Vocabulary Words
Lesson 9
Diet and Exercise
Aerobic
• Adjective
• Having to do with strengthening the heart
through increasing oxygen consumption
• Running, walking, and swimming are aerobic
activities.
Compulsive
• Adjective
• Compelling; caused by an obsession
• Watching their diets can become compulsive
for ballet dancers.
Condition
• Noun
• State of physical fitness
• My doctor advised me to resume swimming in
order to get back into good condition.
Diligence
• Noun
• Long, steady effort; perseverance
• It takes diligence to train to be an Olympic
athlete.
Fanatic
• Noun
• One who is excessively enthusiastic
• Since Anne took the exercise class, she has
become a fanatic about physical fitness.
Gaunt
• Adjective
• Excessively thin, often caused my suffering
• The overly restricted diet left the girl pale and
gaunt.
Insensible
• Adjective
• Unconscious; unable to feel sensation or
emotions
• The weight-lifter was knocked insensible when
he tripped over a dumbbell and hit his head.
Languid
• Adjective
• Listless; having no energy or vitality
• It is no wonder he acts languid after his
rigorous, four-hour workouts.
Nutrient
• Noun
• A substance that nourishes
• What nutrient is common to both apples and
oranges?
Nutritious
• Adjective
• Nourishing
• Eating a nutritious breakfast is a good way to
begin each day.
Obese
• Adjective
• Fat; grossly overweight
• Many teens feel they are obese when they are
only slightly overweight.
Physiological
• Adjective
• Pertaining to the normal functioning of living
organisms
• A physiological study of the community has
determined that poor nutrition is our most
serious health problem.
Physique
• Noun
• The body, with reference to its form
• The young woman has excellent posture and
the physique of a dancer.
Recline
• Verb
• To lie back
• Some people recline on a slant board and then
do sit-ups.
Rejuvenate
• Verb
• To make youthful again
• My mother hoped a vigorous daily workout
would rejuvenate her.
Restrain
• Verb
• To prevent from doing; to keep under check
• I often need to restrain myself from eating
second helpings.
Sprint
• Verb
• To run a short distance at top speed
• I was late for school and had to sprint the last
block.
Sustenance
• Noun
• Something that maintains life or health,
especially food
• A well-balanced, low-fat diet will provide
ample sustenance.
Torso
• Noun
• The trunk of a human body
• A good workout will exercise all of the muscles
in the torso.
Wheeze
• Verb
• To breathe with difficulty; to make a hoarse,
whistling sound
• I was so winded after the long race that I
started to wheeze.