13 Common Fitness Terms Every Gym Goer Must Know

So you’ve subscribed to a monthly membership to the gym nearest to your house, and you can’t wait to lift a few weights or run on the treadmill.

But wait, what about some of the common fitness terms that fitness freaks keep using? Have you brushed up on those yet? If you haven’t, then don’t worry.

This article will give you a list of all the common fitness terms that you should know, whether you’re a regular gym-goer or just a newbie. So read on!

1. Abs

Come on, who hasn’t heard of this? Abs are a short form of abdominal muscles, and when they are well-maintained, we refer to them as six-packs or sometimes even eight-packs.

You can achieve your own set of six-packs by doing a combination of sit-ups and crunches.

2. AB-AB routine

This is a less popularly known term that refers to switching between two different types of exercises alternatively for two sets, and then moving on to another pair of exercises, repeating the same.

For example, a simple AB-AB workout can consist of 1 set of leg raises (A), 1 set of crunches (B) and again another set of leg raises (A) and crunches (B).

3. BMR

BMR is a medical term that stands for Basal Metabolic Rate. This means the number of calories a healthy person needs to function normally while staying at rest.

It is given as a calorie per day figure. A number of factors govern BMR, such as age, gender, height, and BMI (Body-Mass Index).

4. Bench press

This is a common exercise meant for the upper body, where a person lies down on a bench with their legs dangling below and pushes up the weight using a dumbbell or barbell.

When you hold your grip wider, you exercise your chest muscles, and when your grip is narrow, you exercise your triceps.

5. Cardio

This is also a very common term, used mostly by celebrities or famous gym trainers. Cardio refers to any kind of exercise that trains the cardiovascular area of your body by increasing your heart rate. Running, walking, football are all examples of cardio exercises.

6. DOMS

DOMS stands for Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness. In simpler words, we call this “being dead tired”! When you undergo a vigorous workout and your muscles become sore and stiff after about 72 hours of exercising, this phenomenon is referred to as DOMS.

It is absolutely normal for your body to feel tired and weak, and you must rest properly before going for another round of training. However, if the pain persists and becomes unbearable, talk to your gym trainer and/or doctor quickly.

7. Endorphins

This is a term most biology students are very familiar with. Endorphins are hormones that make you feel good post-workout. They are secreted from the pituitary gland and the central nervous system.

Endorphins lift up your mood and make you feel happy and relaxed, which is why you feel so satisfied after a long day at the gym!

8. Free weights

This is a type of strength training that uses dumbbells or barbells. Free weights can be tricky to do since it requires you to position yourself properly and support your own posture.

9. Good morning

No, we aren’t referring to the cute text you sent to your crush! Good morning in the gymming universe refers to strength exercises meant for your back and posterior chain muscles (muscles of your lower back).

Here you have to stand up straight with a barbell resting evenly on your shoulders. Bend your knees and waist a little, keeping the barbell in the same position, before standing up straight again.

10. Hamstrings

These are muscles of your lower thighs and form a part of the posterior chain muscles.

11. Kegel exercises

These are exercises meant to strengthen your pelvic muscles and are also known as pelvic floor exercises. Especially good for women, this kind of exercise improves your bladder and rectum.

12. Keto diet

Another common term used by celebrities - refers to a diet that consists of very few carbohydrates, moderate proteins, and high fat.

According to the NCBI, the carb content should be 5-10%, proteins should be 30-35%, and 55-60% of fats. Keto diets help to build lean muscles and are recommended for patients suffering from diabetes.

13. Mats

These are areas of the gym where mats are placed to encourage exercises like stretching, warming up and cooling down, or yoga sessions.

For starters, this is all you need to know and if you are willing to set up a home setup, I advise you to order some above-mentioned gym equipment online. Make sure you do your research before reaching a final decision!