Couch Potatoes 电视懒虫
Ted:: Hi, Nobuaki! It''s good to see you again.
Nobuaki: yes, it''s been a while. Hey, you''ve gotten bigger since the last time I''ve seen you.
Ted: Yeah, ever since I got married I''ve been putting on weight. My wife''s a good cook.
Nobuaki: I know a lot of people who let themselves go after they get married. But don''t blame your wife''s good cooking. You need to start exercising again.
Ted: I know I should. But after I come home from work I''m too tired to exercise. And I don''t have any place to work out (体育锻炼）any way.
Nobuaki: have you thought about joining a health club?
Ted: I have . But they are expensive. Also, I have friends who go and seems like all they ever do is work out. I just don''t have the time.
Nobuaki: I''m a member at Spa Fitness and you''d be surprised at how inexpensive a year membership is. True, there are a few body-building fanatics （健美狂）down there, but most of the members are "normal" people who work out for about an hour just three times a week.
Ted: Sounds reasonable. I mean, you look skinny （瘦）enough.
Nobuaki: Well, to tell the truth, I haven''t always been this lean. After I turned 30, I started putting on the pounds. I couldn''t fit into my favorite jeans anymore. I was feeling fat and pudgy（肥胖）. I didn''t have any energy.
Ted: That''s how I feel. I mean, exercise sounds like something that is going to make me feel more tired.
Nobuaki: That''s the misconception that most people have with exercise. The funny thing is, once you start on a regular exercise program, you start feeling better immediately.
Ted: Is that right? I read that Americans are getting fatter. In fact, the average American teen is 10-20 pounds heavier today than in 1980. I''m amazed at how many fat teenage girls I see.
Nobuaki: That''s because of lifestyle changes. Since the 1980s, more people are becoming couch potatoes. watching too much TV and eating too much junk food and fast food..
Ted: Isn''t that the truth. My kids must watch at least 2 hours of TV every night. Speaking of TV, my favorite show is on tonight.
Nobuaki: What is it?
Ted: It''s a cop show（警匪剧）.
Nobuaki: Sounds like a "cop-out"（遁词，--双关语）. Just kidding. Hey, I''m just heading to my spa right now, why don''t you join me?
Ted: I''m so fat, that I''d feel self-conscious around all those beautiful people.
Nobuaki: Health clubs aren''t just for beautiful people. Actually the majority of the members are trying to lose weight like yourself. It''s really motivating to work out with people who have the same goals as you do. So will you join me for a workout? I can get you in free tonight with a guest pass（我可以带你持宾客入场券免费进去）.
Ted Why not? I''ve got nothing to lose.
Nobuaki: Nothing but a few pounds.
