Training & Fitness Terminology
Below is a list of fitness and fitness testing terms which sometimes get confused, may not always be clear, and may require defining. If you have other words that you don't quite understand or cannot find a definition for, let me know and I will add them to this list.
Aerobic fitness
A measure of how well your blood transports oxygen around
the body, and how well your muscles utilize the oxygen.
Aerobic metabolism
The metabolic process that occurs in the cells, by which
the body uses oxygen to produce energy.
Aerobic
Meaning with oxygen. Aerobic training is at a lower intensity,
with the purpose of stimulating aerobic metabolism to improve.
Aerobic endurance
A term for someone's aerobic fitness capacity - their
ability to do prolonged exercise without fatigue.
Anaerobic
Anaerobic processes occur in the cells of the body without
the presence of oxygen. Anaerobic training is of high
intensity and short duration, with the aim of the efficiency
of the body's anaerobic energy-producing systems.
Anaerobic threshold
The physiological point during exercise at which lactic
acid starts to accumulate in the muscles. It occurs around
the point of the exercise intensity increasing such that
anaerobic processes are becoming more dominant.
Beats per Minute (bpm)
The units of heart rate, beats per minute
Basal metabolic rate (BMR)
The lowest rate of body metabolism (rate of energy use)
that can sustain life, measured after a full night's sleep
in a laboratory under optimal conditions of quiet, rest
and relaxation.
Body composition
Body composition refers to the components of the body. It is usually divided into two components: the amount of fat mass (weight) and
the amount of fat-free mass (muscle, bone, skin and organs)
in the body.
Cardiorespiratory
Concerning the heart and respiratory system.
Cardiorespiratory endurance
The same as aerobic endurance.
Cardiovascular
Concerning the heart and blood vessels.
Endurance
The body's ability to exercise with minimal fatigue. Often
used with other terms such as; endurance training, muscular
endurance and cardiorespiratory endurance.
Fartlek training (speed play)
Training in which the pace is varied from a fast sprint
to slow jogging.
Fat-free mass
The combined mass of the body of everything that is not
fat (e.g. muscle, bone, skin and organs) .
Frequency
How often you work out, such as the number of days lifted per week.
Glycogen
The form in which carbohydrates are stored in the body.
Primary sites for storage are the muscles and the liver.
Heart rate
A measurement of the work done by the heart, commonly expressed
as the number of beats per minute (bpm).
High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)
A form of cardiovascular exercise that alternates between periods of high-intensity exercise and periods of lower-intensity exercise or rest
Interval training
A training session that involves repeated bouts of exercise,
separated by rest intervals. Depending of the length of
exercise and rest periods, it may be anaerobic or aerobic
training.
Isometric
An isometric exercise is a form of exercise involving the static contraction of a muscle without any visible movement in the angle of the joint.
Isotonic
literally means equal tension [more]
Lactate
A salt formed from lactic acid. See also lactic acid.
Lactate threshold
The point during increasingly intensive exercise at which
blood lactate begins to accumulate above resting levels.
Lactic acid
Anaerobic exercise produces lactic acid, which quickly forms
lactate in the muscles. because of this, the terms "lactate"
and "lactic acid" are often used interchangeably.
Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max)
The maximum capacity for oxygen consumption by the body
during maximum exercise. Also known as aerobic power or
maximal oxygen intake/consumption. VO2max is commonly
used as a measure of aerobic fitness.
Maximum heart rate
The highest number of heart beats per minute (bpm) when
exercising maximally.
Overtraining
A physical and metal state which occurs due to excessive
training without adequate recovery
Overreaching
The initial level of overtraining
Oxygen Consumption
Oxygen consumption (VO2) may be defined as ones ability
to extract oxygen from the atmosphere via the respiratory
system sand transport it in the blood to the working tissues
(eg. muscles) for the energy production by the oxidation
of carbohydrate and fat. The highest rate at which you
can uptake oxygen is termed the maximal oxygen consumption
(VO2max). Research has shown VO2max to be one of the most
important determinants of aerobic or endurance performance.
Progressive Loading
Gradually increasing the load (weight), frequency, or number of repetitions in your exercise training routine.
Repetitions or Reps
the number of times a lift or effort is made continuously, one after another and without any rest.
Resistance training
Training designed to increase the body's strength, power,
and muscular endurance through resistance exercise. The
most common form of which is weight training.
Resting heart rate
The number of heart beats in one minute (bpm) when a person
is at complete rest. A person's resting heart rate decreases
as they become more fit.
Resting metabolic rate (RMR)
The body's metabolic rate (rate of energy use) early in
the morning after an overnight fast and a full eight hours'
sleep. This is different than Basal metabolic rate.
Reversibility
The principle that gains in strength, endurance, or other fitness components will diminish when training is discontinued, emphasizing the importance of consistent and continuous exercise for maintaining improvements.
Sets
A
set is a group of repetitions. A workout usually includes several sets of each exercise.
Spotting
A person, normally your workout partner, who watches your lifts for technique and safety. Their role is also to help you finish your movement.
Tapering
A reduction in training intensity before a major competition
to give the body time to recover and adapt so as to reach
a peak in performance.
VO2
Oxygen consumption/uptake by the body. Usually expressed
in ml.kg-1.min-1, sometimes in l.min-1.
VO2max
See maximal oxygen uptake
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