A - C | D - F | G - I | J - L | M - O | P - R | S - U | V - Z

Abdominal muscles - The muscles in your stomach. If someone has a well developed mid-region they are said to have a “six-pack”.

Atrophy - The weakening or degeneration of muscles, especially through lack of use.

Body Building - Weight training which is design to change your physical appearance.

Body Pump - A fitness class which is a mixture of aerobic exercise and weights.

Circuit training - Another form of resistance training. Often using ones own body weight as resistance (eg, press-ups, sit-ups, shuttle runs).

Complete Proteins - The type of proteins which contain all the essential amino acids.

Concentric - The contraction of a muscle.

Concentric Contraction - The “positive” phase of the repetition, the part where the muscle is actually doing the work. Eg, the lifting motion of the bicep curl.

Dumbbell - A small free weight used for exercising. Can have detachable metal discs, or fixed weights on each end.

Eccentric - The contraction of a muscle during its lengthening.

Eccentric Contraction - The “negative” phase of the repetition, the part with resistance as you return the weight from the end of the positive phase, back to the beginning. Eg, in the bicep curl, it is when you let the weight come back slowly to the beginning position.

Ectomorph - Also known as a hardgainer, they can eat basically whatever they want and still find it hard to gain weight and build muscle. Since their metabolism burns calories at a high rate, they need to eat a lot more than the average person.

Endomorph - Body type of those who usually have a slower metabolism which makes fat loss very difficult. They also have a relatively large bone structure and even though they can lift heavy weights around the gym, their body frame can hide their hard-earned muscle gains.

Enzyme - Protein molecules which are responsible for a multitude of chemical reactions within the body.

Ergogenic - (energy producing) Something that can increase muscular work capacity. (required by the body, however only obtainable from food sources, such as flaxseed oil and safflower oil.)

Free weights - Weights which aren’t controlled by machines such as barbells and dumbbells.

Glucose - This is a simple sugar molecule which provides the basic fuel for the body.

Glycogen - The main form of carbohydrate energy which is stored within the muscles and the liver.

HIT - High-intensity training, a training technique where the trainee applies his training output to failure (extreme, maximum, total, dizzy, falling down - nausea is a good sign of the last rep) during each set after appropriately warming up. HIT workouts are typically shorter in duration and less frequent than other methods of training.

Isolation - A technique that focuses work on an individual muscle without secondary or assisting muscle groups being involved, which provides maximal muscle shape. A good example is the seated dumbbell concentration curl.

Isometic training - A form of muscle training done at a constant speed with a variable load.

Isotonic training - Muscle training performed at a variable load.

Joule - Metric unit of work or energy.

Knee Wraps - Elastic strips about 3?” wide used to wrap knees for better support when performing squats, dead lifts, etc.

Lactic acid - A liquid which is produced in muscles as a result of anaerobic training. It slows down the body if it builds up too much.

Latissimus dorsi - These are the large muscles in the back which help the movement of the arms.

Lats - An abbreviation for Latissimus dorsi.

Ligament - Strong, fibrous band of connecting tissue connecting 2 or more bones or cartilages or supporting a muscle, fascia or organ.

Mesomorph - Body type of those who have a naturally muscular build. There body fat percentages tend to be low.

Muscle - Tissue consisting of fibers organized into bands or bundles that contract to cause bodily movement. Muscle fibers run in the same direction as the action they perform.

Muscle endurance - To develop muscle endurance, lift weights that are light for you and perform lots of lifts without stopping for a rest (10-15).

Muscle strength - To develop muscle strength, lift weights that are heavy and only perform a few lifts without resting.

Myositis - Muscular soreness due to inflammation that often occurs 1-2 days after unaccustomed exercise.

Negative Reps - One or two partners help you lift a weight up to 50% heavier than you would normally lift to finish point of movement. Then you slowly lower weight on your own.

Nutrition - The science or study that deals with food and drink.

Obliques - The muscles on both sides of the abdominals which rotate and flex the trunk.

Pectoral muscles - The muscles in your chest which allow you to push your arms forward.

Pecs - An abbreviation for the pectoral muscle.

Plyometics - Any exercise where the muscle is contracted eccentricly then immediately, concentricly. The muscle is stretched (ie, loaded) before it is contracted. Eg, push ups with a clap in between each push up.

Powerlifting - The popular competitive sport of heavy weight lifting, which features the three power lifts: the bench press, the squat and the deadlift.

Progressive Overload - Gradually adding more resistance during strength training exercises as your stregth increase.

Quadricep muscles - These are the muscles at the top of the legs.

Quads - An abbreviation for the quadricep muscle.

Repetition - One complete movement of an exercise.

Reps - An abbreviation for repetition.

Resistance training - Involves working against a weight, force or gravity.

Set - A fixed number of repetitions. For example, ten repetitions of bicep curls may make one set.

Shuttle runs - Running to and from two different points, usually about 20 metres apart.

Spot - To ’stand guard’ while someone performs a set with heavy weights. A ’spotters’ main duty is to prevent unjury in case that someone cannot finish is reps.

Strain - When the demand on the muscle exceeds the strength of the muscle.

Strength training - General term for weightlifting, resistance training.

Stress fracture - A fracture which occurs due to repeated loading on the bone.

Stretch bands - This is rubber stretch equipment which can be used to help strengthen the muscles.

Striations - Grooves or ridge marks seen under the skin, the ultimate degree of muscle definition.

Superset - Two exercises performed alternately; one exercise followed by a second exercise in complement before resting, i.e. biceps curl followed by triceps extension equal one superset.

Target muscle - The primary muscle intended for exercise.

Tendon - The band tissue that connects the muscle to the bone.

Trapezius muscles - These are the largest muscles in the back and neck that draw the head backwards and rotate the scapula.

Unilateral Training - It means working one side of the body at a time.

Vascularity - Increase in size and number of observable veins. Highly desirable in bodybuilding.

Warm-up - The 10-15-minute session of light calisthenics, aerobic exercise, and stretching taken prior to handling heavy bodybuilding training movements. A good warm-up helps to prevent injuries and actually allows you to get more out of your training than if you went into a workout totally cold.

Weight lifting - One form of resistance training.

Weight Training Belt - Thick leather belt used to support lower back. Used while doing squats, military presses, dead lifts, bent rowing, etc

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