32 Popular Fitness Terms Explained

Do you ever feel completely and utterly confused by all of the unique phrases and acronyms in the fitness industry? There’s a lot to know and keep up with since new terms often emerge over time as different training styles are developed.

Our goal is to help you succeed on your fitness journey, and we want you to be just as fluent in the language of fitness as we are. Maybe you’ve read a workout description with an unfamiliar word? Perhaps you’ve heard your trainer use a new-to-you expression? Either way, we’re here to break down and help you understand the top 32 most common fitness terms! 

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Aerobic

A term for a cardiovascular exercise that focuses on the body's use of oxygen. Some examples of aerobic exercise include walking, running, cycling, rowing, and lifting weights. 

AMRAP

This stands for As Many Reps As Possible or As Many Rounds As Possible. It’s a training structure where you try to complete as many reps of an exercise as you can. With rounds, it’s the same concept, but you try to complete as many rounds as possible in a given timeframe. 

Anaerobic

A term for quick bursts of energy at maximum effort for a short period of time, enabling your body to break down glucose for energy without the use of oxygen. Some examples of anaerobic exercise include sprinting and heavy weightlifting. 

BMR

This stands for Basal Metabolic Rate. It’s a term that’s used to measure the minimum number of calories your body needs to simply function, like breathing and maintaining your temperature. This term is also known as your metabolism. 

BPM

This stands for Beats Per Minute. It’s a term that refers to how fast your heart is beating per minute. It’s a good indicator of how hard you’re working during your workout. 

Circuit

A form of training where you work through several exercises, one after the next, with a quick break after each exercise. 

Dynamic

This is when you move your muscles through a specific range of motion to complete an exercise. Some examples include climbing stairs, walking lunges, and core twists. (Dynamic is also a common term for stretches.) 

EMOM

This stands for Every Minute On The Minute. It’s a training structure that gives you 1 minute to complete a certain number of reps. The remaining time serves as a recovery until the 60 seconds are over, then you’d repeat with another 1-minute-long round of exercises. 

Endurance

The ability to endure a specific activity for a prolonged period of time.

Fartlek

A Swedish term that means “speed play.” With this form of training, your speed changes spontaneously throughout your workout.

HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training)

A form of training that consists of quick, intense bursts of exercise to keep your heart rate elevated. 

Interval

A period of either activity or rest. 

Lactate Threshold

The intensity of exercise at which lactate begins to build up in your blood faster than it can be removed. This is a popular method for improving your endurance performance. 

LISS (Low-Intensity Steady State)

A form of training where you exercise at a low-to-moderate endurance level for a long period of time. Some examples of LISS training include walking, hiking, jogging, swimming, and cycling. The Costa Rica 5K Training Series with Tommy Rivs Puzey is a great program for this type of training! 

Max Heart Rate

The maximum number of beats your heart can make when exercising. To get a close estimate, subtract your age from 220. 

Metabolic Conditioning (or metcon)

A method of training that utilizes short bouts of high-intensity work to increase metabolic demand and increase energy usage. The goal of a metcon session should be to achieve and sustain a high level of effort over a short period of time, with as little rest as possible in order to make your body more energy-efficient. 

This refers to all of the calories you burn through your daily physical activity, excluding exercise. Some examples include things like cleaning your house, playing with your kids, mowing your lawn, or weeding your garden. 

Plyometrics

A form of exercise that involves the repeated, rapid stretching and contracting of your muscles to increase your muscle power. Plyometrics consist of explosive movements, like squat jumps, burpees, box jumps, clap push-ups, and lateral bounds. 

Rep

One complete motion of a specific exercise. 

Round

A round is one time through a circuit or set of movements.

RMR

This stands for Resting Metabolic Rate. It’s a term that’s used to measure the number of calories your body burns while resting. 

RPE

This stands for Rate of Perceived Exertion. It’s used to measure an individual's intensity while exercising. At iFit, we use a scale from 1–10, with 1 representing easy and 10 standing for maximum effort.

RPM

This stands for Rotations Per Minute. It’s a common term for cycling and the elliptical, where it tracks how many rotations you’re completing and how fast you’re pedaling. RPM is the same thing as cadence. 

Self-Myofascial Release

This is also known as foam rolling, where you use a tool (like a foam roller or massage ball) to self-massage and relieve pain from your muscles or joints. 

Set

A group of consecutive repetitions. Example: I did 5 sets of 10 reps. 

Sprint

When you run a short distance at a fast pace in a limited period of time. 

Static

This is when you contract your muscle without moving your joints. You focus on the tension while holding a position for a specific amount of time. Some examples include planks, wall sits, and calf raise holds. (Static is also a common term for stretches.) 

Steady State

A cardio term used to describe a continuous, steady effort. 

Superset

Two exercises that target opposing muscle groups, performed back to back, without rest. (Note: A superset is not the same as a circuit.) 

Tabata

This is a type of HIIT workout that’s highly effective, because of its work-to-rest ratio. The format follows 4-minute blocks (or 8 sets of intervals), as you push for 20 seconds, then rest for 10 seconds. 

Vo2 Max

A term that refers to the maximum amount of oxygen an individual can utilize during intense exercise.

Work-to-Rest Ratio

This is the comparison between how much time you’re working to the amount of time you’re resting. For example, if you’re running for 30 seconds and resting for 60 seconds, then your work-to-rest ratio is 1:2. 

Disclaimer: This blog post is not intended to replace the advice of a medical professional. The above information should not be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or medical condition. Please consult your doctor before making any changes to your diet, sleep methods, daily activity, or fitness routine. iFIT assumes no responsibility for any personal injury or damage sustained by any recommendations, opinions, or advice given in this article. Always follow the safety precautions included in the owner’s manual of your fitness equipment.