減肥可能很有挑戰(zhàn)。不過，注意自己的飲食并且使用較小的盤子吃飯都會幫助我們保持體形以便總能穿得了名牌、時髦的衣服。本期《隨身英語》探討減肥方法。

課文內容

詞匯: dieting 節(jié)制飲食

"Does my bum look big in this?" That's what I asked myself when I tried on the designer jeans I bought in the Christmas sales and the mirror… well, the mirror didn't actually say anything but I got the message: It's time to go on a diet! 

Sometimes we just don't know how many calories we eat. Experts say cooking meals from scratch can help you think about the ingredients which go into your food. Tam Fry, from the UK's National Obesity Forum, says: "Learning how to cook fresh food is really the number one thing to consider when tackling obesity and improving weight loss."

If you can't cook, Fry recommends that you be more aware of what you put in your trolley when you go to the supermarket. He points out: "People don't read food labels. At government level making the labels easier to read and understand is key, but just looking at how many grams of sugar is in something is really important."

Some experts believe that a good way to reduce your waistline might be to start by reducing the size of the plate you eat from. Research has suggested that people eat most of what they serve themselves, so big portions lead to overeating.

A study by Dr Brian Wansink, from Cornell University, US, claimed that reducing plate size from about 30cm to 25cm typically results in 22% fewer calories being served, as the smaller plate makes a normal serving seem more filling. However, once plate size went below about 24cm, "people begin to realise they're tricking themselves and go back for seconds and thirds".

I think I'll keep my current plates for now. As for me, nothing beats an inspiring image on the fridge door – a picture of my lovely jeans – with some wise quote as a caption. As supermodel Kate Moss once said: "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels." No more big bum for me!

詞匯表

bum 臀部，屁股
designer (adjective) 由服裝設計師設計的，時尚的
calorie （熱量單位）卡路里
from scratch 從零開始，從頭做起
ingredient （烹調的）原料
obesity 肥胖
fresh (vegetables) 新鮮（蔬菜）
weight loss 體重減輕
food label 食品標簽
gram （重量）克
waistline 腰圍
portion 一份
overeating 吃得過多，飲食過量
serving （供一人吃的）一份食物的量
filling 解飽的
skinny 骨瘦的，緊身的

測驗與練習

1. 閱讀課文并回答問題。

1. Which piece of clothing made the writer aware of the need to lose weight?
2. How do we know how much sugar there is in a packet of biscuits?
3. How big should your plate be if you want to lose weight?
4.What do you call a new portion of food that you put on your plate after you've eaten everything on your plate?
5. What did Kate Moss mean when she said: "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels"?

2. 請你在不參考課文的情況下完成下列練習。選擇一個意思合適的單詞填入句子的空格處。

1. You should count the _________ in your food if you want to lose weight.

ingredients         sugar         calories         food labels

2. You still look thirsty. Would you like __________ of orange juice?

another gram         a portion         another serving         a second

3. I bought eggs, flour and butter and made your birthday cake __________! I was in the kitchen all morning.

fresh         from scratch         with the food label         ingredients

4. You have a small __________. I think this belt will fit you perfectly.

bum         weight loss         waist         jeans

5. The route to __________ is overeating: there's no doubt about it.

being skinny         tricking yourself         losing weight         becoming obese

答案

1. 閱讀課文并回答問題。

1. Which piece of clothing made the writer aware of the need to lose weight?
A pair of designer jeans she bought in the Christmas sales.

2.  How do we know how much sugar there is in a packet of biscuits?
We read the food label.

3. How big should your plate be if you want to lose weight?
It should be about 25cm, according to a study by Dr Brian Wansink, from Cornell University, US.

4.What do you call a new portion of food that you put on your plate after you've eaten everything on your plate?
Seconds or thirds, depending how many times you have already served yourself that same food during the same meal.

5.  What did Kate Moss mean when she said: "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels"?
The British supermodel meant that even the tastiest food wouldn't make her as happy as being very slim.

2. 請你在不參考課文的情況下完成下列練習。選擇一個意思合適的單詞填入句子的空格處。

1. You should count the calories in your food if you want to lose weight.

2. You still look thirsty. Would you like another serving of orange juice? 

3. I bought eggs, flour and butter and made your birthday cake from scratch! I was in the kitchen all morning.

4. You have a small waist. I think this belt will fit you perfectly.

5. The route to becoming obese is overeating: there's no doubt about it.