The Gym Bros is a funny and encouraging story about Jason, a man who has struggled with his weight and become isolated after years of mockery. When he finally visits a gym, he expects the muscular regulars to judge him. Instead, two intimidating gym bros surprise him by offering patience, support and a reason to return.
This complete English lesson plan uses the story to develop students’ reading comprehension, vocabulary, speaking, discussion and writing skills.
The lesson includes the complete short story, introductory questions, reading comprehension activities, essential vocabulary, vocabulary practice, synonyms and antonyms, words and meanings, a gym-bro language activity, gap-fill and true-or-false exercises, discussion questions, a role play, a class debate and a creative writing activity. Full answer sections are also included for the teacher.
1. Look at the title “The Gym Bros.” What kind of story do you think this might be?
2. Have you ever joined a gym or tried a new kind of exercise? What was the experience like?
3. Why might someone feel nervous about entering a gym for the first time?
4. How can other people make a beginner feel welcome in a new place?
5. Do you think first impressions of people are usually accurate? Why or why not?
Listen to the Story
Watch the video above and listen as the story is read aloud. Pause after each section to answer the reading comprehension questions or discuss the story with your class.
The Gym Bros
Jason had been overweight all his life.
Not overweight, he was fat. That was a much more honest way of describing what he was.
He had always been like this.
Bullied at school. Laughed at in the street.
One time, he had been on the subway and there was a space free to sit down. But he knew the space was too small for him.
He noticed people sniggering and whispering to each other.
It got to a point where he just preferred to stay at home.
At least, if he didn’t go outside, there was no risk of anyone openly mocking him.
But one day, he had been online — he spent hours online — and came across a post from someone who had been fat but changed their life.
Sure, he had read so many things like this online. Seen countless videos too.
“I just decided that I had had enough, so I changed my life!”
These people made it look easy.
Jason had tried everything.
All the fad diets.
Intermittent fasting.
Jogging and cycling.
He went to a spinning class once but felt so ashamed he never went again.
Nothing worked.
Every time he tried to make a change to his life, it ended in disaster.
He just felt the best thing would be to stay indoors. Avoid people and avoid the outside world.
But something about the post he had just read was different. This guy wasn’t one of these modern-day gurus. He seemed like an ordinary person.
So Jason did something he rarely ever did.
He sent the guy a private message.
“How did you do this? I’ve tried everything and it all ends in failure.”
The next day, he got a reply.
“It took hard work. And discipline. I had to completely change the way I lived. There were plenty of times I wanted to give up. But I kept going. It can be done. You just have to stick with it.”
There was just something in the way the man expressed himself that took a grip on Jason.
If this guy could do it, why couldn’t he?
The following day, Jason looked online for gyms near his home.
He found one about fifteen minutes away.
The website didn’t exactly fill him with confidence.
There were pictures of people lifting enormous weights. Men with huge arms and perfect bodies. Women in tight gym clothes who looked like they had never eaten a slice of pizza in their lives.
Jason looked down at his stomach.
Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.
He was about to close the website when he saw an offer.
FREE TRIAL — COME AND TRY THE GYM FOR A DAY!
He stared at it for a while.
Then, before he could change his mind, he called the number.
A cheerful young woman answered.
Jason explained that he had never really been to a gym before and wasn’t sure if it was for him.
“That’s what the free trial is for,” she said. “Just come in and have a look around. You don’t have to do anything.”
That sounded harmless enough.
Somehow, by the end of the conversation, Jason had booked a trial for the following morning.
He put down the phone.
His heart was beating faster.
What had he just done?
Yes, he knew going to the gym wasn’t enough. He needed to completely change the way he ate and the kind of food he ate.
But as the guy online had said:
“Going to the gym gave me motivation. It gave me a reason to continue.”
Jason only had a ratty pair of old shorts and one XXXXL T-shirt. He had a pair of old sports shoes that he had owned for years.
But the following morning, he put them all in a bag.
And went to the gym.
The woman at reception smiled and pointed him towards the changing rooms.
“They’re just through there.”
Jason thanked her and started walking.
Unfortunately, “through there” meant walking through the entire gym.
He gripped his bag tightly to cover his fat belly and kept his eyes straight ahead.
To his left, a row of people were running on treadmills. Some of them looked like they had been running for hours and could easily keep going for several more.
Beyond them were the machines. Men and women pushing and pulling weights, their bodies moving with the equipment as if they knew exactly what they were doing.
Then came the free weights.
Jason tried not to look.
Big guys lifting enormous barbells. Women doing squats. Dumbbells everywhere. Mirrors covering the walls.
He became painfully aware of every step he took.
His stomach.
His breathing.
The bag in his hand.
He was sure people were looking at him.
By the time he reached the changing room, his heart was pounding.
He pushed open the door and stepped inside.
For a moment, he just stood there.
He could still leave.
He could turn around, walk straight back to reception and tell them something had come up.
Or he didn’t even have to do that.
He could just leave.
Jason looked down at the bag in his hand.
Then he found an empty locker.
He changed into his old shorts and XXXXL T-shirt.
He looked at himself in the mirror.
This was a terrible idea.
For several seconds, he seriously considered getting dressed again.
But he had come this far.
Jason took a deep breath, opened the changing-room door and walked back into the gym.
All the equipment was shining before him.
Some of it he had no idea what it was or how to use it.
There was a row of running machines.
He knew how to use those things. But he couldn’t run.
Could he get on one and just walk? Maybe if he walked fast enough that was acceptable?
Then there were all the machines. The weights and racks and benches…
It all looked so intimidating.
And then there were the people.
Just a quick glance around and he could immediately see that most of them resembled Greek gods.
Perfectly chiselled bodies. Gleaming skin and toned muscles.
The men were handsome. The women impossibly beautiful.
Perfect teeth. Bright eyes.
They all looked so happy. So confident. So completely at ease with themselves.
Everything about them was a solid reminder to Jason — clear confirmation — that he had been dealt a very rough hand in life and there was nothing he could do about it.
By the weights section of the gym were three guys with thick arms and strong, toned legs. They all looked — what was the word? — ripped.
Yes, ripped.
Jason tried not to stare.
But one of the guys caught him looking.
For a second, their eyes met.
The guy stared back at Jason with no expression on his face. Then he turned to his friend and said something in a lowered voice.
Jason couldn’t hear what he said.
His friend glanced over at Jason.
Then he smiled.
That was it.
That was all Jason needed to see.
He knew how this worked.
Next would come the whispering. Then the pointing and laughing.
Then the comments.
He turned and went back to the changing room.
He unlocked his locker and took out his oversized jeans and his huge extra-extra-large shirt with the food stains on the front.
Then he caught sight of two of the guys from before.
They were standing there, looking at him.
“Dude, what are you doing?” one of them said.
Jason shook his head. He wasn’t in the mood for this.
“Yeah, I know,” he said. “I made a mistake. I’m going.”
The other guy stepped forward.
“Bro…” he said, slowly shaking his head. “No way, bro.”
Jason stared at him.
There was something about the way he said it that made Jason feel even more uncomfortable.
Jason was sure they were making fun of him.
But he had spent so much time avoiding people that he found it hard to tell what they really meant.
“I said I’m leaving,” he said. “So laugh it up. I don’t care.”
The first man shook his head.
“Dude. No. You can’t go.”
His friend joined in.
“Bro, it’s not the way, bro.”
Jason stopped putting his old clothes back into his bag and stared at them.
“What do you want?” he said. “You want to laugh at the fat guy? Make a big joke? Go ahead. I’ve heard it all before. But if it makes you feel better to shame me, just do it.”
“It’s not that, dude,” said the first guy. “But you gotta go back in there.”
“Bro,” said his friend. “You have to do it, bro.”
The first guy gave Jason an encouraging nod.
“And we’ll help you, dude.”
The second guy nodded too.
“Bro. You gotta, bro.”
Jason followed them back into the gym.
They introduced themselves. Their names were Simon and Leslie.
Jason hadn’t expected that.
“We’re gonna take it easy, dude,” said Leslie. “Real easy.”
“Bro,” said Simon. “First day, bro.”
They started him on the chest press, using hardly any weight at all. Leslie showed him how to adjust the seat and where to put his hands.
Then they showed him a couple of other simple exercises.
Nothing heavy. Nothing complicated.
And whenever Jason tried to do too much, they stopped him.
“Easy, dude.”
“Easy, bro.”
“Okay, dude,” said Leslie. “Let’s finish with some walking.”
“Walking?” said Jason.
“Yeah, dude. Nothing crazy.”
“Bro. Nice and easy, bro.”
Jason climbed onto one of the treadmills.
Leslie took the one on his left. Simon got onto the one on his right.
They started walking.
Jason kept the speed low at first, but after a few minutes Leslie told him to increase it a little.
“That’s it, dude.”
“You got this, bro.”
Jason smiled.
Twenty minutes earlier, he had been terrified of these two men.
Now he was walking between them, listening to them argue about something ridiculous that had happened at the gym the day before.
For the first time since he had walked through the door, Jason stopped thinking about how he looked.
He stopped wondering who was looking at him.
He was just walking.
And enjoying himself.
When they finally stepped off the treadmills, Jason was sweating heavily.
But he felt good.
Really good.
Leslie picked up his water bottle.
“You coming back tomorrow, dude?”
Jason looked at him.
Tomorrow?
He had been thinking about surviving today.
Simon nodded.
“Bro. Tomorrow, bro.”
Jason laughed.
“Yeah,” he said. “I’ll be here.”
Leslie grinned.
“See you tomorrow, dude.”
Simon nodded.
“Tomorrow, bro.”
Reading Comprehension Questions
1. Who is the main character of the story?
2. What problem does he face in life?
3. What experiences from Jason’s past show how his weight has affected his life?
4. What does he prefer to do now?
5. Why does he prefer this kind of life?
6. What does he see online?
7. How does Jason feel about the weight-loss videos he has seen online before?
8. What methods has Jason tried to lose weight?
9. Have any of these methods been successful?
10. What decision does Jason make after so many failed attempts to lose weight?
11. Why does this particular post seem different to Jason?
12. What does Jason do after reading this post?
13. Does Jason hear back from the guy online?
14. How does the man’s reply affect Jason?
15. What does Jason look for online the following day?
16. How does Jason feel when he sees the photographs on the gym’s website?
17. What offer does he see on the website?
18. What decision does he make?
19. Who does Jason speak to on the phone?
20. What does the woman tell him?
21. What does Jason book during the telephone conversation?
22. How does this make him feel?
23. Does Jason believe going to the gym is enough to help him lose weight?
24. What clothes does Jason have to wear to the gym?
25. Where does he go the following morning?
26. What does Jason do with his bag as he walks to the changing rooms?
27. Why does he do this?
28. What does Jason see as he walks through the gym?
29. How does this make him feel?
30. Does he think people are looking at him?
31. What is happening to Jason physically by the time he reaches the changing room?
32. What thoughts go through Jason’s mind as he stands in the changing room?
33. What does he do after finding an empty locker?
34. How does he feel when looking at himself in the mirror?
35. Does he leave the gym?
36. Does Jason know how to use all the gym equipment?
37. What does he wonder when he sees the running machines?
38. How do all the machines and weights make him feel?
39. Which words does Jason use to describe the people in the gym?
40. Do the people in the gym seem happy to Jason?
41. What does the appearance of the people in the gym seem to confirm to Jason?
42. Who does Jason see by the weights section?
43. What single word does Jason use to describe the three men?
44. Does Jason make eye contact with one of the men?
45. What does the man do after he catches Jason looking at him?
46. How does the man’s friend respond?
47. What does Jason assume after one of the men smiles at him?
48. What does he do next?
49. Who does he see standing in the changing room?
50. What does one of the men call Jason?
51. What does Jason tell him he plans to do?
52. What does the second guy call Jason?
53. How does Jason feel when the second guy talks to him?
54. What does he assume is happening?
55. What does Jason tell them both?
56. What does the first guy tell Jason?
57. What does Jason tell the two men?
58. What do the two men want Jason to do?
59. What offer do they make to him?
60. Does Jason take them up on their offer?
61. What are the two men’s names?
62. Which exercise do Simon and Leslie start Jason on?
63. What do Simon and Leslie do whenever Jason tries to lift too much?
64. What exercise do they finish with?
65. Where do they do this exercise?
66. Where are Leslie and Simon in relation to Jason?
67. What words of encouragement do Leslie and Simon give to Jason?
68. How did Jason feel about the two men twenty minutes earlier?
69. How does he feel now?
70. What physical reaction does Jason have when he steps off the treadmill?
71. How does he feel?
72. What does Leslie want to know from Jason?
73. Does Jason agree to return to the gym the following day?
Essential Vocabulary
| overweight | honest | bullied |
| sniggering | mocking | countless |
| fad diet | intermittent fasting | ashamed |
| disaster | guru | discipline |
| take a grip on | confidence | enormous |
| harmless | ratty | reception |
| point someone towards | grip | treadmill |
| equipment | free weights | barbell |
| dumbbell | painfully aware | pounding |
| locker | intimidating | resemble |
| chiselled | toned | at ease |
| rough hand | ripped | lowered voice |
| whispering | oversized | make fun of |
| laugh it up | shame | encouraging |
| chest press | adjust | ridiculous |
Follow the steps below to help you learn and remember new words and phrases more effectively:
1. Write each new word or phrase in your vocabulary notebook.
2. Look up the meaning of each word in your dictionary. Write a clear and simple definition next to the word.
3. Create your own sentence using the word or phrase correctly. Try to make the sentence meaningful and connected to your own life or experiences.
Examples
Intimidating – making you feel nervous or less confident because something seems difficult or powerful.
Example sentence: The gym equipment looked intimidating at first, but the instructor showed me how to use it.
Encouraging – giving someone confidence, hope or support.
Example sentence: Her encouraging words helped me finish the difficult exercise.
Why do this?
Doing this regularly will help you improve all areas of your English — reading, writing, speaking, and listening. By writing definitions and making your own examples, you are actively using the language, which helps it stick in your memory.
Discussion Questions
1. Why has Jason become so isolated at the beginning of the story?
2. Why does the online post affect Jason when similar posts have not?
3. Do you think Jason has really tried “everything”? Why does he believe that he has?
4. Why is making the telephone call an important step for Jason?
5. What details make the gym seem intimidating from Jason’s point of view?
6. Why does Jason use his bag to cover his stomach?
7. How do Jason’s thoughts in the changing room show his lack of confidence?
8. Why does Jason compare the other gym users to Greek gods?
9. What mistake does Jason make when he sees one of the men smile?
10. Why does Jason expect Simon and Leslie to shame him?
11. How does the story challenge stereotypes about muscular gym users?
12. Why do Simon and Leslie insist that Jason return to the gym floor?
13. Why is their decision to use very light weights sensible?
14. How does walking between Simon and Leslie change Jason’s experience?
15. At what point do you think Jason begins to enjoy himself?
16. Why is “See you tomorrow” an effective way to end the story?
17. Do you think Jason will return the following day? Why?
18. What practical things can gyms do to make beginners feel welcome?
19. Can kindness from strangers create lasting change in someone’s life?
20. What is the main message of “The Gym Bros” for you?
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