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MFP Acronyms and Terms for New Members

Updated

This article is a detailed glossary of acronyms and terms related to health and fitness. It also explains language commonly used on MyFitnessPal (MFP) forums and in online communities.

 

This list primarily focuses on health and fitness, as well as specific acronyms and terms related to MyFitnessPal. Additionally, it includes some general internet acronyms. For a more comprehensive collection of common internet acronyms, such as SMH, WTG, TTYL, and others, you can visit various acronym sites.

  • 30DS: 30 Day Shred: A cardiovascular and plyometric exercise program. Developed by Jillian Michaels.
  • %BF: Percent Body Fat
  • BMI: Body Mass Index: The ratio between a person's height and weight. Used as a screening indicator of a person's overall body mass composition.
  • BMR: Base or Basal Metabolic Rate. For TDEE and BMR, please read this awesome post here.
  • Bookmark: A way to save a discussion you want to follow is to use the bookmark icon on a discussion, which will be saved in "My Bookmarks."
  • BP: Bench Press
  • Bump: A message of BUMP is placed in a thread for a user to come back and read later. Making a post of "Bump" causes it to appear in the user's replies. Another way to save a discussion you want to follow is to use the bookmark icon on a discussion, which will be saved in "My Bookmarks."
  • BW: Can stand for either:
    • Beginning weight for those tracking weight loss or weight gain regimens or
    • Bodyweight, as in bodyweight exercises, such as pushups, plyometrics.
  • C25K: Couch to 5K: A running program designed for beginners and non-runners to get them from the couch to running a 5K. Some are 8 weeks, others are slightly longer.
  • CICO: Calories in / Calories out
  • DL: Deadlift
  • DOMS: Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness: From Wikipedia: Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), also called muscle fever, is the pain and stiffness felt in muscles several hours to days after unaccustomed or strenuous exercise. The soreness is felt most strongly 24 to 72 hours after the exercise.
  • DYEC: Do you even cardio?
  • DYEL: Do you even lift?
  • EBF: Exclusively Breast Fed/Feeding. Meaning an infant is fed only breast milk and no other liquids or solids (including water, juice, or formula), except for prescribed medications, vitamins, or mineral supplements, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This practice is recommended by the WHO and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for the first six months of an infant's life.
  • ED: Eating Disorder: There are several kinds. View our Eating Disorders resource page for more information.
  • EEE: Exercise Energy Expenditure. The calories are burned through physical activity and exercise.
  • EMTLW/EMTWL: Eat More to Lose Weight/Eat More to Weigh Less
  • ESE: Eat Stop Eat. A type of Intermittent Fasting diet plan.
  • ETA: Edited to Add: Used to show an edit to a previous post, so you know what was added or modified since it was originally posted.
  • Exercise Abbreviations:
    • BW: Body Weight (as in bodyweight exercises, like push-ups and other forms of isometric exercise)
    • DL: Deadlift
    • OHP: Overhead Press
    • BP: Bench Press
    • LP: Leg Press
    • WOD: Workout of the Day
  • FIFY: Fixed It For You
  • Fitbit: A small electronic device attached to clothing to monitor steps taken and movement throughout the day. Fitbit
  • FF: Formula-fed/feeding. It refers to the practice of feeding a baby a manufactured milk-based formula instead of breast milk. Formula feeding is a safe and viable option for providing infants with the nutrients they need for growth and development, and is a common choice for many parents. 
  • FFM: Fat-free mass - body weight without fat, same as LBM
  • FWIW: For What It's Worth
  • GW: Goal Weight- Related to the following:
  • CW: Current Weight
  • SW: Starting Weight
  • UGW: Ultimate goal weight: The final weight goal a person wishes to attain
  • HIIT: High Intensity Interval Training- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-intensity_interval_training
  • HR: Heart Rate
  • HRM: Heart Rate Monitor
  • ICYMI: In Case You Missed It
  • IF: Intermittent Fasting is a pattern of eating that alternates between periods of fasting (usually meaning consumption of water only) and non-fasting.
  • IF Patterns are known as "shorties", and are stated as numerical values, separated by a colon:
    • 16:8 fast for 16 hours and eat within an 8-hour window every day (16 + 8 = 24 hours). So you might decide to have all your calories between 10 am and 6 pm or noon and 8 pm.
    • 5:2 is eat at TDEE for 5 days and fast for 2. Your fast days should not be consecutive.
    • 4:3 is like 5:2, but you eat TDEE for 4 days and fast for 3. Your fast days should not be consecutive.
  • IIFYM: If It Fits Your Macros - See Macronutrients.
  • IMHO: In My Humble Opinion 
  • IPOARM: In Place of a Road Map: From the MFP page, "In Place of a Road Map is simply a way to get your metabolism functioning at max capacity while eating as much as you can and getting the results that you need. This is also a fat-loss program. Never confuse Fat Loss with Weight Loss."
  • Isometric Exercise: The use of one's own body to exercise without the use of weights or specialized equipment. The body = gravity = your gym. Isometric exercise involves contracting muscles without changing their length, essentially holding a static position. This can improve muscle endurance and support dynamic exercises. Examples include planks, wall sits, and holding a weight in a static position.
  • *Kitten*: If you see *kitten* in a forum post, it indicates the poster has included profanity in their post that has been auto-detected and replaced with an adorable, non-offensive word, aka *kitten*.
  • LBM: Lean body mass - same as FFM
  • LP: Leg Press
  • Macronutrients/Macros: The large categories of nutritional ratios of Carbohydrates, Protein, and Fat.
  • MFP: MyFitnessPal
  • NEAT: Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis. NEAT refers to the energy expended for all physical activities that are not structured exercise, including daily tasks like walking, fidgeting, and even standing. It encompasses the calories burned through movement outside of deliberate workouts. NEAT can vary significantly between individuals, with some studies showing a difference of up to 2,000 calories per day between people of similar size. To tie in NEAT to other concepts here, your TDEE is the sum of your BMR and your NEAT.
  • Net Calories: Net calories refer to the difference between the total calories consumed and the calories burned through physical activity and other metabolic processes. Net Calories = Calories Consumed - Calories Burned. For example, if you consume 2,000 calories and burn 500 calories through exercise, your net calories would be 1,500. Importance: Net calories are important for understanding and managing weight. When you consume more calories than you burn, you gain weight. Conversely, when you consume fewer calories than you burn, you lose weight. 
  • Noob/Newb/Newbie: A new member to the site or forums.
  • NP: No Problem
  • NROL4W: New Rules of Lifting for Women - information here
  • NSFW: Not Safe For Work
  • NSV: Non-Scale Victory, a dieting and weight loss term for noticing your weight loss success off the scale. This includes smaller clothing sizes, measurements, compliments, etc.
  • Onederland/Onderland: Reaching a weight under 200 pounds.
  • OP: Original Post or Original Poster of a forum topic. Example: "The OP was clearly talking about carbs instead of fat."
  • P90X: A high-intensity, 90-day cardiovascular/plyometric fitness routine. Created by Tony Horton.
  • Paleo: The paleo diet, also known as the Paleolithic or caveman diet, is a modern eating plan based on the presumed diet of early humans during the Paleolithic era. It emphasizes whole, unprocessed foods and eliminates grains, legumes, dairy, and processed foods, focusing on lean meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. 
  • PCOS: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome - Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal condition that affects people with ovaries and females of reproductive age worldwide. It involves an imbalance in sex hormones, which can lead to changes in the menstrual cycle, the development of cysts on the ovaries, challenges with fertility, and other health effects. Weight gain and obesity are typical among those with PCOS. Managing weight through healthy lifestyle changes can help improve hormone levels and reduce the risk of related health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Read more here.
  • Primal: The Primal diet, also known as the Primal Blueprint, is a low-carbohydrate, high-protein eating plan based on the presumed diet of early humans. It emphasizes whole, unprocessed foods and aims to improve health by reducing inflammation, improving metabolic markers, and potentially inducing ketosis. This diet is similar to the Paleo diet, but with some key differences, particularly regarding its flexibility and focus on lifestyle beyond just diet. 
  • Pronouns: (any combination is possible) More info about pronouns here
    • she/her/hers
    • he/him/his
    • they/them/theirs/themself
    • ze or zie/hir/hirs/hirself
    • xe/xem/xyrs/xemself
    • ver/vir/vis/virself
    • per/per/pers/perself
    • e or ey/em/eirs/eirself
    • fae/faer/faers/faerself
    • ae/aer/aers/aerself
    • elle/elles/se
  • QFT: Quoted for Truth- It's an internet slang term used to indicate agreement with a previous statement, often posted by someone else on a forum or online discussion. The user will typically repeat the original statement and then add "QFT" to show their agreement. 
  • Relationship Acronyms:
    • BF: Biological Father/Boyfriend
    • BIL: Brother-in-law
    • BM: Biological Mother
    • DD: Darling Daughter
    • DH: Darling/Dear Husband
    • DS: Darling Son
    • DTR: Define the Relationship
    • DW: Darling/Dear Wife
    • FIL: Father-in-Law
    • GF: Girlfriend
    • GP: Grand Parent(s)
    • H: Husband
    • LDR: Long-distance Relationship
    • LTR: Long-term Relationship
    • MIL: Mother-in-Law
    • NSA: No Strings Attached
    • OH: Other Half
    • P: Partner
    • REL: Relationship
    • S: Spouse
    • SD: Stepdaughter
    • SF: Stepfather
    • SIL: Sister-in-Law
    • SM: Step Mother
    • SO: Significant Other
    • SS: Step Son
    • STBX: Soon To Be Ex
    • W: Wife
       
  • RMR: Resting Metabolic Rate, sometimes incorrectly used interchangeably with BMR
  • RNY: Roux-en-Y (RNY) gastric bypass surgery is the most common weight loss operation for morbid obesity in the USA. Lap-band has gained popularity in recent years and has become the second most common weight loss operation.
  • SL5x5 (or plain SL): StrongLifts 5x5 - a strength training program stressing compound lifts - squat, deadlift, bench press, barbell row, and overhead press.
  • T25: The T25 Workout (also known as FOCUS T25) is a high-intensity, full-body workout program created by fitness trainer Shaun T. In essence, T25 aims to provide the benefits of longer workouts in a shorter timeframe by maximizing intensity and minimizing downtime. 
  • TDEE: Total Daily Energy Expenditure. Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE) represents the total number of calories your body burns in a day. It's essentially the sum of all the energy your body uses for various activities, including basic bodily functions, digestion, and exercise. Understanding your TDEE is crucial for managing your weight, as it helps you determine how many calories you need to consume to maintain, lose, or gain weight. TDEE includes BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate), TEF(Thermic Effect of Food), and EEE (Exercise Energy Expenditure).
  • TEF: The energy your body uses to digest and process food.
  • THX: Thanks
  • TIL: Today I Learned
  • TLDR/TL;DR: Too Long Didn't Read.
  • TMI: Too Much Information. This is the more common usage and refers to sharing excessively personal or graphic details that might make others uncomfortable. Another meaning of TMI can refer to Tempo, Metabolic, or Isometric (Workout Method). This is a specific workout method focusing on engaging muscles in three distinct ways within a single exercise.
  • TOM: For women and anyone who menstruates - "Time Of the Month"- The monthly menstrual cycle or when someone is on their period. Important in terms of fitness because of the uncontrolled body changes and water retention that can affect weight loss and fitness goals and plans. Other euphemisms or lighter terms for this can be "shark week", "red tide", "moon time", "body reset", "Aunt Flo", "code red", "that time", etc.
  • Vegetarian/Vegan/Pescatarian/Flexitarian: More information can be found about each eating style here. Below is a summary from the website linked.
    • Flexitarian or Semi-Vegetarian: You don't have to be vegetarian to love vegetarian food. The term "flexitarian" was coined to describe semi-vegetarians or those who eat a mostly vegetarian diet but occasionally eat meat.
    • Pescatarian: The word "pescatarian" (also pescetarian) is used to describe those who abstain from eating all animal flesh with the exception of fish. More and more people are adopting this kind of diet, usually for health reasons or as a stepping stone to a fully vegetarian diet.
    • Lacto-Ovo-Vegetarian: When most people think of vegetarians, they think of lacto-ovo-vegetarians. These are people who do not eat beef, pork, poultry, fish, shellfish, or any animal flesh, but do eat eggs and dairy products. The word "lacto" comes from the Latin for milk, and "ovo" means egg. Lacto-ovo vegetarians are the most common kind of vegetarian. You can be just one or the other. A lacto-vegetarian is used to describe a type of vegetarian who does not eat eggs but does eat dairy products. Ovo-vegetarian refers to people who do not eat meat or dairy products but do eat eggs.
    • Vegan:  Vegans do not eat meat products of any kind, including eggs, dairy products, or processed foods containing these or other animal-derived ingredients such as gelatin, which comes from animal collagen. Many vegans also refrain from eating foods that are made using animal products, even if there are no animal products in the finished food. For example, some sugars are made with bone char in the bleaching and filtering process. And, some wines have "fining agents"–like milk protein, gelatin, and egg whites–that are used in the processing of wine​ but are not actual ingredients. There is some debate as to whether certain foods, like honey, fit into a vegan diet.
  • VLCD: Very Low Calorie Diet - A very low-calorie diet (VLCD) is a dietary regimen that severely restricts calorie intake, typically to 800 calories or less per day. These diets are often used for rapid weight loss under medical supervision only, particularly for individuals with morbid obesity or those preparing for bariatric surgery. While effective for weight loss, VLCDs can pose risks and require careful monitoring by healthcare professionals.
  • Weight: 
    • GW: Goal Weight
    • CW: Current Weight
    • SW: Starting Weight
    • UGW: Ultimate goal weight - The final weight goal a person wishes to attain
  • WOD: Workout of the Day
  • WOE: Way Of Eating. It essentially refers to the specific dietary pattern or approach someone chooses to follow. For example, one person's WOE might be CICO, or the Mediterranean diet, while another's could be the keto diet, among other options.
  • WOO: Woo means ideas that sound scientific but really are not. They often promise amazing results, rely on personal stories instead of real evidence, and use science-like language without actual scientific proof.
  • WTG: Way To Go

  • YMMV: Your mileage may vary. Basically, it means that if you try what the poster recommended, it may not produce exactly the same results.

     

This list originates from one of our forum topics, which is updated here.

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