Plain English
Training support glossary.
The words that get used to sell beginners a lot of stuff. Here is what they mean, what they do not mean, and where the useful next step usually is.
Training terms
- ✓Zone 2: easy cardio you can talk through. Use the talk test first and the heart-rate number second.
- ✓Progressive overload: making training a little harder over time. More reps, more weight, more control, or more consistency all count.
- ✓RPE: rate of perceived exertion. A 10 is all-out. Most beginners should live far below that while the habit is forming.
- ✓Mobility: usable range of motion. It is not a performance ritual. It is there so your next session feels possible.
Supportive supplement terms
- ✓Protein powder: food support in a scoop. Useful when meals are not covering the basics. Not a fat-loss product.
- ✓Creatine monohydrate: a simple training supplement many adults consider for strength training support. It is not a hormone and not an anti-aging shortcut.
- ✓Electrolytes: minerals lost through sweat. Helpful context is heat, duration, and sweat rate, not hype.
- ✓Nutrient gap: a real missing need, preferably confirmed by diet review or a clinician. It is not a reason to buy a giant daily stack.
Tool terms
- ✓Heart-rate strap: a simple way to measure effort during cardio. Useful if data helps, unnecessary if the talk test is enough.
- ✓Walking pad: a small treadmill for indoor steps. Worth considering only if weather, safety, or schedule blocks walking.
- ✓Adjustable dumbbells: a compact strength option. Good when space is tight and you will actually use them.
- ✓Sleep tech: tools that can make your room cooler, darker, quieter, or more trackable. Fix the room before buying the dashboard.
Banned words in this house: cure, detox, fat burner, appetite suppressant, hormone booster, reverse aging, guaranteed results. If a product needs those words to sell, it does not belong in the beginner stack.