § in 2006 § in an hour |
| · at | § for night
§ for weekend § a certain point of time (when?) |
§ at night
§ at the weekend § at half past nine |
| · since | § from a certain point of time (past till now) | § since 1980 |
| · for | § over a certain period of time (past till now) | § for 2 years |
| · ago | § a certain time in the past | § 2 years ago |
| · before | § earlier than a certain point of time | § before 2004 |
| · to | § telling the time | § ten to six (5:50) |
| · past | § telling the time | § ten past six (6:10) |
| · to / till / until | § marking the beginning and end of a period of time | § from Monday to/till Friday |
| · till / until | § in the sense of how long something is going to last | § He is on holiday until Friday. |
| · by | § in the sense of at the latest
§ up to a certain time |
§ I will be back by 6 o’clock.
§ By 11 o’clock, I had read five pages. |
Prepositions – Place (Position and Direction)
| English | Usage | Example |
| · in | § room, building, street, town, country
§ book, paper etc. § car, taxi § picture, world |
§ in the kitchen, in London
§ in the book § in the car, in a taxi § in the picture, in the world |
| · at | § meaning next to, by an object
§ for table § for events § place where you are to do something typical (watch a film, study, work) |
§ at the door, at the station
§ at the table § at a concert, at the party § at the cinema, at school, at work |
| · on | § attached
§ for a place with a river § being on a surface § for a certain side (left, right) § for a floor in a house § for public transport § for television, radio |
§ the picture on the wall
§ London lies on the Thames. § on the table § on the left § on the first floor § on the bus, on a plane § on TV, on the radio |
| · by, next to, beside | § left or right of somebody or something | § Jane is standing by / next to / beside the car. |
| · under | § on the ground, lower than (or covered by) something else | § the bag is under the table |
| · below | § lower than something else but above ground | § the fish are below the surface |
| · over | § covered by something else
§ meaning more than § getting to the other side (also across) § overcoming an obstacle |
§ put a jacket over your shirt
§ over 16 years of age § walk over the bridge § climb over the wall |
| · above | § higher than something else, but not directly over it | § a path above the lake |
| · across | § getting to the other side (also over)
§ getting to the other side |
§ walk across the bridge
§ swim across the lake |
| · through | § something with limits on top, bottom and the sides | § drive through the tunnel |
| · to | § movement to person or building
§ movement to a place or country § for bed |
§ go to the cinema
§ go to London / Ireland § go to bed |
| · into | § enter a room / a building | § go into the kitchen / the house |
| · towards | § movement in the direction of something (but not directly to it) | § go 5 steps towards the house |
| · onto | § movement to the top of something | § jump onto the table |
| · from | § in the sense of where from | § a flower from the garden |
Other important Prepositions
| English | Usage | Example |
| · from | § who gave it | § a present from Jane |
| · of | § who/what does it belong to
§ what does it show |
§ a page of the book
§ the picture of a palace |
| · by | § who made it | § a book by Mark Twain |
| · on | § walking or riding on horseback
§ entering a public transport vehicle |
§ on foot, on horseback
§ get on the bus |
| · in | § entering a car / Taxi | § get in the car |
| · off | § leaving a public transport vehicle | § get off the train |
| · out of | § leaving a car / Taxi | § get out of the taxi |
| · by | § rise or fall of something
§ travelling (other than walking or horseriding) |
§ prices have risen by 10 percent
§ by car, by bus |
| · at | § for age | § she learned Russian at 45 |
| · about | § for topics, meaning what about | § we were talking about you |
Multiple Choice
- whales, dolphins, and walruses are ….. fish ….. mammals
A. Not ….. But
B. Not only ….. But also
C. Either ….. Or
D. Neither ….. Nor
Answer : A
- Lia and I discussed ….. to attend the meeting ….. have a representative attend in our place
A. Between ….. or
B. Whether ….. Or
C. The ….. the
D. As much ….. as
Answer : B
- ….. had hotel hpusekeeper left ….. the guests entered the room
A. Hardly ….. Than
B. Just as ….. So
C. No sooner ….. Than
D. As ….. As
Answer : C
- The more you smile, ….. you will get positive reactions from others
A. Both ….. And
B. Rather ….. Than
C. The less
D. The more
Answer : D
- Neither the woman ….. her daughter has posititive attitude
A. Or
B. Nor
C. But
D. Also
Answer : B
- My best friend lives ….. Boretz Road
A. In
B. On
C. At
D. From
Answer : B
- I’ll be ready to leave ….. about twenty minutes
A. In
B. On
C. At
D. To
Answer : A
- Since he met his new girlfriend, Juan never seems to be ….. home
A. On
B. In
C. To
D. At
Answer : D
9. What about the topic “diet and weight loss” ?
A. Economic
B. Business
C. Health
D. Technology
Answer : C
10. How many percent of childrens have overweight in America?
A. 10 %
B. 20 %
C. 30 %
D. 50 %
Answer : B
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