What Keeps You Motivated to Exercise?

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Materials Daily News

Intermediate

Learning Objectives

In this lesson you will:

Improve your ability to talk about exercising.

Exercise 1

Warm-up

Have a short conversation based on these questions. Make sure you ask your tutor some questions too!

What are your least favorite exercises?

Are there any types of exercise you want to try?

Exercise 2

Vocabulary

Listen and repeat these phrases with your tutor.

build muscle
get in shape
improve flexibility
improve balance
tone up
improve mobility
maintain my fitness level
improve athletic performance

Let's Practice

Tell your tutor which items on the list are part of your fitness goals and which are not.

Exercise 3

Useful Language

Listen and repeat these words with your tutor. If you don't know a word, ask your tutor to read the definition and example sentence.

cardio

Noun

endurance

Noun

prioritize

Verb

core

Noun

strength

Noun

consistent

Adjective

flexible

Adjective

adjust

Verb

Let's Practice

Tell your tutor which definition matches each word or phrase.

cardio

A.
exercise that increases the heart rate
B.
exercise that builds muscle

endurance

A.
the ability to continue something hard
B.
the ability to travel a long distance

prioritize

A.
to consider something most important
B.
to do something first

core

A.
the muscles around the stomach and back
B.
the middle of something

strength

A.
balance
B.
power

consistent

A.
staying the same over time
B.
of a high quality

flexible

A.
having no plans
B.
able to change for different situations

adjust

A.
replace completely
B.
change slightly

Exercise 4

Dialogue

Read the dialogue aloud with your tutor, then answer the questions.

	Phuong Where do you usually exercise?
	Hyun-woo I hit the gym mostly, but I get out for runs too. How about you?
	Phuong I prefer working out at home — I've got a bit of equipment.
	Hyun-woo Oh nice!
	Phuong Yeah, it's easier to be consistent with my workouts if I don't have to drive to the gym! Has your exercise routine changed over the years?
	Hyun-woo Definitely. In my 20s I was really focused on building muscle and staying in really good shape. Now it's all about just maintaining my fitness level. How about you?
	Phuong For me, my focus has always just been on cardio. How do you balance exercise with other commitments?
	Hyun-woo It's tough. I think it's important to be flexible and just do what you can when you've got time. I aim for about four or five workouts per week. You?
	Phuong I try to be consistent each week. For me, having a set routine helps me stay on track.
	Hyun-woo Yeah, consistency really is the key. What keeps you motivated to exercise?
	Phuong It's pretty rewarding seeing progress. My flexibility and mobility is way better than it used to be, and I've toned up quite a bit this year.
	Hyun-woo What are your fitness goals?
	Phuong I don't think I really have a main goal. But at the moment I'm working on my cardio endurance and also my core strength.

Check Your Understanding

Where does Phuong usually exercise?

How has Hyun-woo's exercise routine changed?

What keeps Phuong motivated to exercise?

Exercise 5

Find the Mistake

Find and correct the mistake in each sentence. Be careful — not all sentences have a mistake!

Has your exercise routine change over the years?

My current fitness routine is all about build muscle.

My focus have been mostly on improving flexibility.

What keeps you motivating to exercise?

I adjust my workout schedule based on other priorities.

A quick cardio workout helps me getting ready for the day.

I try to stay consistent by sticking to a set routine.

How do you balance exercise with other commitments?

Exercise 6

Fill in the Blanks

Read the dialogue aloud with your tutor and fill in the blanks. You will be Walter. Use the Answer Pool below to help you.

	Arisa Where do you usually exercise?
	Walter I've got a home (1), and I've been using an online workout app lately. How about you?
	Arisa I like being outdoors, so I usually go for runs. Has your exercise routine changed over the years?
	Walter A little bit. I used to focus more on (2), but now I'm doing strength training — mostly focusing on my upper (3).
	Arisa How do you balance exercise with other commitments?
	Walter I make a big (4) to fit it into my day. Sometimes I have to squeeze it in between work and family, but I think it's important to (5) it. How about you?
	Arisa I don't find it too hard to fit in a run here and there during the week. I adjust my exercise schedule around whatever is going on in my life.
	Walter That makes sense — as long as it's (6) it's all beneficial.
	Arisa Yep! What keeps you motivated to exercise?
	Walter Exercise makes me feel good, so I don't have much trouble getting motivated! And seeing (7) is awesome.
	Arisa That's great! What are your fitness goals?
	Walter Mainly to (8) my fitness level as I get older. Maybe lose a little bit of weight, too!

Choose answers from the options below that fit in blanks 1 to 8

Answer Pool (Questions 1-8)

setup
progress
consistent
maintain
effort
prioritize
body
cardio

Exercise 7

Conversation

Have a conversation based on these questions. Don't forget to ask your tutor some questions too!

Where do you usually exercise?

Has your exercise routine changed over the years?

How do you balance exercise with other commitments?

What keeps you motivated to exercise?

What are some of your fitness goals?