Bodybuilding Glossary

Repetitions: The amount of times that you perform an exercise. For instance, pretend that you are performing a bench press. You pick up the bar, you lower it, pause and lift it up. That action of executing the movement for one time counts for 1 repetition. If you perform that same movement a second time, then that is your second repetition, and so on.

Rest Interval: The amount of time that a person rests in between sets. For instance, a rest interval of 60 seconds means that after you finish your first set, you will remain idle for 60 seconds before going on to the next set.

Saturated Fats: Saturated fats are associated with heart disease and high cholesterol levels. They are found to a large extent in products of animal origin. However, some vegetable fats are altered in a way that increases the amount of saturated fats in them by a chemical process known as hydrogenation. Hydrogenated vegetable oils are generally found in packaged foods. In addition, coconut oil, palm oil, and palm kernel oil, which are also frequently used in packaged foods and non-dairy creamers are also highly saturated.

Sets: A set is a collection of repetitions that culminates in the muscle reaching muscular failure. Muscular failure is the point, due to a buildup of lactic acid in the muscle, it becomes impossible to perform another repetition with good form.

Supersets: A superset is a combination of one exercise performed right after the other with no rest in between. There are two ways to implement a superset. The first way is to do two exercises for the same muscle group at once; like doing dumbbell curls immediately followed by concentration curls. The drawback to this technique is that you will not be as strong as you usually are on the second exercise. The second and best way to superset is by pairing exercises of opposing muscle groups or different muscle movements such as Back and Chest, Thighs and Hamstrings, Biceps and Triceps, Shoulders and Calves, Upper Abs and Lower Abs. When pairing antagonistic exercises, there is no drop of strength whatsoever once your cardiovascular system is well conditioned.

Supinated Grip: a grip on the bar when your palms are facing up towards you. This is most commonly known as a reverse grip. In this grip, your thumbs are pointing outwards and away from each other. For example, a close grip chin using a reverse grip (palms up) is an exercise that uses a supinated grip.

Trace Minerals: Minerals which are needed by the body in minute amounts, usually in the order of micrograms, such as chromium, copper, cobalt, silicon, selenium, iron and zinc.

Testosterone: Hormone responsible for increasing muscle size. Even though this hormone is predominantly present in males, it is also present in women to a lesser degree. It is believed that this hormone also aids in fat loss to a lesser degree.

Vitamins: Vitamins are organic compounds (produced by both animals and vegetables) whose function is to enhance the actions of proteins that cause chemical reactions such as muscle building, fat burning and energy production. There are two types of vitamins: fat -soluble and water-soluble.

Water Soluble Vitamins: Vitamins that are not stored in the body, such as the B-Complex vitamins and vitamin C. Therefore, they need to be taken on a frequent basis.

Note: This glossary is an excerpt from my book The Hardgainer's Bodybuilding Handbook

About The Author

Hugo Rivera, About.com's Bodybuilding Guide and ISSA Certified Fitness Trainer, is a nationally-known best-selling author of over 8 books on bodybuilding, weight loss and fitness, including "The Body Sculpting Bible for Men", "The Body Sculpting Bible for Women", "The Hardgainer's Bodybuilding Handbook", and his successful, self published e-book, "Body Re-Engineering". Hugo is also a national level NPC natural bodybuilding champion. Learn more about Hugo Rivera.