Fitness Dictionary
Abdominals- the muscles forming the anterior supporting wall of the pelvic and stomach
Aerobic- with or requiring oxygen; it refers to the body receiving adequate oxygen to metabolize fat as energy,
benefiting the lungs and heart
American Heart Association (AHA)- an organization whose mission is to fight heart disease and stroke
Anabolic steroids- synthetic hormones that promote protein storage and tissue growth
Anaerobic- with or without requiring oxygen; anaerobic requires a burst of speed and/or effort
Anemia- a condition in which the number of red blood cells, the amount of hemoglobin and the volume of
packed red blood cells are lower than normal
Anorexia nervosa- an eating disorder characterized by low body weight (less than 85 % of normal weight for
height and age), a distorted body image and an intense fear of gaining weight; individuals with anorexia nervosa
often believe they are overweight even when they are grossly underweight
Asthma- a lung disease in which tightening of the air passages can provoke wheezing and difficulty breathing
Biceps- the large flexor muscle in the upper arm
Blood Pooling- a condition, following exercise, in which blood collects in the large veins of the legs and lower
body, especially when the exercise is stopped abruptly
Blood pressure- the pressure exerted by the blood on the walls of the arteries; measured in millimeters of
mercury
Body composition- the ratio of lean body mass to fat
Body fat- fat tissue usually expressed as a percentage of total body weight
Body mass index (BMI)- a number reflecting the percentage of body fat in relation to lean body mass; a heightweight system of measurement that applies to all gender
Bulimia- an eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by fasting, self-induced vomiting or use of
diuretics & laxatives
Calcium- a mineral that strengthens bones & teeth and has an important role in muscle contraction, blood
clotting and nerve function
Calorie- unit measuring energy obtained from food; a single calorie is the amount of heat needed to increase the
temperature of one gram of water by one degree centigrade
Capillaries- the smallest blood vessels that carry blood to the body tissues
Carbohydrates- an essential nutrient that is the body’s main source of energy; carbs provide 4 calories per
gram, are present only in small quantities in animal products and are found in sugars, starches, breads, pasta,
fruits and vegetables
Cardiovascular disease- a disease of the heart and blood vessels; is the No. 1 killer in the United States
Cardiovascular endurance- the ability of the heart, blood vessels, blood and lungs to deliver oxygen to the
body
Cellulite- fat beneath the skin
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)- an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services; serves as national focus for developing and applying disease prevention and control, environmental
health and health promotion and education activities
Cholesterol- a fatty substance found in the blood and the body tissues and in animal products; essential for the
body in producing hormones. Accumulation in the arteries leads to heart disease
Circuit training- a sequence of exercises performed one after the other with little rest in between
Cool down- a short period of time of mild exercise and stretching following a vigorous workout
Dehydration- a lack of fluids in the body
Deltoid- a large muscle covering the shoulder joint; used to raise arms
Diabetes- a disease in which the body does not properly control the amount of sugar in the blood; as a result, the
level of sugar in the blood is too high; occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or does not use it
properly
Diastolic- the lowest phase of blood pressure measured in the arteries; it is the pressure exerted by the blood
vessel walls when the heart relaxes between contractions
Diet- when a person eats or drinks; some people go on a restricted diet to help with weight loss
Endurance- the body’s power to withstand hardship or stress
Energy- the potential to do work and activity, measured in calories from carbohydrates, protein and fat
Eustress- a positive, desirable form of stress that helps keep people motivated
Exercise- an active bodily exertion performed to develop or maintain fitness
Extension- the straightening movement of muscles at a joint
F.I.T.T. Principle- F.I.T.T is an acronym for frequency, intensity, time, type. This is the basic philosophy used
to gain benefits from training
Fats- an essential nutrient that provides energy, energy storage and insulation to the body; 1 gram = 9 calories
Fatty acid- the building blocks of fats
Fiber- an indigestible food component found primarily in unprocessed vegetables, nuts, grains, & fruits; offers
significant health benefits; aiding in digestion and helping lower cholesterol
Flexibility- ability to move a body part through its full range of motion
Hamstrings- the muscles on the back of the upper leg
Health- the general condition of body and mind
Health-related fitness- an aspect of physical fitness related to physical well-being; includes cardiovascular
endurance, strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition
Heart rate- the number of heartbeats per unit of time, usually expressed as beats per minute
Hydration- a measure of the water content of the body tissues
Hypertension- high blood pressure
Insomnia- the inability to fall and/or stay asleep for long periods of time
Lean body mass- the weight of water, muscle, bone and internal organs
Leisure time- free time people use for whatever they want
Lifestyle- the way a person chooses to live
Ligament- a strong band of connecting tissue that holds bones to other bones
Maximum heart rate- the highest human heart rate capable; calculated bu subtracting a person’s age from 220
Metabolism- the chemical and physiological processes in the body that provide energy maintaining life
Minerals- naturally occurring; inorganic substances essential for well-being that play a role in many vital
metabolic processes
Muscle cramp- a painful, involuntary muscular contraction or pain in the muscles due to hypoxia or toxins
Muscle tone- a condition in which the muscle appears firm; it is slightly contracted at all times
Muscular endurance- the ability of a muscle or group of muscles to sustain repeated contractions or to
continue applying force against a fixed object
Muscular strength- the muscle’s ability to exert force for a brief span of time
Obesity- a condition in which excess fat as accumulated in the body; usually considered to be 20% above the
recommended weight for height and age
Overload principle- making a muscle work beyond its comfortable point of exertion through resistance, speed
and repetition to increase its capability
Pectorals- muscles connecting upper arms and shoulders to the chest
Perceived exertion- how hard a person feels he/she has worked during physical activity or exercise
Personal fitness- the result of a way of life that includes living an active lifestyle, maintain good or better levels
of physical fitness, consuming a healthy diet, and practicing good health behaviors throughout
Physical education- lessons in health and wellness where students participate in physical activities and learn
how to have a healthy lifestyle
Physical fitness- the ability of the human body to function with vigor and alertness, without undue fatigue, with
sufficient energy for leisure activities and meeting physical stresses
Protein- an essential nutrient made up of 22 amino acids; builds and repairs body tissues; 1 gram = 4 calories
Quadriceps- the large, four-part extensor muscle at the front of the thigh
Range of motion- the degree of flexibility a body joint can move its full limit without too much strain
Recovery- time after a workout that the body uses to return to normal
Recovery heart rate- rate at which the heart beat returns to normal after a strenuous workout
Repetition- a single, completed movement of an exercise, from starting position, through the entire movement,
then back to the starting position
Resting heart rate- the measure of the pulse when the body is in a state of total rest; the best resting heart rate
measure is taken first thing in the morning
Set- a prescribed number of repetitions
Static stretching- exercises in which you assume a stretch position slowly and then hold it for several seconds
(10-60) until you feel slight discomfort but no real pain
Stress- the opposite of relaxation
Stressor- an activity or event that causes stress
Stretch marks- tears or slight scars in skin caused when muscle or fat tissue expands faster than skin can grow
Systolic- the highest blood pressure measures in the arteries; occurs when pressure is exerted by the blood on
the blood vessel walls when the heart pumps
Target heart rate- heart rate that should be maintained during exercise to get cardiovascular benefits of
physical activity
Tendon- tissue that attaches muscle to bone
Veins- blood vessels that carry blood to the heart
Ventricle- on of the two lower chambers of the heart
Warm up- the preparation of the body for exercise
Weight training- the use of equipment such as barbells, dumbbells and machines to improve fitness, health and
appearance
Wellness- a state of emotional, physical, intellectual and social balance that allows a person to make sound
decisions and live a healthy, well-rounded life