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Forum wiki [Abbreviations & Acronyms explained]

PostPosted: 16 Feb 2013, 17:26
by carorees
Here is a list of abbreviations, acronyms, translations of some UK terms and a bit of a glossary.

Please post new suggestions and I'll incorporate them into this list. Thanftks.


4:3 = eating normally on four days a week, fasting on three days
5:2 = eating normally on five days a week, fasting on two days
6:1 = eating normally on six days a week, fasting on one day
16:8 = fasting for 16 hours a day, eating during an 8 hour window
ADF = alternate day fasting
Aubergine = Eggplant
BG = blood glucose
BIL = brother-in-law
BMI = body mass index
BMR = basal metabolic rate (how many calories you burn in a day if you lay in bed not moving at all for 24 hours)
BP = blood pressure (two numbers: systolic and diastolic usually written as e.g. 120/80)
bpm = beats per minute (heart rate)
cal = calories (actually kilocalories, a measure of energy obtained from foods or burned by the body)
capiscum = bell pepper
CHO = carbohydrate. Carbohydrates are molecules composed of carbon (C), hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O)
Coriander = cilantro
Courgette = Zucchini
DBP = diastolic blood pressure (the lower of the two blood pressure readings)
DD = dear daughter
DS = dear son
Eggplant = Aubergine
EOD = every other day [diet]
FFM = fat-free mass (i.e. total mass minus fat mass)
FIL = father-in-law
GH = growth hormone (a hormone that is produced during fasting which stimulates the body to burn fat and prevents it from using protein for fuel)
GI = glycaemic index (indication of how big a blood sugar spike you get after eating a particular food. Uses glucose as the standard to compare against; glucose has a GI of 100)
GL = glycaemic load (another way of indicating the effect a food has on blood sugar)
Glycogen = stored glucose
HIIT or HIT = high intensity interval training (a form of exercising where you work at maximum pace for very short periods of time followed by a resting period and then repeat)
HTH = hope that helps!
IF = intermittent fasting
IGF1 = Insulin-like growth factor 1 (a hormone that stimulates cell growth and has been found to be high in some cancers)
IMHO = in my humble opinion
IMO = in my opinion
IYKWIM = if you know what I mean
IYSWIM = if you see what I mean
kcal = kilocalories (see calories)
kJ = kilojoules (= 0.24 kcal)
lb = pounds = 0.45 kg. 14lb = 1 stone
LOF = liquid only fasting
mfp = my fitness pal (a website that helps with calories counting, weight tracking etc)
MIL = mother-in-law
MM or Dr M = Dr Michael Mosley (our hero :-D)
OH = other half (the spouse/significant other etc etc)
Pepper (red/green/yellow) = capiscum/bell pepper
Pulses = legumes
REE = resting energy expenditure - same as RMR and similar to BMR (above)
RMR = resting metabolic rate - same as REE and similar to BMR (above)
SIL = sister-in-law
stone = a UK weight measurement = 14 pounds or 6.36 kg
tc:HDL ratio = total:HDL cholesterol. The best measurement of cardiovascular (aim for under 3.5)
TDEE = total daily energy expenditure (how many calories you burn in one day and so how much you would need to eat to maintain your weight)
WHR = waist: hip ratio (should be less than 1 for men; 0.8 for women)
WHtR = waist: height ratio (aim for less than 0.5)
WOE = way of eating
WOL = way of life
Zucchini = Courgette

Re: Acronyms and abbreviations

PostPosted: 18 Feb 2013, 10:17
by Sunshine24
Thank you for this - SO useful

Re: Acronyms and abbreviations

PostPosted: 18 Feb 2013, 21:13
by Kizzia
Thanks - this has helped me.

K xx

Re: Acronyms and abbreviations

PostPosted: 18 Feb 2013, 22:26
by sazza13
hi carorees,

So glad I found this, each time I am on the site and read the posts with the abbreviations, I was totally confused and felt so stupid, now it all makes easier reading and sense.
Thank you

Re: Acronyms and abbreviations

PostPosted: 25 Feb 2013, 18:33
by Jem
Many thanks for this! I have been wondering what TDEE means!

Re: Forum wiki

PostPosted: 15 Apr 2013, 14:13
by Grannyl
That is so useful , thanks. Didn't like to ask about some of them in case I appeared stupid!!

Re: Forum wiki

PostPosted: 18 Apr 2013, 05:45
by Aussie_Kaz
hi, why are some user names green? Does that mean something?

Re: Forum wiki

PostPosted: 18 Apr 2013, 06:07
by janeg
Kaz, green user names are the forum moderators. Moogie's is red. ;)

Re: Forum wiki

PostPosted: 19 Apr 2013, 21:37
by Aussie_Kaz
thank you :)

Re: Forum wiki

PostPosted: 21 Apr 2013, 15:19
by Isis
Thank you for this also the new blue & green short links on the top of the forum page to the 5:2 diet & FAQs. They are all verynuseful :smile:

Re: Forum wiki

PostPosted: 21 Apr 2013, 17:20
by dominic
Isis, did you also see the hint that appears on the top banner on the left just under main heading - always worth a look, it changes!

Re: Forum wiki

PostPosted: 24 Apr 2013, 00:56
by Juliana.Rivers
I started to use RCI Day for Restricted Calorie Intake day

I dont know if i read it or made it up. Fasting day implies no food at all or maybe just water which is not what i do.

is RCI ok to use as a term?

Re: Forum wiki

PostPosted: 24 Apr 2013, 08:02
by carorees
It's probably far more accurate than using fast day but whether we can sell the idea to all the members I don't know! I'll add it to the wiki anyway!

Re: Forum wiki

PostPosted: 24 Apr 2013, 18:22
by Navwoman
Yes,I like the suggestion RCI Day as that describes what I do on a fast day!

Re: Forum wiki

PostPosted: 26 Apr 2013, 05:53
by tompan
...and then of course there are the abbreviations with multiple meanings...fil means something quite other than father in law to me, haha.