Understanding Fitness Lingo :

You finally muster up the courage to go to the gym. No sooner do you make you're way into the steel jungle than you hear comments like "I blasted 5 sets out yesterday" or overhear someone telling another person to "really feel the eccentric contraction" during an exercise. Having an understanding of fitness terminology will keep you from heading to the exit door.

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At first, the world of the fitness center can be intimidating and overwhelming. It's easy to get confused at first; it's a new environment with new words and new people. You don't have to know all these terms to be successful. But possessing basic vocabulary and terminology can help the novice exerciser communicate with others in the gym. Soon, the terms will become second nature and you'll sound like an experienced lifter!

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP). The immediately usable form of chemical energy needed for all cellular functions, muscular contractions.

Aerobic. With, or in the presence of, oxygen.

Aerobic System. The metabolic pathway that, in the presence of oxygen, uses glucose for energy production; also known as aerobic glycolysis.

Anaerobic. Without the presence of oxygen; not requiring oxygen.

Anaerobic Threshold (AT). The point at which exercise intensity can no longer meet the metabolic demands of the muscles aerobically and the muscles have to rely on anaerobic metabolism for ATP.

Body Composition. The makeup of the body in terms of the relative percentage of fat-free mass and body-fat.

Cardiorespiratory Fitness. The ability to perform large muscle movements over a sustained period; related to the capacity of the heart-lung system to deliver oxygen for sustained energy production. Also called cardiovascular endurance.

Concentric. A type of muscle contraction where the muscle shortens against a resistance when it is stimulated; also called positive work.

Eccentric. A type of muscle contraction where the muscle lengthens against a resistance when it is stimulated; also called negative work.

Endurance Training. Conditioning exercise, such as walking, jogging, cycling or traditional aerobics in which the intensity is maintained continuously between 50 and 85 percent of maximal oxygen consumption (functional capacity).

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