Terms and Definitions- Popular Fitness Jargon

1RM: Abbreviation of “one rep max”. The maximum amount of weight you can do for an exercise only once, WITH PROPER FORM.

Basic Disciplines/Phases of Strength Training:

Adaptation: Getting your body used to it

Strength: Increasing the amount of weight you can lift

Endurance: Increasing how many times you can lift a weight

Hypertrophy: Increasing the size of your muscles

Power: Increasing your ability to exert a lot of force very fast

Bodybuilding: Weightlifting sport oriented around increasing muscle size (hypertrophy).

Bro Science: Popular myths/pseudoscience relating to fitness, especially weightlifting. Neither exclusive to nor ubiquitous among bros. Generally considered derogatory. Feminine variations also exist.

Bulk/Bulking: Use of deliberate, controlled caloric surplus, combined with consistent exercise, to gain weight and thus muscle.

”Dirty bulking”: Being less measured about this, either with excessive/unmoderated caloric surplus and/or a lot of junk food. Can be a legitimate strategy for some specialized heavy-build athletes or people who struggle to put on weight.

Cardio Junkie: Someone who does a ton of cardio. Derogatory in some contexts.

Cut/Cutting: Use of a deliberate, controlled caloric deficit, combined with consistent exercise, to lose fat while retaining muscle.

Ego Lifting: Lifting more weight than you "actually" can; either by sacrificing form, or doing way fewer reps than is necessary for whatever stage of training you're at.

Gains/Gainz: Refers to increase in strength and/or muscle mass.

Newb gains: The temporary rapid pace of improvement seen by beginners.

HIIT: High Intensity Interval Training. A method of advanced cardio training in which maximal effort is alternated with minimal effort/rest.

Natty/Natural: Refers to someone who does not/claims to not use anabolic drugs.

Olympic Lifting: Weightlifting sport in which the goal is to perform compound (multi-movement) lifts to get the maximum weight possible from the ground to above your head.

Plyometrics: Advanced form of strength/cardio training, used to increase speed and muscle power.

Powerlifting: Weightlifting sport in which the goal is to compete to lift the maximum amount possible for bench press, squat, and deadlift.

PR: Abbreviation of “personal record”.

Preworkout: Powdered concoction of stimulants and various other supplements. Varies in legitimacy and effectiveness. Designed to enhance energy right before a workout. Oversold, but has undeniable utility in some circumstances.

Recomp: Short for “recomposition”; simultaneously losing fat and gaining muscle. Possible mainly for beginners.

Reps: The number of times you lift the weight.

Sets: A group of repetitions

Rest: The amount of time you wait in between sets.

Skullcrushers: Triceps extensions while lying down, particularly with a barbell.

Spot/Spotting: Being ready to assist someone with a lift if they fail. (A later article will cover this.)

Suicide Grip: Open grip while bench pressing.

Work In: To share a piece of equipment with someone by doing your set while they are resting.