Acronyms & Abbreviations - Bodybuilding Glossary

Please find below a list of common acronyms, abbreviations and colloquialisms used in bodybuilding and physical culture. Bodybuilding deals with the biomedical sciences, often at great detail,so although I have tried to be fairly comprehensive, you may come up with something not listed here. If so, please post your abbreviation that you don't understand and we will try and answer it here. If you find any mistakes, please post them here too!

How to use this list
If you want to quickly search for a term, use the search feature in your browser eg( Control + F ) and search for your word. Words separated by the semicolon ( means that it is a different word for the same thing (a synonym).

Those relating to bodybuilding
1,4 Andro = Boldione
1-Test = 1-Testosterone
17 AA = 17 Alpha Alkylated Steroid
1AD = 1-Androstenediol
1RM = One-rep max
3Alpha = 3Alpha-Androstanediol
4-Diol = 4-Androstediol
5-HT = Serotonin
5AA = 5Alpha-Androstanediol
5aR = 5-Alpha-Reductase ( an enzyme that converts Testosterone to DHT )
AAS = Anabolic Androgenic Steroids
AMPk = AMP kinase ; 5' AMP-activated protein kinase ; 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase
AR = Androgen Receptor
ATP = Adenosine TriPhosphate
Andro = 4-Androstendione
B2 = A beta-adrenergic subtype eg( a B2-Adrenoceptor agonist )
BB = Body Builder or Body Building
BB = Barbell
BBB = Blood/Brain Barrier
BF = BodyFat
BF% = Percentage Body Fat
BMI = Body Mass Index
BMR = Basic Metabolic Rate
BOR = Bent Over Rows
BP = Blood Pressure
BP = Body Part ( less often used than blood pressure )
Bromo = Bromocriptine
CAA = Chemically Augmented Athlete
cAMP = Cyclic Adenosine MonoPhosphate ; cyclic AMP ; 3'-5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate
CGBP = Close grip bench press
CHO = Carbohydrate
CNS = Central Nervous System
COMT = Catechol-O-methyltransferase ( an enzyme that degrades catecholamines )
Clen = Clenbuterol
Cyp = Testosterone Cypionate
DB = Dumbbell
DBOL = Dianabol (Methandrostenolone)
DECA = Nandrolone Decanoate
DHT = Dihydrotestosterone
DL= Deadlift
DMSO = Dimethyl Sulfoxide - Topical enhancer/Topical anodyne
DNP = Dinitrophenol
DOMS = Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness
ECA = Ephedrine/Caffeine/Aspirin
ED = Every Day
EFA = Essential Fatty Acids (Omega 3 and 6 polyunsaturates)
EMS ; NMES = Electro Muscle Stimulation
eNOS = endothelial NOS
EOD = Every Other Day
EQ = Equipoise (Boldenone Undecylenate)
ETC = Electron Transport Chain
etc = etcetera (note the different case!)
Eph = Ephedrine
FFA= Free Fatty Acids
FINA = Finaplix (Trenbolone Acetate)
FSH = Follicle Stimulating Hormone
GET = Gastric emptying time
GH = Growth Hormone
GI = Glycemic Index
GIT = Gastro Intestinal Tract
GSE = Grape Seed Extract
GTE = Green Tea Extract
Gyno = gynecomastia ; Bitch tits
HGC = Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
HIIT = High Intensity Interval Training
HIT = High Intensity Training
HPAA = Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal Axis
HPTA = Hypothalamic Pituitary Testicular Axis
HST= Hypertrophy Specific Training
Halo = Halotestin
IGF = Insulin Growth Factor
II = Insulin Index
im = intramuscularly ; intramuscular injection
INJ = Inject ; Injection
iNOS = inducible NOS
IU = International Units
LBM = Lean Body Mass
LH = Luteinizing Hormone
LSMPB = Later-stage Male Pattern Baldness
MHR = Maximum Heart Rate
MPB = Male Pattern Baldness
NA ; NE ( for my american friends) = Noradrenaline ; Norepinephrine
NOS = Nitric Oxide Synthase
NYC = Norephedrine/Yohimbine hcl/Caffeine
Nattie = Natural ; Non PED using athlete
Nolva = Nolvaldex
Nor-Diol = 19Nor-Androstenediol
OHP = Over-Head Press
OTC = Over The Counter
Oxys ; Nap 50 = Oxymetholone ; Anapolon ; Anadrol
PB = Personal best,
PCT = Post Cycle Therapy
PDE = PhosphoDiEsterase eg( the PDE3 Inhibitor - viagra )
PED = Performance Enhancing Drug
PH's = Pro-Hormones
PIP = Post Injection Pain
PNS = Peripheral Nervous System
po = taken orally ; by mouth
POM = Prescription Only Medicine
PS = Phosphatidylserine
Pep = Peptide
PeriWO = Peri Work Out ; around the workout
Pin = Needle used for injections
PostWO = Post Work Out ; after the workout
PreWO = Pre Work Out ; prior to the workout
Primo = Primobolan, Primobolan Depot
Prop = Testosterone Propionate
RM = Rep Max eg( 1 Rep Max )
RMR = Resting Metabolic Rate
ROM = Range Of Motion
SAMe = S-AdenosylMethionine
SAT = Subcutanious Adipose Tissue
SDL ; SLDL = Stiff legged deadlift
SEG = Site Enhancement Gel
SEO = Site Enhancement Oil ; Synthol
SHBG= Steroid Hormone Binding Globulin
SLIN = Insulin
SM = Skeletal Muscle
SMPS = Skeletal Muscle Protein Synthesis
SU = Sodium Usniate ; a salt of Usnic Acid
Spiro - spironolactone - an anti-androgen used topically to prevent hair loss, also a diuretic.
SubQ = Subcutaneous ; Subcutaneous injection
Sus = Sustanon
T/E ratio = Testosterone/Estrogen
T2 = Thyroid Hormone
T3 = TriIodothyronine ; Thyroid Hormone ; Cytomel ; Liothyronine
T4 = Thyroxine ( a Thyroid Hormone )
TA = Trenbolone Acetate
TBM = Total Body Mass ; Body Weight ; Weight
TE ; ENTH = Testosterone Enanthate
TENS = Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation ( a method of pain killing using electricity )
Test = Testosterone
Tren = Trenbolone
TUT = Time Under Tension
UA = Usnic Acid
URTI = Upper Respiratory Tract Infection
var = anavar
VAT = Visceral Adipose Tissue
VO2max = maximal oxygen consumption ; maximal oxygen uptake ; peak oxygen uptake ; aerobic capacity
VVO2max = velocity at maximal oxygen uptake
Winny = Winstrol-V ; Stanozolol
YHCL = Yohimbine HCL

Those used in Internet discussions
AFAIK = As Far As I Know
BTW = By the way
Bump = A request for a re-stimulation of a discussion ; Back up to the top of the page
FWIW = For What It's Worth
GTG = Good to go
IIRC = If I Remember Correctly
IMHO = In My Humble Opinion
IMO = In My Opinion
IOW = In Other Words
JK = Joke/Joking/Just Kidding
JOOI = Just Out Of Interest
JMO = Just my opinion
JTOL= Just thinking out loud
LMAO = Laughing my ass off
LOL = Laugh out loud
NPR = New personal record
OMG = Oh my God
OTOH = On The Other Hand
PPR = Previous personal record
PR = Personal record
WTF = What The fvck
YMMV = Your Mileage May Vary ; Your experiences may differ

Abbreviations of measurement
d = day
wk = week
mn = month
yr = year

Kg = Kilogram
lb = Pound ( 1Kg = 2,2lb )
mg = Milligram
mcg ; µg = Micrograms

ml = millilitre

cm = centimetres (1inch = 2.54cm)

Notations used in quantitative measurements

Sometimes you may read a measurement or quantity in a protocol that says something like:

Slin @ 5IU.d-1 SubQ means: Insulin at 5IU per day by subcutaneous injection

or

4rep.set-1 . 3set.ex-1 . 5ex.bp-1 means: 4REPs per SET, 3SETs per EXercise, 5EXercises per BodyPart

or

4wkout.wk-1 . 2hr.wkout-1 means: 4 workouts per week and each workout would be 2hours long

This way of writing (notation) may look a little odd the first time you see it, but it allows one to quickly state quantitative protocols.

I hope this is of use,
J

 

You forgot one of the most important ones PCT - Post cycle therapy.

Apologies if I missed it.

 

Thanks Tom! How could I have forgotten that one.
It's been added now.
J

 

And you missed another commonly used one...

PHMG = PowerHouseMcGru

 

Another common one you missed is GTL, Gym, tan laundry!

In all serious, i see GTG (Good to go) used frequently!

 

Good post Joshua,I cant see OHP (Overhead Press),sorry if I missed it!

 

Don't forget BB can mean Barbell......

 

How long did that take, fair play for the effort mate...

 

Added in those suggested,

If you have other ones which come up in threads, just mention them, and I will add them in here as we go.

It wasn't that bad actually, as I have built them up over quite a while. It's a never ending battle in many ways - as you can see, I missed a fair few out, and I am sure there will be more to come.

J

 

BOR - Bentover Rows
ROM - Range of Motion

Another couple bud

 

can we add some descriptions of what terms mean?

refeed
baseline weight

 

you missed out FWIW

For what its worth

 

Cheers IB - Added.

I have taken a shot at coming up with some definitions, but welcome opinions/variations, as I am no Dr Johnson. I feel a bit like Edmund Blackadder who was unhappy about his definition of an aardvark as a 'Medium sized insectivore with protruding nasal implement', and will care not a sausage if my descriptions are condemned. I will add these, or the amended versions in a few days to the list above.

Refeeds - A method for restoring of glycogen reserves after a glycogen depletion phase, as part of particular diet strategies. Can be used for several purposes, however a popular reason is to stop the body from slowing fat gains. The refeed frequency tends to increase the further ones current bodyfat levels decrease from those levels at which it will naturally gravitate towards (setpoint). Related concepts: Glycogen, Depletion, Leptin, Fatloss, Dieting.

Baseline weight - I presume this refers to a weight which one is using as a reference point from which increases and decreases are given in reference to.


J

 

NIce work mate......but er....you seemed to have forgotten "sausage"?

 

Cheers bro