Bodybuilding Glossary
Underhand grip — The opposite of an overhand grip. The lifter should grip the barbell or dumbbell with the hands under the bar.
Vascularity — The visibility of veins through the skin.
Visualization – Relaxation technique performed by clearing the mind and then concentrating and focusing on particular goals. For bodybuilders, common visualization goals include an upcoming contest, workout, or a new training strategy.
Vitamin – Any one of a group of chemical compounds that is required by your body in small amounts for healthy growth and development. Most vitamins are not made by your body, so must be taken in the diet.
VO2 – Volume of Oxygen
VO2Max – The maximum possible intake of oxygen for aerobic metabolism during exercise.
Volume training — The use of a very high number sets for each body part.
Warm-up — Before any workout it is important to gradually prepare the body through low-intensity exercise. This helps to get the heart rate elevated so that oxygen uptake and blood flow to muscle tissue are enhanced. It also increases body temperature, which enhances the mobility of joints and the contractibility of muscle fibers. Good warm-up exercises include walking on a treadmill, riding a stationary cycle, doing light calisthenics, and doing lightweight lifting slowly and rhythmically.
Washboard abs – A slang term used to describe ripped abs.
Weight – This term refers to the plates or weight stacks themselves, or it can be used to describe the actual poundage on the bar.
Weight belt — A wide belt usually made of leather or nylon that is worn tightly around the waist to help support the low back and increase abdominal pressure. This is supposed to help prevent back injury and increase strength. Today it is recommended that belts be worn only during exercise training in which near-maximal weights are being lifted.
Weightlifting – A general term used to describe the exercise form involving the use of weights, or an Olympic event. The competitive version involves two lifts: the snatch and the clean and jerk.
Weightlifting gloves — Gloves made of leather or synthetic materials are often worn during weightlifting to aid in the grip and prevent calluses from developing on the palms.
Working set — The set performed after finishing the warm-up sets.
Workout — A single training session.
Wrist straps — Strips of material (often canvas, nylon, or leather) that are about 2 inches (5 centimeters) wide and 12 inches (30.5 centimeters) long with a looped end. They are wrapped around the wrist and the bar or handle that the lifter is holding onto to increase grip strength.
Wrist wraps — Bands of elastic material that are tightly wrapped around the wrists to support them during heavy lifting or while performing exercises that place a high amount of stress on the wrists.
