Adaptation

the evolutionary process whereby an organism becomes better able to live in its habitat or habitats.

Aerobic exercise

any physical activity that uses your body's large muscle groups in a rhythmic and repetitive manner, increasing your heart rate and how much oxygen your body uses.

Anaerobic exercise

intense, short-burst activity that uses stored energy in muscles, rather than oxygen, to fuel movement.

Cardiovascular endurance

the ability of your heart, lungs, and circulatory system to efficiently deliver oxygen to your muscles during physical activity.

Concentric exercise

involve muscle shortening while a muscle contracts against a resistance.

Cool down

the period of reduced intensity activity after exercise, allowing your body to gradually return to a resting state.

Diminishing return

a phenomenon where, after a certain point, adding more of a specific input leads to a smaller and smaller increase in output.

Eccentric exercise

involve a muscle lengthening while it's contracted, typically during the downward or lowering phase of a movement.

Exercise plateau

occurs when your body adapts to your current exercise routine and you no longer see progress, even with consistent effort.

F.I.T.T. principle

a set of guidelines used to design effective fitness programs.

Flexibility

the quality of bending easily without breaking.

Heart rate

between 60 and 100 beats per minute (bpm).

Muscular contraction

a fundamental physiological process where muscle fibers generate tension and can shorten, causing movement.

Muscular endurance

the ability of a muscle or group of muscles to repeatedly exert force against a resistance, like body weight or weights, over a period of time.

Muscular strength

the ability of a muscle to exert a maximal or near maximal force, often measured by how much weight you can lift or push.

Overload principle

working the body harder than it's accustomed to in order to make gains in strength, endurance, and muscle size.

Plyometrics

exercises that involve rapid and explosive movements to increase muscle power, speed, and agility.

Range of motion

the extent of movement possible at a joint.

Repetitions

the action of repeating something that has already been said or written.

Warm-up

a preparatory activity that prepares the body for physical exertion by increasing heart rate, blood flow, and muscle temperature, reducing the risk of injury.