Many people find it hard to lose weight and have to go starvation. Now, I'd like to offer some tricks to help lose weight.

Put out a large vegetable plate. Eating water-rich foods such as tomatoes during meals reduces calorie consumption. Other water-rich foods include soups and salads.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Because the body processes hunger and thirst through different systems, it simply doesn't register a sense of fullness with water (or tea, coffee or juice).

Downsize your dinner plates. The less food put in front of you, the less food you'll eat. So instead of using standard dinner plates, serve your main course on salad plates.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Instead of large glasses and coffee mugs, return to the old days of cups and even smaller coffee cups.

Serve your dinner restaurant-style (with food already on the plates) rather than family-style (where the food is served in bowls on the table).{#blank#}3{#/blank#}There's no reaching for seconds.

{#blank#}4{#/blank#}You're more likely to eat more—and eat more high-fat, high calorie foods—when you eat out than when you eat at home.

    Eat slowly and calmly.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Vary your eating with stories of the interesting things that happened during your day. Your brain is behind your stomach by about 20 minutes when it comes to fullness signals. If you eat slowly enough, your brain will catch up and tell you that you no longer need food. Serving separate courses will also slow you down

A. The same goes for liquids.

B. Eat 90 percent of your meals at home.

C. When your plate is empty, you're finished.

D. Put your fork or spoon down between every bite.

E. Be sure to choose a high-fiber, low-sugar variety of food.

F. You won't get the same benefits by just drinking water, though

G. You should eat equal amounts of vegetables and grains at dinner.

    Does your mood change with the seasons?

    Some people find that when the temperature goes down, so do their spirits.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}They eat more and gain weight. They have trouble sleeping. They can't think clearly. Here are some ways you can beat the winter blues：

    Get out in the sun. Some experts say that winter blues happen because we get less sunlight in the winter than we do in other seasons. Some say that the decrease in sunlight can make us feel sad{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Get some exercise. A walk or other exercise will make chemicals called endorphins (内啡肽）flow through your body. Endorphins are natural “feel good” chemicals.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Avoid having too much sugar. If you crave sugary foods (like cookies or candy), it may be a sign that you need more protein (蛋白质), like meat, chicken, or fish.

    Avoid holiday stress. Cut back if you have too many things to do. Make sure you have some quiet time to yourself{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Get some rest. Studies show that most teens need about nine hours of sleep each night. The average teen, though, gets only about six or seven hours of sleep per night.

    Get help. Be cautious if you feel sad all the time and the feeling won't go away.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Talk to an adult who you trust or get help from a doctor.

A. Eat more healthful foods.

B. Choose different foods in season.

C. Don't be so busy that you get run-down.

D. Those people sometimes feel sad for no reason.

E. You may have a bigger problem than the winter blues.

F. Getting extra sunlight each day can help brighten your mood.

G. A regular pattern of sleep is the most important thing to maintain.

Useful Memory Strategies

    Form associations between new and remembered information. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}, then you can increase the chance that new memories will be formed. Try coming up with a familiar picture, song, joke, or rhyme that you can associate with the new material. Form a picture in your mind that includes the new fact.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. It may be boring, but simply repeating new information over and over in different ways will help it stick in your brain better, especially if you space out the repetition over time. For example, if you're trying to remember the definition of a new word, read it several times to yourself. Then speak the definition out loud a couple times, and try writing it down once or twice.

    Teach someone else the information you're trying to learn. Teaching others can help you remember and understand things better. Find a classmate or co-worker who needs to learn the same information, form a study group, and take turns teaching each other different concepts.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}!

    Test yourself after learning something new.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}. You have to actually practice finding the information from your memory in order to strengthen the connections within your brain. Be sure to immediately check your answers to make sure you've got them right. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}, you will be more likely to remember it incorrectly in the future as well, so instantly correct yourself and repeat the right answer a few more times.

A. If you answer something wrong

B. After the basic information is right

C. Repeat new facts as soon as you come across them

D. If you can link new ideas with previously established ones

E. Simply re-reading the same information isn't good enough

F. Then keep trying effective methods and cooperation with others

G. Alternately, ask your friends if they're willing to learn something new from you

Common public speaking problems

The use of "I feel", "I think" and "maybe"

    In the question-and-answer session of the speaking competition, many contestants began their answers with uncertain expressions like "I feel", "I guess", "I hear", "maybe" and "perhaps".

    These words show that the person is only speaking from his or her point of view.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Work on keeping your answers brief and to the point, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Instead of the empty-sounding "I guess", using facts, together with a clear conclusion based on those facts, is far more likely to be popular with an audience.

    Using only one speaking style

    Don't stick to the same tone.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    For example, when they spoke about their dreams, some sounded romantic. Others used humor. Very few used several different styles together. Try mixing more than one style, rather than just sticking with the same one.

    Irresponsible answers

    Public speaking is different from personal conversations. You're responsible for your words. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}So you should think twice before you talk. Don't be like the student who, when asked about his opinion on book piracy（盗版）, started by saying he supported it.

    Talking around the topic rather than directly answering it

    You should focus on one point and give a clear solution. The key is to work out what question is being asked. Is it asking you to discuss a certain topic or to present your own point of view?

    Use one or two arguments together and give a strong conclusion.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. It can be boring. Try to mix it up.

B. Even though you want to answer quickly, you don't want to sound foolish.

C. Also work on delivering them with calmness and confidence.

D. Deliberate gestures and affected（做作的）expressions of feelings are improper in a successful speech.

E. Remember that judges are not judging you on whether they agree, but on your ability to say what you think clearly.

F. This lacks the support of facts and seems not to be reliable for the judges and audience.

G. Confidence is extremely important in public speaking as it lets a speaker sound more convincing.

    While it is impossible to live completely free of stress, it is possible to prevent stress as well as reduce its effect when it can't be avoided. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Try physical activity.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Running, walking, playing tennis, and working in your garden are just some of the activities you might try.

    Make time for yourself.

    Arrange time for both work and fun. Don't forget, play can be just as important as your overall well-being as work. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Go window-shopping or work on a hobby. Allow yourself at least a half hour each day to do something you enjoy.

    Take care of yourself.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}If you easily get angry and can't sleep well enough, or if you're not eating properly, it will be more likely that you will fall into stressful situations. If stress repeatedly keeps you from sleeping, you should go to see a doctor.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Stress can result from disorganization and a feeling that " there's so much to do, not enough time". Trying to take care of everything at once can be too much for you and as a result, you may not achieve anything. Instead, make a list of everything you have to do, than do one thing at a time, checking off each task as it is completed. Set out to do the most important task first.

A. Make a list of things to do.

B. Do whatever you like and want to do.

C. You could smile to yourself in front of a mirror every day.

D. The following are suggestions for ways to deal with stress.

E. You should make every effort to eat well and get enough rest.

F. You need a break from your daily routine to just relax and have fun.

G. When you are nervous  angry or upset, try reducing the pressure through exercise or physical activity.

Having a regular dentist check-up is as essential for ensuring healthy teeth and gums（牙龈）as regular brushing and flossing. Here's why you should make the trip.

Prevention is better than cure. Regular dental check-ups are recommended to maintain healthy teeth and gums. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Your dentist will advise you on what's right for you. The aim of a check-up is to nip any problems in the bud, before you experience pain, lose teeth or have other health problems.

You've had a new medical diagnosis. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} For example, high blood sugar levels in saliva caused by diabetes favour bacteria which can cause cavities（蛀牙）. Some medications can cause oral problems ranging from dry mouth to stained teeth.

{#blank#}3{#/blank#} More and more adults are having orthodontic（正畸）treatment to straighten their teeth. Not only does it make a huge difference to your smile, it can also prevent gum disease, which is more likely to take hold if you struggle to clean crooked teeth.

You've got bad breath. Halitosis（口臭）is embarrassing and can sometimes leave a nasty taste in your mouth. You might have a hole in your tooth, an infection or gum disease. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Your family and friends will thank you for it.

Check for cancer. Dentists don't just look for cavities and unhealthy gums. They can also spot mouth cancer and refer patients to hospital to see a specialist. Cases have risen by 34 per cent in the past decade, according to the Oral Health Foundation. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}.

A.You want to improve your confidence.

B.You think it is time to have some changes.

C.However, early diagnosis can save your life.

D.Certain conditions can affect your oral health.

E.You might just be brushing too enthusiastically.

F.It varies from three months to two years depending on your oral health.

G.Your dentist can give you tips on freshening your breath more effectively.