Boost Your Workout Vocab: English Phrases for Fitness

General Workout Phrases

• 
  To warm up
  
  : To do exercises to prepare your body for more strenuous activity.
  
  Before my run, I always
  
  warm up
  
  with some dynamic stretches.
  
• 
  To cool down
  
  : To do gentle exercises to help your body recover after a workout.
  
  Don’t forget to
  
  cool down
  
  with some static stretches after your weightlifting session.
  
• 
  To break a sweat
  
  : To perspire during exercise.
  
  I really
  
  broke a sweat
  
  during that spin class!
  
• 
  To work out
  
  : Toexercise. Can also refer to the exercise session itself.
  
  I
  
  work out
  
  at the gym three times a week. / I’m heading to my
  
  workout
  
  now.
  
• 
  To get in shape
  
  : To improve your physical condition.
  
  I’m trying to
  
  get in shape
  
  for the marathon.
  
• 
  To bulkup
  
  : To increase muscle mass.
  
  He’s been lifting weights to
  
  bulk up
  
  .
  
• 
  To tone up
  
  : To improve muscle definition and overall fitness.
  
  : To exert maximum effort.
  
  I
  
  gave it my all
  
  during that sprint.
  

• 
  To burn calories
  
  : To expend energy through exercise.
  
  Running is a great way to
  
  burn calories
  
  .
  
• 
  To feel the burn
  
  : To experience the sensation of muscle fatigue during a workout.
  
  Iexample”>
  
  I’m going to
  
  hit the treadmill
  
  for a 30-minute run.
  
  
• 
  To lift weights
  
  : To do exercises using weights.
  
  He
  
  lifts weights
  
  three times a week.
  
• 
  To do reps
  
  : To repeat an exercise a certain number of times. (repetition)
  
  I did three sets of 10
  
  reps
  
  of bicep curls.
  
• 
  To go for a run/swim/bike ride
  
  : To participate in running, swimming or cycling.
  
  I liketo
  
  go for a run
  
  in the morning.