What is a repetition?

Answer:
Repetition is my wife telling me to lift the toilet

seat. A repetition, or rep, in exercise is when you perform a particular movement one time.

For instance, let's say you are doing barbell curls. When you assume the starting position, with the bar hanging down at arms length, then curl the bar up to the fully contracted position, and then lower it, that is one repetition. We count several repetitions as a set.

Some people may count their repetition when they reach the top. Others may count it when they reach the bottom, as I described above. It is really a matter of preference.

As with nearly everything in weight training and exercise, there are variations. There are half reps, where you only come up half way, or down half way. There are also forced reps, where a training partner will spot, or assist you with the repetition. For the most part, we want are repetitions to be performed deliberately and under control.