What’s supercompensation?

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Supercompensation is a sports science theory where the body reacts to a sudden drop in glycogen levels with an increased desire for carbohydrates, restoring balance and increasing energy levels. Additional training during the supercompensation period is believed to be better for the body, resulting in an increase in baseline fitness level. Many athletes and coaches allow for equal recovery time to enter the supercompensation phase, which can improve overall well-being and increase the ability to compete.

Supercompensation is a sports science theory that focuses on elevated muscle glycogen increases. The theory states that when large amounts of glycogen are released in the muscles, the body will react with a sudden drop in glycogen levels which is then followed by an increased desire for carbohydrates. This chain of events allows the body to compensate for the sudden increase in muscle glycogen and restore balance.

The supercompensation process is said to follow immediately after the training period, when the body is fatigued from the stress of training. During this time, the natural processes in the body are activated to restore the level of energy and fitness that the individual possessed before the start of the training, and also prepare the body for another round of training by increasing the general level of energy. If the individual begins a second round of training while this increased energy level is present, the body gradually adjusts to this new level and becomes the baseline fitness level for the body in the future.

Additional training during the supercompensation period is believed to be much better for the body than if training is resumed while the body is still in the recovery phase. This is because during recovery, the body is simply trying to restore itself to the same energy level it knew before the last round of training, so the training will not result in a noticeable increase in the individual’s baseline fitness level. . By waiting until the recovery period is over and the supercompensation period has begun, the individual can establish a new level or standard that is higher than the previous level of fitness or energy. Therefore, the athlete gets the most benefit from training in a shorter period of time.

Some approaches to supercompensation see this phenomenon as a second part of the recovery period, while others see it as a whole new phase in the overall training process. In either case, supercompensation is believed to be the time when muscle strength increases, along with muscle mass. For this reason, many athletes and coaches make a point to allow an equal amount of recovery time, allowing the body to enter the supercompensation phase before a second round of exercise takes place. When combined with a sensible diet and reasonable exercise program, seeing this progression from starting fitness level to supercompensation level can greatly improve an athlete’s overall well-being and increase the individual’s ability to compete in a series. of sporting events. with a greater amount of resistance.




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