Bodybuilding. The goal of bodybuilding is physique improvement; focusing on reducing body fat while enhancing muscle shape, size, and symmetry.

Calisthenics. Calisthenics are exercises which generally can be completed without equipment. Used extensively by the armed forces, calisthenics are also known as body-weight exercises.

Circuit Training. Circuit training is accomplished by performing different exercises with little to no rest between each. Circuit training is designed to develop muscular endurance.

Compound Exercise. Compound exercises work more than one muscle group. The bench press, military press and squats are examples of compound exercises.

Compound Sets. Compound sets are performed by doing two or more exercises back-to-back which work the same muscle group. Conducting dumbbell flyes immediately following the bench press, both of which work the chest, is an example of a compound set.

Frequency: Frequency describes how often an individual engages in strength training. Frequency is normally expressed as number of times per week. This may be total number of training sessions, number of sessions by body part or number of session by type of training (endurance workout, power workout, strength workout).

Isolation Exercise. Isolation exercises primarily work only one muscle or muscle group. The barbell curl, which predominately works the biceps, is an isolation exercise.

Muscular Endurance. Muscle endurance is the ability of a muscle to contract for a long period of time, or repeatedly for a extended duration, against a light to moderate resistance.

Muscular Strength. The greatest amount of force that a muscle can produce defines muscular strength. Muscular strength is the goal of powerlifters.

Olympic Weightlifting. Olympic Weightlifting is an athletic competition whose participants strive to obtain maximum power. Olympic Weightlifting includes two events; the clean and jerk, plus the snatch.

One Repetition Maximum (1RM): 1RM is the maximum amount of weight that can be lifted one time by the individual. The 1RM will vary from exercise to exercise (Bench press 1RM will be different from military press 1RM which will be different from squat 1RM). Bodybuilders, Olympic weightlifters and Powerlifters use this term often and the amount lifted while programming workouts are expressed as a percentage of 1RM. For instance; 5 x 5 @ 50%. Someone whose 1RM is 400 pounds would lift 200 pounds while someone whose 1RM is 300 pounds would lift 150 pounds. This percentage of 1RM is also known as intensity.

Power. Power is the ability to move a weight or overcome a resistance quickly. Speed is the critical factor in producing power. Maximal power wins Olympic Weightlifting competitions.

Powerlifting. Powerlifting is a competitive sport whose goal is to obtain maximal strength. Powerlifting competitions include three lifts; the bench press, deadlift, and squat.

Repetition: A repetition is one cycle of an exercise movement from start to finish. For example; a repetition of a dumbbell biceps curl begins when the weight is lifted towards the shoulders and is not complete until the weight is back hanging at your sides, the starting position.

Rest: Rest is the time taken between sets or workouts to allow muscles to recover.

Set: A set is a series of repetitions completed in succession. For instance; eight repetitions of an exercise, each performed one after another, would be one set of eight repetitions. In a training log this would be noted as 1 x 8.

Superset. Two exercises performed consecutively without rest and each for different muscle groups forms a superset. Conducting dumbbell curls immediately following triceps extensions is a example of a superset.

Volume: Volume is a measure of the amount of work done. The volume is calculated in the weight training as the number of sets multiplied by the number of repetitions multiplied by the amount of weight lifted. Volume is used to judge the difficulty of a weight training workout.