Timeline of Training

Exercise – Activity undertaken to improve the condition of a bodily function. Can be general such as running (heart, body fat, cardiorespiratory system) or specific (for example chest exercise for a stronger pectoral region).

Repetition – Term used to define the complete movement of one exercise (from start to finish). For example begin a bench press with bar raised above you chest. Once the bar has been lowered and pushed back up to its original position that is one repetition.

Set – Is consisted of a fixed number of repetitions, where there is no rest in between each repetition. A set can contain any number of repetitions, depending on the overall desires and goals of training (for example from 2 to over 100). Moving the bar from the raised position above your chest, down to chest and back to original position ten times creates a set.

Region Specific Session – Is achieved when a group of sets are completed, with the focus being on one muscle or a group of muscles. If four sets of the bench press exercise are carried out then the pectoral muscles have been subjected to a region specific session, as they have been the main focus.

Workout – Consists of a collection of region specific sessions. The workout can be arranged to be either specific muscle group orientated or designed to work on a collection of different muscle groups. A workout is usually varied on a daily basis. Once the bench press is completed the next exercise could be squats, thus working the leg muscles. Therefore the workout would have been chest and leg focussed. If after the bench press inclined flys were undertaken then the workout would be chest orientated.

Programme – Can be planned or a result of hindsight. A collection of workouts form a programme. A programme can be designed to focus on one area or to cover many areas, the time frame for a programme can also vary greatly depending on the individuals goals but in general, an individual’s programme should be assessed and updated on a monthly basis, and created in conjunction with the individuals’ goals and requirements. A programme could be designed to strengthen an individuals’ core strength or to lower their amount of body fat.

Training History – Is created when an individual has a collection of programmes and can be used to plan future programmes upon. For example an individuals’ history could show they lost 3 stone focussing on cardio-vascular, then built muscle using a power training programme, however recent injury has prevented any exercise for 3 months, and as a result have put on weight. It may be required that they undertake the same cardio-vascular activities that worked for them previously.