I can recall the first time I walked into the gym, not knowing anything I was lost. I felt like a tiger left on a boat in the middle of the ocean. Life of Pi anyone?

I’ve learned a couple of stuff  messing around before progressing to serious training. However I figured that I felt awkward in the gym because I didn’t understand the language used.

Whattheheck was a single-leg-overhead-bosu-ball squat? I had no idea, but upon realizing what it was I highly suggest you stay away from it.

I’ve gotten a few requests to shed light on the terms used by meat-heads and gym junkies. This post will help you decipher the hogwash you hear in the gym. After all, no one wants to look like a complete idiot during their first few visits to the gym.

So here is a brief guide to the gym rat’s dictionary of meat headedness.

*Disclaimer: These are not the original and accurate definition. Purposesof this guide is to inform and provide a fun read*

Note: Surprise at the end of the post

General gym slang

1. Rep. Number of times an exercise is performed. (I.e. a bicep curl completed is one rep)

2. Set. The number of reps performed in a group (I.e. 8 biceps curl= 1 set)

3. Super sets. Exercise performed back to back with no rest. (I.e. 8 reps of push-ups followed immediately by 8 reps of bicep curls)

4. Compound exercises. Exercises that works large amount of muscle and is effective for both fat loss and packing on muscle. Classic examples are the squat, bench, pull-up and deadlifts.

5. Isolation Exercises. Exercises that works a specific muscle group. Usually done with lighter weights and higher reps. a classic example is the bodybuilder’s favorite, the bicep curl.

6. Split. Not the split that is performed in circus acts or the split you find in your pants when you squat. Neither does it involve a banana. A split is a way of dividing training days into different muscle group for different days. Preferred highly by bodybuilder’s. Beginners following will split their training into: Arms day, legs day (what legs?), chest day (everyday) etc…

Equipment and machinery

1. Free weights. Weights that are not part of machines. The least crowded place in the gym although you might find someone curling in the squat rack. (I.e. dumbbells,barbells,kettlebells )

2. Machines. Fancy equipment used to confuse the beginner with crazy variety. Mostly not needed but there is a place and time for them.

3. Bars. Not the one where you order a martini with olives. A place where dips and pull-ups can be performed, rarely occupied especially the pull-ups bars.

4. Bosu Balls and Stability Balls. Stability Balls are a huge and round inflated balls that are kinda bouncy *insertalltooeasytesticlejokehere*. Bosu balls are those huge balls cut into half. The absolute beginner should stay away from them and squats should never be paired with these balls.

5. Medicine Balls. Heavy balls with a fix weight on them. Useful for throwing and slamming on the floor. Good tool to include in your training if your gym has them.

Body Parts

1. Guns. The most coveted part of a guys body. The first thing an uninitiated newbie does are endless reps of bicep curls to bring up their arms. Guns = Arms

2. Chesticles. Coveted part No.2. A barrel chest that is bigger than their girlfriend’s is what most guys strive for. This explains the bench press coming in 2nd in the favourite exercise list.

3. Delts. A wide shoulder and a narrow waist is a sign of sexiness this is why you should train your shoulders and build them into diamond delts.

4. 6 packs. Everyone want abs that can be used for washing dirty laundry. It saves money and you don’t have to wash your abdominal when you shower.

5. Glutes. The sexy tush buttocks.

6. Back and Legs. Back? Legs? Do you even lift?

Training related terms.

1. Circuit training. A group of 4-6 exercises done back to back without rest. Accompanied with loud panting, cuss words and followed by a sea of sweat.

2. Bulking. A period where people try to pack on as much mass/size/muscle/fat as humanly possible. Diet might consist of McDonald’s, copious amount of cookies and other junk food you can think of.

3. Cutting. A period where people try to lose as much fat as possible. This makes their skin thinner than a wet tissue. Participants usually eat less than a depressed anorexic teenager.

4. Maxing out. Lifting heavy weights that can be performed for only 1 rep. Ego is most likely present.

5. Cardio. Wrong term commonly use to describe jogging. It is basically anything that elevates your heart rate. Cardio = Heart. Geddit?

6. Failure. Performing the exercise until exhaustion and not another rep can be performed. Good for muscular size and commonly used by bodybuilders. Overuse can lead to injury and over training.

That’s it for the Encyclopedia Gymanatica. I hope that you’ve familiarize with some of the terms used and probably got a laugh as well.

If you are still in doubt use the term “bro’, everyone becomes your bro in the gym <—— Tweet This Bro!

That’s it for today bro’s, I’m out.

I’ve included 23 gym terms in this post. Which is your favorite and what are some of the gym lingo’s you’ve heard but I did not mention?

7 comments and the next post will include a full training routine for FREE!. *surprise* So leave dem commentz bru.

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  kedric

• 
  Denise
  

  6 packs <3 #stilldreaming

• 
  http://www.facebook.com/steven.long.92 Steven Long
  

  nice basics bro! btw, i think theres a typo lol. “3. Cutting. A period where people try to LOSE as much fat as possible”

• 
  http://twitter.com/KedricKwan Kedric
  

  thanks,hope you enjoyed it. Ah,thanks for pointing that out my man.

• 
  http://www.facebook.com/chewchingai Debbie Chew
  

  guuunnsssssss!!

• 
  http://twitter.com/KedricKwan Kedric
  

  Now which girls doesn’t like sexy arms?nice one

• 
  http://www.facebook.com/JOSHUACHINHAN Joshua Chin Han
  

  glutes!

• 
  http://twitter.com/KedricKwan Kedric
  

  You definitely need a nice ass to kick ass .

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