A2 · Elementary · Health · 156 words · ~2 min read

🏋️ Signing Up for a Gym Membership

Language focus: Present Simple & be going to · plans

Before you read

This story is about intentions, so going to and plan to carry the weight. Notice also the collocations of fitness English — you do not make sport or do weight; the verbs are fixed.

It is January, and Bilal wants to get fit. He goes to a local gym to sign up for a membership, and a trainer welcomes him at the desk.

“What are your goals?” the trainer asks. “I am going to lose some weight and build muscle,” Bilal says. “I plan to work out three times a week.”

The trainer shows him the machines, the pool and the changing rooms. “I’d also like to take up swimming,” Bilal adds with a smile.

He chooses a monthly membership. “Start slowly and stay consistent,” the trainer advises. Bilal leaves feeling motivated and ready.

Bilal has tried to get fit twice before, but he has always given up after a month. This time he has told three friends about his plan, so he cannot quietly stop.

He is going to write down every session. If he trains three times a week for two months, he will notice a real difference.

Key vocabulary (8 words)

gymnoun: A place with equipment for exercise.
membershipnoun: The right to use a club, usually for a fee.
trainernoun: A person who teaches you how to exercise.
goalnoun: Something you are trying to achieve.
musclenoun: The body tissue that you use to move and lift.
equipmentnoun: The machines and tools used for an activity.
consistentadjective: Doing something regularly in the same way.
motivatedadjective: Feeling eager and ready to do something.

Phrasal verbs in this story

sign up — To sign up means to join or register for something.
work out — To work out means to do physical exercise.
take up — To take up means to start a new hobby or activity.

The grammar in this story

going to for a personal intention

“I am going to lose some weight and build muscle.” Bilal decided this before he walked in — the whole reason he is at the gym. Going to is the natural future for goals and resolutions, which is why January conversations are full of it.

plan to, would like to, want to

“I plan to work out three times a week.” “I’d also like to take up swimming.” All three of these take to plus the base verb. English is strict about this: I plan working out and I would like take up are both wrong.

The fixed verbs of fitness

You work out, lose weight, build muscle, get fit and take up a sport. Note lose weight, not loose; and take up means to start a new hobby, while give up means to stop one. Learn these as complete phrases.

sign up, work out, take up

All three use a particle that changes the verb entirely. Sign up = register or join. Work out = exercise (and also, in other contexts, calculate). Take up = start a new activity. Take up is separable: I took it up last year.

Phrases you can reuse today

I want to sign up for a membership.: Sign up for something — the for is needed.
I am going to work out three times a week.: A decided intention plus a frequency phrase.
I’d like to take up swimming.: Take up = start a new activity.
I gave up after a month.: Give up = stop doing something.

Comprehension quiz

Which month is it?
- January
- June
- December
Show answer
January
Why is Bilal at the gym?
- To get fit
- To eat lunch
- To sleep
Show answer
To get fit
How often will he work out?
- Once a month
- Three times a week
- Every hour
Show answer
Three times a week
He would also like to ___ swimming.
- take up
- give up
- put off
Show answer
take up
Which membership does he choose?
- A daily one
- A monthly one
- A yearly one
Show answer
A monthly one
“Sign up” means to…
- join or register
- pay a fine
- leave a club
Show answer
join or register

Now use it yourself

Reading builds recognition; writing your own sentences is what turns it into something you can actually say. Three short tasks:

Write four going to goals for the next three months.
Use take up and give up in one sentence each about your own life.
What keeps you motivated? Answer in two sentences.