So here is a list of fitness terms that I have already used or will probably use in the future. If there are any that I missed or any that you have heard before and don’t know what they mean, feel free to ask.
Resistance – Any form of added tension while performing an exercise (ex. body weight, bands, or free weights).
Aerobic Exercise – Exercise of low intensity and long duration that uses oxygen in the energy-producing process. (ex. jogging, boxing, distance swimming, etc.)
Anaerobic Exercise – Exercise of high intensity and short duration that doesn’t use oxygen in the energy-producing process. (ex. weight lifting, sprinting, jumping, etc.)
Fast-Twitch Muscle Fibers – Fibers that contract harder and faster than other muscle fibers. These fibers are responsible for explosive movements such as sprinting and jumping.
Slow-Twitch Muscle Fibers – Fibers that contract slower than other muscle fibers. These fibers are not explosive.
Range of Motion – The greatest distance that a muscle or joint can move.
Cardio – Short for “cardiovascular.” Cardiovascular training is anything that raises the heart rate for an extended period of time in order to strengthen the heart and improve how efficiently your body uses oxygen during exercise.
Compound Set – Two exercises using the same muscle group performed back to back without rest in between (ex. chest lift and chest lift).
Super Set – Two exercises using opposing muscle groups performed back to back without rest in between (ex. biceps lift and triceps lift)
Pauses – Stopping the range of motion at any intermittent point of the repetition for a brief period of time to increase difficulty and activate additional muscle fibers.
Holds – Stopping the range of motion for one second or more once the targeted muscle has reached full contraction in order to activate more muscle fibers.
Drop Set – Performing a number of repetitions at a certain weight, stripping a few pounds, performing more reps, stripping more weight and performing more reps. This process is usually repeated until the muscles have reached burnout.
Burnout or Failure – When the muscles can no longer contract due lack of strength. This is usually achieved by performing repetitions of any exercise until you can’t complete any more.
Plyometrics – Jump training. Exercises designed to increase strength and explosiveness in fast-twitch muscle fibers.
Cross-training – A type of training that uses different forms of exercise to achieve well-rounded fitness (ex. running, swimming, boxing, yoga, and weight-training throughout the week).
Isometric – A type of muscle contraction where the muscle doesn’t go through a full range of motion but still produces force (ex. pushing against a wall).
Isokinetic – A type of muscle contraction when the amount of force produced by the muscle determines the amount of resistance with which it is met (Isokinetic machines are rare in everyday gyms and most of you will never see one).
Isotonic – A type of muscle contraction when the resistance doesn’t change while the muscle goes through a full range of motion (ex. free weight resistance).
Fitness Dictionary...
Fitness Dictionary...
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