1 . During my first three years of college, I put on weight quickly. Between classwork and a part-time job, I had zero time for ________. Besides, I ate a lot of fast food. Not surprisingly, I ________ a fat stomach.

After leaving college, I ________ to take exercise. Invited by a friend, I ________ working out with exercise machines three times a week. I was the kind of person who did not try something ________. I ate the same food; I did the same thing. Clearly, I ________ my routines (习惯). My friend, however, became ________. One day, he said, “We’re not getting enough exercise. We should play tennis instead.”

Me? Play tennis? No way. I was strongly against his ________. I was not good at sports and I was ________ the exercise machines. ________, weeks later, I found my-self standing on a tennis court (球场). As I held my racket (球拍), I felt ________. I ran after every ball he served to me, completely ________ about 90% of them and hitting the rest into the other court. The first few months were quite ________. But one day as the ball came flying toward me, my racket and the ball finally met in the place where it is most effective to hit a ball I watched ________ as my return landed where I had aimed (瞄准) it. I had finally ________ how to play tennis properly!

2 . In times of stress and depression, a friend would always suggest going for a walk. But I regarded it as nothing but the best _________. I didn’t understand how these things could _________.

Three years ago, I hit a low point. Once I saw a pair of _________ eyes looking at me through the mirror. I realized I had to take the _________ I fought so hard to ignore. I went for a walk — with the hope that it would _________ change my life.

I walked several miles a day for the first two weeks, but it did nothing. Then I _________ to it every single day for more than a month. There were days when I could _________ make it outside, but I managed to _________. Every time I went out to walk, I took a _________. I think I wanted to document myself trying to make an __________.

As time passed by, one day the __________ happened. I found myself smiling. I found myself longing to be outside from time to time. What I once __________ had become the best part of my day. I never had a destination in mind, nothing in particular. I just __________ along the paths, stopped to look at the blue skies and listened to music.

I’m glad I took the photos because there was an obvious difference in my face. I slowly started to look less __________ and tired. Till now, I don’t know why I __________ to do so for so long. I guess I didn’t want to believe that something small at the surface could actually have an impact on my physical and mental well-being.

3 . During my first three years of college, I put on weight quickly. Between classwork and a part-time job, I had zero time for ______ . Besides, I ate a lot of fast food. Not surprisingly, I ______ a fat stomach.

After leaving college, I ______ to take exercise. Invited by a friend, I ______ working out with exercise machines three times a week. I was the kind of person who did not try something ______ .I ate the same food; I did the same thing. Clearly, I ______ my routines(习惯) My friend, however, became ______ One day, he said, “We’re not getting enough exercise. We should play tennis instead.”

Me? Play tennis? No way. I was strongly against his ______ .I was not good at sports and I was ______ the exercise machines. ______, weeks later, I found my-self standing on a tennis court(球场).As I held my racket(球拍), I felt ______ .I ran after every ball he served to me, completely ______ about 90%of them, and hitting the rest into the other court. The first few months were quite ______ .But one day as the ball came flying toward me, my racket and the ball finally met in the place where it is most effective to hit a ball. I watched in ______ as my return landed where I had aimed(瞄准)it. I had finally ______ how to play tennis properly!

4 . One can never find his/her potential until he/she has a try. When I retired five years ago, I started running. I was not a natural _________. I wanted to lose weight and it seemed that running was a_________way. At first it was very_________ — I was mainly walking more than running when I started — but I didn’t _________．When I started training running, I was just trying to build up stamina (耐力), and just the idea of even going two miles, but even walking was a_________. In the beginning, I just walked as much as I could and then as time went on, I_________began running. Later I kept on adding more and more _________．

I_________ my coach, Albert, in my running club, and he’d been running for over 25 years. He had a lot of knowledge and often sent various quotes to_________ and encourage us. Running the Los Angeles Marathon for the first time was probably the greatest__________of my life. I was really prepared, __________ Albert. I learned a lot of life lessons during the__________ : you have to believe in yourself   __________nobody else will. When I crossed the finishing line, I was so excited. I remembered just getting to the__________and realizing, “Oh, my God, I’m going to do this! ” I heard them say, “Welcome to the finishing line,” and I thought, “Wow, I was actually going to__________this!”

I could never have imagined myself doing the Los Angeles Marathon, and here I am and I made it. I was a true example that it’s never too late to present yourself with a new image, as long as you have faith and let that faith direct you.