Patrick
The world of fitness is a vast and sometimes confusing thing. There are many different variables and different ways of approaching things. That goes the same with the language used too.
There are many terms used in fitness, some more scientific than others but regardless most terms you hear in the gym are used often and because of that they are spoken in the form of acronyms or a short form using only the initials of each word rather than the whole phrase.
While this may make it a lot faster to explain certain workouts it would not make it any simpler in explaining them unless you understand said acronyms being used.
To ensure you have some knowledge of fitness acronyms I have made a fitness acronym list which includes the 35 most common fitness acronyms used in and out of the gym including an exercise abbreviation list.
Following the acronym itself is a short simple description of each one.
Anatomy Acronyms Used In Fitness
AC (Anterior Chain)
A muscle or muscle group that is located at the front of the body or can be visible from a front view. Such as the chest, abdomen, or biceps just to name a few.
CNS (Central Nervous System)
A bodily system consisting of the brain and spinal cord as well as the nerves directly connected to them.
PC (Posterior Chain)
A muscle or muscle group that is located at the back of the body or can be visible from a back view. Such as the back, traps, or triceps just to name a few.
PNS (Peripheral Nervous System)
A section of the nervous system that consists of nerves that exist outside the central nervous system.
ROM (Range of Motion)
The movement range of a joint through its path of motion.
Diet Acronyms Used In Fitness
BCAA (Branched Chain Amino Acids)
Refers to the chemical structure of certain amino acids which are the building blocks of protein. These amino acids have non-aromatic hydrocarbons chains with a branch
EAA (Essential Amino Acid)
The 9 amino acids that are essential to your body and diet as they can only be acquired through what you eat or drink.
EFA (Essential Fatty Acid)
The 2 fatty acids that are essential to your body and diet as they can only be acquired through what you eat or drink.
IF (Intermittent Fasting)
An eating schedule that consists of extended time frames of not eating followed by a small time frame of eating.
LCD (Low-Carbohydrate Diet)
A diet that consists of keeping one’s daily intake of the carbohydrate macronutrient low. Usually less the 20g per day
Exercise Acronyms List
BP (Bench Press)
An exercise performed while laying back down on a bench and pushing or pressing weight above oneself.
DL (Deadlift)
A powerlifting exercise where a weight is lifted directly off the ground in a movement perpendicular to the floor.
FS (Front Squat)
A squat performed while the weight is placed on the front of the body rather than the back which is more common
HIIT (High-Intensity Interval training)
Strenuous training which raises one’s heart rate very high but is performed in intervals. With rest or light exercise in between each interval.
HIT (High-Intensity Training, not to be confused with HIIT)
Strenuous training which uses a lot of energy and raises one’s heart rate to a high level.
LISS (Low-Intensity Steady-State, often refers to “LISS cardio”)
Low intensity exercise that is performed continuously without interruption. Low intensity exercise does not raise the heart rate very high and is commonly associated with the ability to easily speak while exercising
MISS (Medium-Intensity Steady-State, often refers to “MISS cardio”)
Moderate intensity exercise that is performed continuously without interruption. Moderate or medium intensity exercise keeps the heart rate at a well above average level and is commonly associated with just barely being able to speak properly while exercising
MP (Military Press)
Also referred to as the standing overhead press, the military press is a shoulder exercise performed while standing by pressing a barbell from about collar bone level to full extension overhead.
Health Acronyms Used In Fitness
AT (Aerobic Threshold)
One’s aerobic threshold is the point where their body stops using only oxygen as an energy source and starts using other sources such as carbohydrates in the form of glycogen.
BMI (Body Mass Index)
A scaling system used to determine one’s weight category using their height and mass as well as gender.
BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate)
The number of calories burned by an individual in a day if they were to be in a resting state.
BPM (Beats Per Minute)
How many times your heart pumps in a 60 second time period.
DOMS (Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness)
The soreness and muscle pain experienced from working a certain muscle to fatigue. The pain is usually not experienced directly after a workout but most commonly 24 to 36 hours after exercise.
MHR (Maximum Heart Rate)
The fastest one’s heart can pulse.
PED(s) (Performance-Enhancing Drug)
Special drugs usually in the form of an anabolic steroid, that are created in order to increase one’s strength, muscle mass and or performance.
Workout Acronyms Used In Fitness
AMRAP (As Many Reps As Possible)
As many repetitions of a certain exercise one can perform continuously until failure is achieved. Or in some cases within a certain time limit.
ATG (Ass-to-Grass)
A term that means you should get your glutes or buttocks as low to the ground as possible, this is usually referring to squats.
EPOC (Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption)
The increased rate of oxygen usage that takes place after strenuous exercise. It is why individuals breathe so heavily after exercise.
MMC (Mind Muscle Connection)
A conscious contraction of a certain muscle. Specifically focusing tension on a certain area and or muscle group while exercising as opposed to just going through the movement passively.
PR (Personal Record)
One’s own best achievement in a certain exercise, whether it is measured in the best time, heaviest weight or something else.
PWO (Pre/Post Workout)
Directly Before (Pre) or after (Post) an exercise session.
RM (Repetition Maximum)
The highest number of times you can perform a certain exercise until you fail and can do it no longer.
RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion)
How much effort or energy an exercise took to perform. RPE is measured based on feeling using a scale from 1 to 10. 1 being extremely effortless and 10 being the most taxing thing possible.
TUT (Time Under Tension)
The amount of time a muscle is put under continuous strain during an exercise.
