Unit 4. Lifestyle: sport & health

He who has health has hope and

He who has hope has everything.

Arab proverb

Lead-in

1. Work in pairs or small groups. Discuss the following questions.

1. What words and images do you associate with the expression “a healthy way of life”?

2. Is there anything more important than health?

3. Does health depend on you?

4. Keeping fit… Is it an important issue for people?

5. Why is it necessary to go in for sports?

2. Give personal information.

1. Do you care about your health?

2. What is your attitude towards bad habits?

3. How do you keep fit?

4. Do you work out in a gym? Do you jog or run?

5. What other exercise do you get? How often?

READING

3. A sound mind in a sound body. An ideal person according to the Greeks was a person who was strong both physically and mentally. They never admired a person who was just a good athlete, or just a good artist or a scientist, but was not fond of sports. What do you feel when you hear: ”A sound mind in a sound body”? Read through the following texts and make up your own project about what fitness is for you.

Keeping fit

Physical fitness is a general state of good health, usually as a result of exercise and nutrition. Physical fitness can also be described as a condition that allows us to look, feel and do our best. Being fit helps us have more energy for work or studies throughout the day, and energy left over to enjoy our leisure time activities. It is also the ability to withstand stress and to carry on in circumstances where an unfit person could not continue.

Physical fitness involves the perform­ance of the heart and lungs, and the muscles of the body. And, since what we do with our bodies also affects what we can do with our minds, fitness influences to some degree qualities such as mental alertness and emo­tional stability.

Fitness is an individual quality that varies from person to person. It is influ­enced by age, sex, heredity, personal habits, exercise and eating practices. You can’t do anything about the first three factors. However, it is within your power to change and improve the others where needed.

7 Ways to grow old and to stay young

• Exercise keeps you young.

• Eat for health.

• Limit alcoholic drinks.

• Smoking ages you prematurely.

• Catch illness early when it can be treated.

• Deal with stress.

• Think young and keep your mind active.

4. Read the article and do the tasks after it. A guide to living a healthy lifestyle

What does it mean to live a healthy lifestyle? It is a way of living that allows you to enjoy more aspects of your life (1) ______________________. It is not just about trying to avoid one illness after another. It is about feeling and being well physically, mentally and socially. It is about making specific choices that give you the opportunity to feel your best for as long as you can. Living a healthy lifestyle is about saying YES to life.

Three Essential Ways to Live Healthy

Do you want to have a body that can support you well into your old age? Do you wish to have mental clarity and an overall feeling of wellbeing? Well, living a healthy lifestyle is what can get you there, or at least improve your condition. There are three specific things that you should do:

1. Exercise. Physical activity is essential to healthy living. The body was meant to move, and when it does not, it can (2) ______________________. Physical activity stimulates the body’s natural maintenance and repair systems that keep it going. It improves circulation to our heart and lungs. It gives us strength to stave off injuries, and it increases the mobility in our muscles and joints. Physical activity also releases endorphins; the feel good hormones that (3) _________________. Physical activity is good for the body and the mind. Exercises include brisk walking, cycling, dancing, swimming, rowing, elliptical workouts and jogging. Yoga and pilates are also good exercise workouts.

2. Eating healthy.Have you ever heard of the saying “you are what you eat”? Well, it is true. What you put into your body (4) _____________________, your mood, your mental clarity, your internal workings, and even your skin. Eating healthy does not mean eating expensive foods with little taste. As a matter of fact, there are some fantastic health recipes that are very healthy. Basically, you want to aim for a diet that is low in salt, fat and unprocessed foods and is high in fruit, vegetables, whole grains and omega-3 fatty acids. It is also good to take a multivitamin to ensure you are meeting your nutrient requirements.

3. Reduce stress. We have got to get rid of all of this stress. Stress happens when your life (5) ____________________ physically, mentally or emotionally. This imbalance can be caused by internal stress like worrying too much, environmental stress like pressure from work, family or friends, or by stress from being fatigued or overworked. Being stressed out has the potential to affect your health in a variety of ways. You can become tired, sick, tense, irritable, and unable to think clearly. If you want (6) _____________________, you will need to manage the stress in your life so that it does not overtake you. This means taking charge of your thoughts, emotions, tasks, and environment to get your body back in balance.

Find the places in the text where the following phrases should go.

1. to live a healthy lifestyle

2. become unhappy and ill

3. directly affects how you feel physically

4. becomes out of balance

5. in a more fulfilling way

6. create a sense of general wellbeing