Use this section as a reference tool to maximize your vocabulary . We realize that some of you are more advanced bodybuilding enthusiasts have already grasped the meaning of these terms but for others, an explanation of what they mean will take your knowledge base to higher level.

F

Failure - That point in an exercise at which you have so fully fatigued your working muscles that they can no longer complete an additional repetition of a movement.

Fascia - A sheet or thin band of fibrous tissue that covers muscles and some organs of the body.

Fast-Twitch - Refers to muscle cells that fire quickly and are utilized in anaerobic activities like sprinting and powerlifting.

Fat - One of the macronutrients. Fat contains nine calories per gram; it has the most calories of MI the macronutrients. There are two types of fat-saturated "bad" fat and unsaturated "good" fat.

Fat free mass (FFM) - Another term for lean body mass. FFM refers to muscle, bones, organs, and connective tissue. The three compartments of the body are fat free mass, fat mass, and water.

Fiber - Dietary fiber generally refers to parts of fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and legumes that can't be digested by humans. Meats and dairy products do not contain fiber. Studies indicate that high-fiber diets can reduce the risks of heart disease and certain types of cancer. There are two basic types of fiber - insoluble and soluble. Soluble fiber in cereals, oatmeal, beans and other foods has been found to lower blood cholesterol. Insoluble fiber in cauliflower, cabbage and other vegetables and fruits helps move foods through the stomach and intestine, thereby decreasing the risk of cancers of the colon and rectum.

Flex - Contract a muscle.

Flexibility - The range of movement of a specific joint or a group of joints, influenced by the associated bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments.

Flexion - Movement which brings body or limbs into a bent position.

Flush - Increasing the blood supply to the muscle. A common flush is the "niacin flush", and temporary harmless reaction, in which the skin may become tingly and red.

Forced Reps - Forced reps are a frequently used method of extending a set past the point of failure to induce greater gains in muscle mass and quality. With forced reps, a training partner pulls upward on the bar just enough for you to grind out two or three reps past the failure thresh-old.

Form - A term to indicate the biomechanics used during the performance of any bodybuilding or weight-training movement.

Free-form Amino Acids - Free form amino's are those that have not chained together to form peptides or proteins; they are singular entities. Peptides can have as few as three or up to 80 amino acids chained together, while proteins can be thousands of chain links long. Free form amino acids are immediately absorbed through the epithelial cells of the duodenum, and as such do not have to be fully digested.

Free radicals - Highly reactive and unstable oxygen molecules, generated in the body, which can damage cells, leading to heart disease, cancer, and other ailments. Antioxidants help minimize free-radical damage.

Free Style Training - Training all body parts in one workout.

Free Weights - Barbells, dumbbells, and related equipment that is not connected to a machine.

Frequent Feeding - Eating often throughout the day to work with your body, not against it in order to keep your metabolism elevated and energy levels stable.

Fructose - A simple carbohydrate widely distributed in organism, plants, and animals. It can be found in fruit juices, honey, and sugarcane. Fructose in the body may be changed into glucose by the liver and intestines. As glucose it is used by the body in several ways, including as a source of energy. Fructose is the sweetest of sugars. It is used therapeutically as a fluid and nutrient replenisher.

Functional Foods - Foods that may provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition. Examples include tomatoes with lycopene, thought to help prevent the incidence of prostate and cervical cancers; fiber in wheat bran and sulfur compounds in garlic also believed to prevent cancer.