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SERIES GLOSSARY
OF KEY TERMS
abs:
Short for abdominals. The muscles in the middle of your body,
located over your stomach and intestines.
aerobic:
A process by which energy is steadily released using oxygen.
Aerobic exercise focuses on breathing and exercising for a long
time.
anaerobic:
When lots of energy is quickly released, without using oxy-
gen. You can’t do anaerobic exercises for a very long time.
balance:
Your ability to stay steady and upright.
basal metabolic rate:
How many calories your body burns naturally
just by breathing and carrying out other body processes.
bodybuilding:
Exercising specifically to get bigger, stronger muscles.
calories:
The units of energy that your body uses. You get calories from
food and you use them up when you exercise.
carbohydrates:
The foods that your body gets most of its energy from.
Common foods high in carbohydrates include sugars and grains.
cardiovascular system:
Your heart and blood vessels.
circuit training:
Rapidly switching from one exercise to another in a
cycle. Circuit training helps build endurance in many different mus-
cle groups.
circulatory system:
The system of blood vessels in your body, which
brings oxygen and nutrients to your cells and carries waste products
away.
cool down:
A gentle exercise that helps your body start to relax after
a workout.
core:
The muscles of your torso, including your abs and back muscles.
cross training:
When an athlete trains for a sport she normally doesn’t
play, to exercise any muscle groups she might be weak in.
dehydration:
When you don’t have enough water in your body. When
you exercise, you lose water by sweating, and it’s important to re-
place it.