Continuing through the bodybuilding glossary, this installment covers terms starting with C and D — from gym staples like cable pulley machines and the deadlift, to nutrition concepts like caloric deficit and carbohydrate loading, to training techniques such as drop sets and dynamic stretching. Browse the full list below, or jump straight to a term using the navigation links.
- Cable pulley machine
- A resistance training machine in which various attachments, such as a bar, handle, or rope, can be linked to weights by a metal cable. The force for moving the weight is transferred via a pulley or system of pulleys, offering continual resistance throughout the full range of motion of an exercise. → A beginner’s guide to cable pulley machines
- Cable crossovers
- An exercise performed on a cable pulley machine in which resistant cables are pulled forward and crossed over in front of the chest, targeting the inner and lower portions of the pectoral muscles. → Cable crossover: complete exercise guide
- Cables
- Long wire cords attached to weight stacks at one end and a hand grip or bar at the other, used on cable pulley machines. Cable exercises keep continuous tension on the working muscle throughout the full range of motion, unlike free weights, where tension can vary.
- Caloric deficit
- A situation in which you consistently burn more calories than you consume, forcing the body to draw on stored energy (mostly fat) and leading to weight loss over time. A caloric deficit is the foundation of any successful cutting or fat-loss phase.
- Caloric surplus
- A situation in which you consistently consume more calories than you burn, supplying the extra energy needed to support muscle growth — though some of that surplus will also be stored as fat. A caloric surplus is the foundation of a bulking phase. → Weight gain calculator: calculate your calorie surplus
- Calorie
- A unit of measurement of the energy contained in food and drink, and of the energy your body expends through activity and basic functioning. Tracking calories in versus calories out is the basic mechanism behind both bulking and cutting. → Why a calorie is not a calorie
- Calves
- Also called “lowers” or, informally, “bodybuilding’s diamonds,” the calves are made up of the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles on the back of the lower leg. Like the forearms, the calves are composed of extremely dense muscle tissue, and their main function is to flex the ankle. → The essential guide to calf training
- Carbohydrates
- A group of organic compounds, including sugar, starch, and cellulose, that make up an essential part of the diet. Carbohydrates are the body’s most readily available source of energy, particularly important for fuelling intense training sessions. → Carbohydrates and exercise
- Carbohydrate loading
- The practice of strategically depleting and then replenishing the body’s glycogen stores in the days or weeks leading up to a bodybuilding contest. This technique allows competitors to saturate their muscles with stored water and glycogen, making the muscles appear fuller and harder on stage.
- Cardio
- A common shorthand for cardiovascular or aerobic exercise — see the full entry for “Aerobic exercise” in the A-B glossary. → See “Aerobic exercise” in the A-B glossary
- Catabolism
- A metabolic process tending to break down tissue, particularly muscle tissue, into smaller units for energy. Catabolism is the opposite of anabolism, and minimizing unnecessary muscle catabolism — through adequate protein intake and recovery — is a key concern for anyone trying to build or preserve muscle.
- Chalk
- Also known as magnesium carbonate, a fine powder applied to the hands to absorb sweat and improve grip security on the bar. It is widely used by powerlifters, Olympic lifters, and gymnasts during heavy pulling and grip-intensive movements. → Weight-lifting chalk: pros and cons
- Cheating
- A technique in which strict exercise form is deliberately loosened in order to complete a few additional repetitions in a set. Cheating is generally not recommended, since it increases injury risk, but it is sometimes used deliberately to push a muscle past the point of strict failure. A common example is forcibly swinging the upper body to help complete a standing biceps curl. → Cheat reps: does training dirty boost muscle growth?
- Chest
- The large pectoral muscles located on the front of the upper torso, primarily responsible for drawing the arms forward and in toward the center of the body during pressing and fly movements. → Mastering lower chest exercises for a chiseled pectoralis major
- Cholesterol
- A naturally occurring steroid molecule involved in the formation of hormones, vitamins, and bile salts, and in the transport of fats through the bloodstream to tissues throughout the body. While cholesterol is essential to normal hormone production, excessive dietary cholesterol can contribute to cardiovascular disease over time.
- Circuit training
- A specialized form of training that combines strength exercises and aerobic conditioning in a single session. Circuit training typically involves performing 10 to 20 different exercises back-to-back with minimal rest between sets, keeping the heart rate elevated throughout. → Circuit training programme & benefits
- Collar
- A small, round clamp made of iron or plastic, used to lock weight plates securely in place on a barbell or dumbbell sleeve. Most collars screw on, though some spring-clip versions simply clamp into place.
- Compound exercise
- An exercise that recruits more than one muscle group and involves movement at more than one joint — also called a multi-joint exercise. Compound exercises such as the squat, bench press, and barbell row are generally considered the best choices for building overall strength and size. → Compound and isolation exercises in strength training
- Concentric
- Describing a muscle action in which the muscle shortens while producing force — for example, the upward, lifting phase of a biceps curl. Concentric action is typically contrasted with eccentric action, where the muscle lengthens under tension. → Eccentric weight training: definition, pros & cons
- Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)
- A structural variant of linoleic acid, a common unsaturated fatty acid found in food. Several studies point to potential general health benefits of CLA, but no solid evidence shows it directly aids muscle growth or fat loss — it should be regarded as a reasonably healthy fat source rather than a performance supplement. → Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)
- Cool-down
- Low-intensity exercise performed at the end of a high-intensity workout, intended to let the body’s cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic systems gradually return to resting levels rather than stopping abruptly. → The importance of warming up and cooling down
- Core
- The superficial and deep muscles of the abdominals and lower back that stabilize the spine, help prevent back injuries, and contribute to overall strength transfer during heavy lifts. → The 3 most efficient core exercises known to man
- Cortisol
- A catabolic hormone released by the body in response to stress, of which intense exercise is one form. Cortisol speeds up the breakdown of larger molecules into smaller ones (catabolism) and tends to increase fat storage when chronically elevated. → Cortisol hormone: complete guide
- Creatine
- A compound that occurs naturally in muscle tissue, functioning as a secondary energy reservoir that the body draws on when stores of ATP — the molecule that directly drives muscle contraction — become depleted. Supplementing with creatine monohydrate raises creatine phosphate concentration within muscle, which can improve performance during brief, high-intensity efforts. → How to take creatine: best methods, timing & tips
- Cross-training
- Participating in two or more different sports or training modalities that complement one another and help an athlete reach a higher overall level of fitness — for example, combining strength training with football or another sport.
- Cutting
- The process of dieting in a caloric deficit with the specific goal of shedding visible body fat in order to emphasize muscle definition and separation, typically practiced ahead of a bodybuilding show or photoshoot. → Cutting in bodybuilding: the complete guide
- Cycle training
- A training approach in which high-intensity workouts are deliberately alternated with lower-intensity ones, applied either within a week or across a longer yearly training cycle, to manage fatigue and promote long-term progress.
- Deadlift
- A compound lift in which a loaded barbell is lifted from the floor to hip level by extending the hips and knees, working the back, glutes, hamstrings, and grip simultaneously. The deadlift is widely regarded as one of the most effective total-body strength exercises in weight training. → Conventional deadlift: the king of back exercises
- Decline bench
- A bench set at a downward angle, used to target the lower and outer portions of the pectoral muscles. Decline bench exercises require the lifter to position their head at the low end of the bench and feet secured at the raised end. → Decline barbell bench press: technique, benefits & variations
- Definition
- The visibility of the shape and detail of individual muscles beneath the skin. Muscle definition becomes apparent primarily in people with a low body fat percentage, regardless of how much muscle mass they carry underneath.
- Dehydration
- A biological state in which the body has insufficient water for proper functioning. Since the human body is over 90 percent water in lean tissue, athletes must continuously replace fluids lost through sweat during intense or prolonged exercise. → Hydration and electrolytes in sports nutrition
- Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS)
- Muscle soreness that develops a day or two after an unusually heavy or unfamiliar bout of exercise, peaking around 24 to 72 hours afterward before gradually subsiding. DOMS is a normal response to training stress and is not, by itself, a reliable indicator of how effective a workout was. → Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS): full guide
- Deload
- A planned period of reduced training intensity or volume, used to allow the body to recover from accumulated fatigue before resuming harder training. Deloading is typically scheduled every few weeks within a structured program rather than taken only when injury forces a break. → Deloading in weight training: is it necessary?
- Delts
- A common gym slang term referring to the deltoid muscles — the rounded muscles capping the shoulders, made up of anterior, lateral, and posterior heads. → Lateral deltoid: functional anatomy guide
- Density
- A descriptive term for the quality of muscle mass a bodybuilder carries, referring specifically to how thick and hard the muscle appears and feels, independent of overall size.
- Descending sets
- Also known as drop sets — an advanced training technique in which weight is reduced immediately at the end of a set, allowing the lifter to perform additional repetitions with the lighter load once the heavier weight can no longer be lifted. → Exploring drop sets in strength training
- Diet
- A term referring to a person’s fixed or planned eating pattern. In everyday gym usage, “going on a diet” usually implies a deliberate attempt to lose weight, though technically a diet can just as easily be structured for maintenance or muscle gain.
- DOMS
- Short for delayed-onset muscle soreness — see the full entry under “Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS)” above.
- Dorsiflexion
- The movement of pulling the top of the foot upward, toward the shin, decreasing the angle between the foot and the front of the leg. Ankle dorsiflexion mobility plays an important role in achieving proper squat depth.
- Down-the-rack training
- An advanced training technique in which two or three successively lighter pairs of dumbbells are used within a single set, allowing the lifter to continue past the point of failure with the original weight without resting.
- Drop set
- The modern, more commonly used name for a descending set — see the full entry under “Descending sets” above. → Exploring drop sets in strength training
- Dumbbell
- A short bar on which weight plates are secured at each end, designed to be held and used with one hand at a time — effectively the single-arm counterpart to a barbell. In most commercial gyms, dumbbell plates are permanently fixed, with the weight stamped directly on the handle. → Dumbbells vs. barbells: what’s better for strength & size?
- Dynamic stretching
- A form of stretching that uses controlled, active movements to take a joint through its full range of motion, rather than holding a static position. Dynamic stretching is widely recommended as part of a warm-up, since it raises body temperature and primes the muscles for the specific movements about to be performed.
