I would like to apply for a gym membership.
Hello. Welcome to Super Fitness. How can I help you?
Hello. I would like to apply for a gym membership.
Great. Please fill out this application form.
Alright. How much is the membership fee?
It’s $20 per month. But if you pay the fee annually instead of monthly, you will only need to pay $200.
Also, you need to pay a $30 one-time sign-up fee.
That’s quite reasonable. I know that the gym chain has many locations throughout the country.
Can I also work out in other locations?
Yes, you can.
That’s great. I’ve never been to a gym before. I think I’ll sign up for a month.
So, I can cancel the membership anytime, right?
Yes, there is no commitment to our monthly membership.
You can quit the membership after a month.
Okay, what are the opening hours?
We’re open 24/7. Also, our membership already includes free personal trainers.
They are available to help.
I’ll sign up for a month then.
No problem.
gym (the short form of gymnasium): a place or a club where you can go to exercise and keep fit,
usually with equipment
for example, I go to the gym three times a week.
membership: to be a member of an organization
for example, I apply for a gym membership.
annually: once every year
for example, you can pay the membership fee annually. On average, this is cheaper than paying monthly.
reasonable: when it is used to describe money, it means not too expensive
for example, the fee is quite reasonable.
I know that the gym chain has many locations throughout the country.
Can I also work out in other locations?
chain: a group of similar businesses which are all owned by the same company
for example, McDonald’s is a fast-food chain, owning many restaurants all over the world.
location: when a chain has many locations, it has many stores located in different locations
work out: to exercise
for example, she works out everyday.
Workout can also be used as a noun.
Workout
commitment: a promise to do something
for example, there is no commitment to our monthly membership. You can cancel it anytime.
opening hours: The times when a business is open
24/7: 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That is, all the time
for example, our gym is open 24/7.
personal trainer: someone whose job is to help you become stronger and healthier by deciding
which exercises you should do and showing you how to do them
I just wanna get rid of this muffin top.
I just wanna your goal.
I just wanna get rid of this muffin top.
Hi. My name is Lucy. I’m new to the gym.
Hi. I’m Jeff. I’m the personal trainer here. What can I help you with?
I’m a total newbie. No experience at all. Don’t know how to use any of the equipment.
Can you help me out?
Do you have any goals?
You see I’m just out of shape and overweight. I’m not expecting to get toned.
But I just wanna get rid of this muffin top.
No worries. This problem is quite common. I will build a workout routine for you.
Let’s start with three training sessions per week. Is that OK with you?
Okay. Do I need to do a lot of running?
Good question. Running and cycling are cardio. But cardio alone isn’t enough.
You need to do some weight training. That will help you to burn fat.
Weight training? You mean I have to build muscle with those machines, right?
Yes. I’ll help you out on how to use the equipment. Also, dumbbells and barbells.
Thank you so much, Jeff.
So, let’s get started.
wanna: want to
newbie: someone who has just started doing an activity or a job
You see I’m just out of shape and overweight. I’m not expecting to get toned.
But I just wanna get rid of this muffin top.
out of shape: not physically healthy enough for difficult exercise because you have not been involved in
physical activities
for example, I am out of shape.
get in shape: to get fit
for example, my goal is to get in shape.
overweight: fat
for example, he is overweight.
muffin top: fat flesh that shows over top of somebody’s trousers
There are some similar terms like spare tire and love handles
muscle: one of many tissues in the body that can tighten and relax to produce movement
muscular: have well-developed muscles
for example, he is muscular.
get toned: to become stronger and build more muscle
for example, he wants to get toned.
Other phrases that we may use to describe similar meanings are:
cut or line
for example, he gets a V-cut.
shredded ripped: have strong, well-developed muscles that can be seen through skin, and little body fat
for example, he looks shredded.
He gets a ripped body.
six-pack abs
muscles in the abdomen
bulk up: to make your body heavier by gaining more muscle
for example, he bulked up to 100 kg.
put on weight: to become heavier by gaining muscle mass or fat tissue
for example, I've been doing weight training to put on weight.
get rid of something: to remove or throw away something unwanted
for example, I want to get rid of my muffin top.
workout routine: a plan for workout, for example, how many days per week and which exercises to do
for instance, let’s stick to this workout routine for two months.
session: a period of time for a particular activity
for example, she has three training sessions per week.
cardio: physical exercise that increases the rate at which your heart works, e.g. running, cycling,
jogging, jump rope, etc.
fat: the substance under the skin of humans that stores energy and keeps them warm
to burn fat: to reduce the fat
or you can say “to burn calories”
weight training: the activity of lifting heavy objects for exercise
for example, you need to do both cardio and weight training to burn fat.
Here are the things you do at the gym:
warm up: to prepare yourself for a physical activity by doing some gentle exercises and stretches
weight training
cardio
cool down: at the end of a workout, you do gentle exercises and stretches to cool down
equipment: the machines you need to work out at the gym
for example, can you show me how to use the gym equipment?
There are different equipment or machines at the gym.
Different machines can help you to train different parts of your body.
For example, dumbbells
barbell
cables
bench
treadmill
Do you come around the same time every day?
Hey. My name is Lucy.
Hey. I’m Chloe.
I’ve seen you a couple of times here. Do you come around the same time every day?
Not exactly. But my home is not far from here, so I come here maybe five or six days a week
around the same time.
What about you?
This is my first week at the gym.
I’ve just learned a few weight training exercises from my personal trainer. Do you know Jeff?
Yup. Pretty much everyone here knows him. He’s a great trainer. What exercises has he taught you?
Chest press, pull up, squat and deadlift. I’m still trying.
They are good exercises. My favorite. Help me get into shape.
I hope I can slim down a little bit.
I’m sure you will.
You look so fit.
Thanks. That doesn’t come easy. I’ve lost 10 kilos, you know.
I’ve been doing a lot of hard work at the gym. Also, you need to have a healthy diet.
I know. That’s not easy.
Keep it up! You can do it! Okay, I have to finish my set.
Me too. See you later.
There are different weight training exercises:
for example, chest press,
pull up
squat
deadlift
When you do a particular exercise, you will try to complete the exercise
with certain number of sets and reps.
One complete motion of an exercise is called a rep, or repetition.
For example, I’ve done 10 reps of chest press.
A set consists of several reps.
For example, I’ve done 3 sets of 10 reps of chest press.
slim down: to become thinner
for example, she’s slimmed down over the last few months.
diet: the food and drink usually eaten or drunk by a person
for example, I have a healthy diet.
on a diet: to eat less food in order to become thinner
for example, she’s on a diet.
keep it up: used to encourage someone to continue doing something
for example, keep it up! You can do it!
Excuse me. Can I use this in turn?
Sure, of course.
Thank you.
Can I use this in turn?
in turn: one after the other in an agreed order
Here “this” refers to some particular machine.
When you go to the gym, very often several people may want to use the same machine.
You and other people can use the machine in turn.
Because you take rests between sets of exercises, other people can use the machine when you are resting.