Fitness & nutrition glossary

    Repit Academy

    Repit Academy is a free library of 122 plain-English definitions of training, nutrition, recovery and supplement terms, from caloric surplus to progressive overload, each with key facts and answers to common questions.

    Nutrition

    Calories, macros, and how what you eat drives results.

    Caloric Surplus

    A caloric surplus is when you consume more calories than your body burns in a day, causing your body to store the excess energy and gain weight.

    Caloric Deficit

    A caloric deficit is when you consume fewer calories than your body burns in a day, forcing your body to use stored energy and causing fat loss.

    Maintenance Calories

    Maintenance calories are the number of calories you can eat each day to keep your body weight stable — neither gaining nor losing.

    TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure)

    TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure) is the total number of calories your body burns in a day, combining your resting metabolism with the energy used for activity, exercise, and digestion.

    BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate)

    BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) is the number of calories your body burns at complete rest just to keep you alive — powering your organs, breathing, and cell function.

    Macronutrients

    Macronutrients are the three nutrients your body needs in large amounts and that supply calories: protein, carbohydrates, and fat.

    Protein

    Protein is the macronutrient that builds and repairs muscle and other tissues, made up of amino acids and providing 4 calories per gram.

    Carbohydrates

    Carbohydrates are the body's main energy source, broken down into glucose to fuel training and daily activity, providing 4 calories per gram.

    Dietary Fat

    Dietary fat is an essential macronutrient needed for hormone production, vitamin absorption, and cell health, providing 9 calories per gram.

    Fiber

    Fiber is a type of carbohydrate the body can't digest, which supports gut health, digestion, and satiety while adding few or no calories.

    Micronutrients

    Micronutrients are the vitamins and minerals your body needs in small amounts to function properly, support health, and enable performance.

    Glycemic Index

    The glycemic index (GI) is a ranking of how quickly a carbohydrate-containing food raises blood sugar, from low (slow) to high (fast).

    Protein Timing

    Protein timing is the practice of distributing protein intake around training and across the day to support muscle growth and recovery.

    Meal Timing

    Meal timing refers to when you eat across the day and around training, and how that affects performance, recovery, and body composition.

    Intermittent Fasting

    Intermittent fasting (IF) is an eating pattern that cycles between periods of eating and fasting, such as the popular 16:8 method.

    Reverse Dieting

    Reverse dieting is the practice of gradually increasing calories after a diet, aiming to return to maintenance while limiting fat regain.

    Hydration

    Hydration is maintaining adequate fluid in the body for performance, recovery, temperature control, and overall health.

    Muscle Protein Synthesis

    Muscle protein synthesis (MPS) is the process by which the body builds new muscle protein, stimulated mainly by resistance training and protein intake.

    Leucine

    Leucine is an essential amino acid that acts as the primary trigger for muscle protein synthesis, making it especially important for building muscle.

    Essential Amino Acids (EAAs)

    Essential amino acids (EAAs) are the nine amino acids the body cannot produce itself and must obtain from food, required for building protein and muscle.

    Protein Quality

    Protein quality describes how well a protein source supplies essential amino acids and how easily the body digests and uses it.

    Thermic Effect of Food (TEF)

    The thermic effect of food (TEF) is the energy your body uses to digest, absorb, and process the food you eat, accounting for around 10% of daily calorie burn.

    Satiety

    Satiety is the feeling of fullness and satisfaction after eating that reduces the desire to eat more, a key factor in controlling calorie intake.

    Flexible Dieting (IIFYM)

    Flexible dieting (also called IIFYM, 'If It Fits Your Macros') is an approach where you hit daily protein, carb, and fat targets without banning specific foods.

    Carb Cycling

    Carb cycling is varying your carbohydrate intake across days — typically higher on training days and lower on rest days — to match energy needs.

    Diet Break

    A diet break is a planned period of eating at maintenance calories during a longer diet, used to ease the physical and mental strain of a deficit.

    Electrolytes

    Electrolytes are minerals — including sodium, potassium, and magnesium — that carry an electrical charge and regulate hydration, nerve signals, and muscle function.

    Omega-3 Fatty Acids

    Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fats — found in fatty fish and some plants — linked to heart health, brain function, and reduced inflammation.

    Added Sugar

    Added sugar is sugar put into foods and drinks during processing, as opposed to the sugar naturally present in whole foods like fruit and milk.

    Alcohol & Fitness

    Alcohol and fitness describes how drinking affects training, recovery, muscle building, and fat loss — largely through calories, sleep, and recovery.

    Training

    Principles and methods for building strength and muscle.

    Progressive Overload

    Progressive overload is the principle of gradually increasing the demands on your muscles over time — usually by adding weight, reps, or sets — so they keep adapting and growing.

    Hypertrophy

    Hypertrophy is the increase in muscle size that results from resistance training, sufficient protein, and progressive overload over time.

    Strength

    Strength is the maximum amount of force a muscle or group of muscles can produce against resistance.

    One-Rep Max (1RM)

    A one-rep max (1RM) is the maximum amount of weight you can lift for a single repetition of an exercise with proper form.

    RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion)

    RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion) is a 1–10 scale used to rate how hard a set felt, helping you gauge and regulate training intensity.

    RIR (Reps in Reserve)

    RIR (Reps in Reserve) is the number of additional repetitions you could have performed at the end of a set before reaching failure.

    Training Volume

    Training volume is the total amount of work performed, commonly measured as sets times reps times weight, or simply hard sets per muscle per week.

    Training Frequency

    Training frequency is how often you train a given muscle group or movement, usually measured in sessions per week.

    Periodization

    Periodization is the structured planning of training into phases over time, varying volume and intensity to maximize progress and avoid plateaus.

    Deload

    A deload is a planned period of reduced training intensity or volume, used to let the body recover, dissipate fatigue, and come back stronger.

    Compound Exercise

    A compound exercise is a movement that works multiple joints and muscle groups at once, such as the squat, deadlift, or bench press.

    Isolation Exercise

    An isolation exercise is a movement that targets a single muscle group around one joint, such as a bicep curl or leg extension.

    Range of Motion

    Range of motion (ROM) is how far a joint or muscle moves through an exercise, from a full stretch to a full contraction.

    Time Under Tension

    Time under tension (TUT) is the total time a muscle is under load during a set, determined by how many reps you do and how fast you do them.

    Eccentric Training

    Eccentric training emphasizes the lowering phase of a lift, where the muscle lengthens under load, to drive strength and muscle growth.

    Muscle Failure

    Muscle failure is the point during a set where you can no longer complete another repetition with proper form.

    Mind-Muscle Connection

    The mind-muscle connection is the practice of consciously focusing on contracting the target muscle during an exercise to improve its activation.

    Supersets

    A superset is performing two exercises back-to-back with little or no rest between them, often to save time or increase training density.

    Drop Sets

    A drop set is an intensity technique where you reach near failure, then immediately reduce the weight and continue repping to extend the set.

    Warm-Up

    A warm-up is light preparatory activity done before training to raise body temperature, prime the muscles and joints, and improve performance while reducing injury risk.

    Repetition (Rep)

    A repetition (rep) is one complete cycle of an exercise, moving the weight through the full lifting and lowering phases once.

    Set

    A set is a group of consecutive repetitions performed without resting, after which you rest before the next set.

    Rest Interval

    A rest interval is the recovery time taken between sets, which affects performance, fatigue, and the training adaptation.

    Concentric Contraction

    The concentric contraction is the lifting phase of a rep, where the muscle shortens as it produces force to move the weight.

    Push/Pull/Legs Split

    Push/pull/legs (PPL) is a training split that divides workouts into pushing muscles, pulling muscles, and legs, typically across three or six days.

    Upper/Lower Split

    An upper/lower split divides training into upper-body days and lower-body days, commonly run four times per week.

    Full-Body Workout

    A full-body workout trains all the major muscle groups in a single session, usually performed two to four times per week.

    Training Split

    A training split is how you divide muscle groups and workouts across your training week, such as full-body, upper/lower, or push/pull/legs.

    Rest-Pause Training

    Rest-pause training extends a set by taking it near failure, resting briefly (10–20 seconds), then continuing for more reps with the same weight.

    Isometric Exercise

    An isometric exercise involves holding a static position under tension, where the muscle produces force without changing length or moving the joint.

    Plyometrics

    Plyometrics are explosive jump-based exercises that train the muscles to produce maximum force quickly, developing power and athleticism.

    Unilateral Training

    Unilateral training works one limb at a time, such as single-leg or single-arm exercises, to address imbalances and build stability.

    Core Stability

    Core stability is the ability of the muscles around your trunk to resist unwanted movement and transfer force between the upper and lower body.

    Grip Strength

    Grip strength is the force your hands and forearms can produce, and it often limits how much you can pull or hold in exercises.

    Sticking Point

    A sticking point is the hardest part of a lift's range of motion, where the bar tends to slow down or stall as you approach your limit.

    Accessory Exercise

    An accessory exercise is a secondary movement done to support the main lifts, build weak points, and add targeted volume.

    Body & Metrics

    Measuring body composition and tracking progress.

    FFMI (Fat-Free Mass Index)

    FFMI (Fat-Free Mass Index) is a measurement of how much muscle mass you carry relative to your height, similar to BMI but based on lean mass instead of total weight.

    Body Fat Percentage

    Body fat percentage is the proportion of your total body weight that is fat, used to gauge body composition more accurately than weight alone.

    Lean Body Mass

    Lean body mass is your total body weight minus fat mass — everything that isn't fat, including muscle, bone, organs, and water.

    BMI (Body Mass Index)

    BMI (Body Mass Index) is a simple ratio of weight to height used to categorize people as underweight, normal, overweight, or obese.

    Body Recomposition

    Body recomposition is the process of losing fat and building muscle at the same time, changing your composition without necessarily changing your weight.

    Bulking

    Bulking is a phase of eating in a caloric surplus combined with resistance training to maximize muscle growth, accepting some fat gain along the way.

    Cutting

    Cutting is a phase of eating in a caloric deficit to lose body fat while preserving as much muscle as possible.

    Waist-to-Hip Ratio

    Waist-to-hip ratio is your waist circumference divided by your hip circumference, used as a simple indicator of fat distribution and health risk.

    Bioelectrical Impedance (BIA)

    Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) estimates body fat by sending a small electrical current through the body and measuring how it's resisted.

    DEXA Scan

    A DEXA scan is a body-composition scan using low-dose X-rays to measure fat, muscle, and bone with high accuracy.

    Progress Photos

    Progress photos are consistent photographs taken over time to track visual changes in your physique that the scale doesn't capture.

    Scale Weight

    Scale weight is your total body weight as measured by a scale — a useful but noisy data point that fluctuates day to day.

    Water Weight

    Water weight is short-term body weight from fluid retention, which can shift quickly and masks real fat changes on the scale.

    Ideal Body Weight

    Ideal body weight is an estimated healthy weight range for your height and build, used as a rough guideline rather than a precise target.

    Cardio & Conditioning

    Cardiovascular training, heart rate, and endurance.

    VO2 Max

    VO2 max is the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use during intense exercise, and it's a key measure of cardiovascular fitness and endurance.

    HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training)

    HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) alternates short bursts of hard, near-maximal effort with periods of low-intensity recovery.

    LISS (Low-Intensity Steady State)

    LISS (Low-Intensity Steady State) is sustained cardio at a low, comfortable intensity, such as walking or easy cycling, held for a longer duration.

    Steady-State Cardio

    Steady-state cardio is cardiovascular exercise held at a constant, moderate intensity for the duration of the session.

    Heart Rate Zones

    Heart rate zones are intensity ranges based on a percentage of your maximum heart rate, used to guide and structure cardio training.

    NEAT (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis)

    NEAT (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis) is the calories you burn through everyday movement outside of formal exercise, such as walking, fidgeting, and chores.

    Maximum Heart Rate

    Maximum heart rate is the highest number of beats per minute your heart can reach during all-out effort, used to set training zones.

    Resting Heart Rate

    Resting heart rate is the number of times your heart beats per minute at complete rest, a simple indicator of cardiovascular fitness and recovery.

    Heart Rate Reserve

    Heart rate reserve is the difference between your maximum and resting heart rate, used to calculate training zones more accurately for your fitness level.

    Zone 2 Cardio

    Zone 2 cardio is low-intensity aerobic training at roughly 60–70% of your maximum heart rate, done to build an efficient aerobic base.

    Lactate Threshold

    Lactate threshold is the exercise intensity at which lactate builds up in the blood faster than the body can clear it, marking the edge of sustainable effort.

    Anaerobic Threshold

    The anaerobic threshold is the intensity at which the body shifts to relying mainly on anaerobic energy, closely related to the lactate threshold.

    Fasted Cardio

    Fasted cardio is doing cardiovascular exercise before eating, typically first thing in the morning, often promoted as a way to burn more fat.

    EPOC (Afterburn Effect)

    EPOC (Excess Post-exercise Oxygen Consumption), or the 'afterburn effect', is the extra calories your body burns recovering after intense exercise.

    Aerobic Capacity

    Aerobic capacity is your body's ability to take in, transport, and use oxygen to sustain endurance exercise over time.

    Recovery

    Sleep, rest, and how your body adapts to training.

    DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness)

    DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) is the muscle soreness and stiffness that appears 24–72 hours after unfamiliar or intense exercise.

    Recovery

    Recovery is the process by which your body repairs and adapts between training sessions, turning the stress of exercise into actual progress.

    Sleep & Performance

    Sleep is the body's primary recovery process, and its quality and quantity strongly affect training performance, muscle growth, fat loss, and health.

    Rest Day

    A rest day is a planned day off from training that lets your body recover, repair, and adapt so you can perform better in future sessions.

    Overtraining

    Overtraining is a state where training demands chronically exceed recovery, leading to declining performance, persistent fatigue, and other negative symptoms.

    Mobility

    Mobility is the ability to move a joint actively through its full range of motion with control, combining flexibility with strength and stability.

    Stretching

    Stretching is lengthening muscles to improve flexibility, and it comes in static (holding a stretch) and dynamic (moving through a range) forms.

    Foam Rolling

    Foam rolling is a form of self-massage using a foam roller to apply pressure to muscles, used to ease tightness and aid recovery.

    Active Recovery

    Active recovery is low-intensity movement done on rest days or between hard efforts to promote recovery without adding significant fatigue.

    Heart Rate Variability (HRV)

    Heart rate variability (HRV) is the variation in time between consecutive heartbeats, used as a marker of recovery, stress, and readiness to train.

    REM Sleep

    REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep is the dream stage of sleep, important for brain function, memory, learning, and overall recovery.

    Circadian Rhythm

    The circadian rhythm is your body's internal 24-hour clock that regulates sleep, wakefulness, hormones, and energy levels across the day.

    Cortisol

    Cortisol is a stress hormone that helps regulate metabolism and energy, but chronically elevated levels can impair recovery and health.

    Sauna & Heat Therapy

    Sauna and heat therapy involve exposing the body to high temperatures for recovery, relaxation, cardiovascular benefits, and well-being.

    Contrast Therapy

    Contrast therapy alternates between hot and cold exposure, such as moving between a sauna and a cold plunge, to aid recovery and circulation.

    Injury Prevention

    Injury prevention is the set of training and recovery habits that reduce your risk of getting hurt, keeping you training consistently over the long term.

    Supplements

    Evidence-based supplements and what they actually do.

    Creatine

    Creatine is a naturally occurring compound and one of the most researched, effective supplements for increasing strength, power, and muscle.

    Whey Protein

    Whey protein is a fast-digesting, high-quality protein powder derived from milk, used to conveniently meet daily protein targets.

    Caffeine

    Caffeine is a stimulant that improves focus, alertness, endurance, and strength output, making it one of the most effective performance aids.

    Pre-Workout

    Pre-workout is a supplement blend taken before training to boost energy, focus, and performance, usually built around caffeine and other active ingredients.

    Beta-Alanine

    Beta-alanine is an amino acid supplement that buffers acid build-up in muscles, improving performance in high-intensity efforts lasting one to several minutes.

    Citrulline Malate

    Citrulline malate is a supplement that boosts nitric oxide and blood flow, often used to improve muscle pumps and training endurance.

    Vitamin D

    Vitamin D is a nutrient essential for bone, immune, and muscle health that the body makes from sunlight and that many people are low in.

    Magnesium

    Magnesium is an essential mineral involved in muscle function, energy production, nerve signaling, and sleep, and many people fall short of optimal intake.

    Casein Protein

    Casein is a slow-digesting milk protein that releases amino acids gradually, often taken before bed to support overnight muscle recovery.

    Creatine Loading

    Creatine loading is taking a higher dose of creatine for the first week to saturate the muscles faster, before dropping to a standard maintenance dose.

    Ashwagandha

    Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb studied for its potential to reduce stress, lower cortisol, and support sleep and recovery.