Describe a person you know who did something to improve his or her health and fitness.

I'd like to talk about my cousin Ming, who is a few years older than me. We grew up in the same neighbourhood, and now we meet for dinner about once a month. He used to work long hours in an office and didn't exercise much.

Last year, he decided to improve his health. He started walking and jogging in a park near his home three evenings a week. He also stopped buying sweet drinks every day and began taking lunch from home. At first, he found it difficult because he was tired after work, but he kept doing it.

He made these changes because he had gained weight and often felt tired. A health check also showed that he needed to pay more attention to his health. I think he has been quite successful. After about six months, he had lost some weight, and he told me he could sleep better and had more energy. He still follows this routine now, so the changes seem to have become part of his life.

Honestly, the person I have in mind is my cousin Ming, who’s a few years older than me. We grew up in the same neighbourhood, and although we’re both busy now, we try to have dinner together about once a month. He works at a desk in an office, so for years most of his day was spent sitting down, and he rarely did any proper exercise.

Last year, he began taking his health more seriously. Three evenings a week, he’d go to a park near his flat and alternate between brisk walking and light jogging. He started with just twenty minutes, because he didn’t want to make the routine too difficult to stick to. He also stopped buying sweet drinks every day and began bringing lunch from home. He told me that planning one simple meal the night before made that change much easier.

The main reason was that he’d put on weight and was feeling tired even after a full night’s sleep. At a health check, he was advised to be more active, which gave him a bit of a wake-up call. He wasn’t trying to become an athlete; he just wanted to feel better in everyday life.

I’d say he’s been quite successful. After about six months, he’d lost some weight, and he said he was sleeping better and had more energy at work. The biggest sign, to me, is that he’s kept going rather than treating it as a short-term diet. If he misses a run because of work, he simply goes the next day, so the routine feels realistic and sustainable.