Introduction

Can you say you are fit? Would you be out of breath running to catch the bus? Could you do 100 sit ups / pull ups / press ups? If you said, “a piece of cake”, then I envy you, because I'm unfit and I would struggle to even do 5 pull-ups.

In fact, if I do any kind of exercise these days, like play football, I know that the next day and some days after my body will be aching and I will feel stiff even if I warm up and warm down before and after the match. It takes me some time to recover and I usually pull a muscle. I need to join a gym...

That said, I am quite lucky when it comes to my health: I haven't been to the doctor’s for years – although I am afraid of going for a check-up and I'm not a fan of needles or an injection. I hardly ever, if ever, get a headache. Once in a while I get a toothache, but luckily that fades, so I haven't had to go to the dreaded dentist for years and years.

Others aren't so lucky. My brother, for instance, always manages to injure himself no matter what sport he plays – but luckily nothing serious like a fracture of his arm or leg where he has to have it in plaster. However, to wear a sling is possible. We all have that one friend who is unlucky and might suffer from migraines, and that friend who is usually wearing a plaster because they cut themselves while chopping something in the kitchen.

Talking of cuts, if you cut yourself and it's a small cut, you don't need a plaster. You just run it under the tap to clean it and it will heal itself. If the cut is bigger it might need a bandage, and if it is a deep cut it might need stitches which could leave a scar.

Note: Russian and Ukrainian speakers will often use the word “trauma” to describe an injury. While they mostly mean the same thing, the word “trauma” is used more in medical English.

Health, Fitness & Everyday Life

Nowadays we live in a world where people are worried about their health and they are trying to do more to become healthier. Some go for a jog in the morning or cycle to work. It's not uncommon to see many joggers and cyclists in the park in the morning, but sadly one of them is not me.

There are many health issues around the world like obesity in America and the UK which is caused by a lack of exercise and unhealthy diets. High pollution in China can often cause asthma and affect people's breathing. Often these people need to carry around an inhaler to help when they struggle to breathe.

More and more people go to the gym to get into shape when they are out of shape – usually every January – or in reality to take selfies and upload them to Instagram. They like to show off their six pack, perky bums, and how strong they are by showing us the weights they are using. Rarely do we see any gym pictures of people covered in sweat, messy hair, and sweat patches on their t-shirts… the real story.

Health and Fitness Phrasal Verbs

I'm sure you know the phrasal verb work out (exercise). Well, we have a few other useful phrasal verbs which we often use when we talk about our health, lifestyle, and exercise habits. Below are some in context with the meaning at the end in brackets.

I need to cut down on the amount of fizzy drinks I drink. I drink a lot. (reduce)

Right now I have a runny nose and think I am coming down with flu. (becoming ill)

Last year I cut out coffee from my life and now I sleep much better. (stop)

He goes to the gym 5 days a week to bulk up. (increase your muscle size)

I can only stay in a sauna for 5 minutes. Any longer and I feel like I'm going to pass out. (lose consciousness)

I'm sorry I can't come into work today, I don't feel up to it. I still have a headache. (to not feel well enough to do something)

Fitness Collocations

Look at these collocations (words that go together), translate them into your own language, and then say them again in English without changing anything.

• to join a gym
• to do sit-ups / pull-ups / press-ups
• to take medicine – (you never “eat pills” in English)
• to put on weight
• to go for a jog
• to be a member of a gym
• to cycle to work
• to have crutches / a walking stick
• to pull a muscle
• to be on medication
• to have a runny nose
• to have a blocked up nose
• to not feel up to doing something
• to lose weight
• to have a headache / toothache

Doctor, Doctor…

And, lastly, let's test your knowledge of some useful medical words you might need one day when trying to explain what is wrong. See if you can guess the word by the description of the problem.

Doctor, doctor I have…

I have a red patch on my skin. – You have a rash.

My hand is ‘bigger’ because I hit it against a wall. – Your hand is swollen.

I have a pain in my throat. – You have a sore throat.

I have painful red skin because I spent all day in the sun. – You have sunburn.

I have a big blue shape on my skin after I fell over. – You have a bruise.

I have a line on my skin after my operation. – You have a scar.

Depending on how bad your problem is, your doctor might give you a prescription.

And one last question to think about before you go:
Do people let themselves go after they get married? Think about it…