Common gym "lingo" you should know

Wondering what all the lingo actually is when you are at the gym or when reading about fitness?

Here are just a few commonly used fitness terms explained:

High-Intensity Interval Training:
This is when you alternate short bursts of exercise at a very challenging effort level, with periods of recovery at a moderate one.
(This boosts your endurance and will burn the greatest # of calories in the least amount of time!)

Target Heart Rate:
The beats per minute (bpm) you should aim for during cardio exercise, based on your intended exertion level.
(Note: Low-intensity exercise should be 50-60% of your heart rate max; moderate 60-80%;
high intensity between 80-90%)

Plyometrics:
Quick, explosive moves that increase muscle strength and power while blasting calories.
(Example: jumping moves such as burpees, fast jump roping, etc.)

Drop Sets:
A technique that involves starting an exercise with the heaviest weight you can lift, then decreasing the load with each set.

Anaerobic Exercise:
A high-intensity activity (example: sprint) typically performed for fewer then 2 minutes--using phosphates and glycogen vs oxygen as fuel.
(Increases your speed, power, strength and endurance as you burn calories.)

Compound Exercise:
When a movement occurs at several joints, working multiple muscle groups.
(For example think of a squat.  Here you are involving the ankles, knees, hips and are targeting the hamstring, gluts, quads.)