Below is a list of the popular terms associated with the world of fitness. I created this page to help anyone who’s just getting started or isn’t familiar with certain phrases that are popular among the fitness world.
Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) – This is the daily minimum level of energy or calories required (at rest) for your body to function properly. The higher the BMR figure, the more calories can be burnt during the rest period.
Body Fat Percentage – This is the amount of fat as a proportion of your actual body weight. Weight is made up of muscle and fat, therefore fat mass is the weight of the fat itself within your body. A certain level of body fat is crucial for maintaining certain bodily activities, for example, regulating your body temperature and cushioning joints. Too much fat can damage your health.
Body Mass Index (BMI) – This is a useful measurement to the majority of people over 18. It gives you an idea of whether you’re under, overweight or at an ideal level based on your height to weight ratio. It can be limited as weight/mass is based on fat and muscle and this is not taken into account. Therefore somebody who is builds/gains muscle regularly could show as overweight, however because muscle weighs more than fat.
Bone Mass – This is an estimated weight of Bone Mineral Mass within the body. The development of muscle tissue by doing regular exercise has been linked to stronger, healthier bones.
Fat Free Mass – This is everything in your body that is not fat. It includes muscle, water, bone, connective tissue and much more. Muscle is the body’s natural ‘fat-burning engine’, therefore it is crucial to maintain or increase your muscle mass when dieting and exercising.
Metabolic Age – This indicates what age your Basal Metabolic Rate is currently rated in comparison to other age groups. A general goal would be to have a Metabolic Age lower than your actual age. This figure can be improved through regular exercise and building muscle.
Resting Heart Rate – This is the number of heart beats per minute during resting. The lower the number of beats required, the healthier/fitter the person is. An average number of beats per minute is 72.
Visceral Fat – This is the dangerous fat that sits around the stomach area and surrounds vital organs. By reducing this figure you are reducing the risk of certain conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
