Which term describes the adaptation after adequate recovery?

• A. Alarm stage
• B. Resistance stage
• C. Supercompensation
• D. Exhaustion

Answer: (C)

Supercompensation is the moment when, after a proper recovery period following a training stimulus, the body's capacity to perform increases above the original baseline. The sequence starts with an alarm response right after the stimulus, where performance may dip as energy stores are mobilized and tissues are stressed. During recovery, the body adapts to handle that level of stress better, returning toward baseline in the resistance phase. If recovery is adequate and time passes, the body overshoots the previous level, producing a higher capacity than before—this is supercompensation. Timing your next workout to align with the peak of this phase is how you leverage the adaptation for progress. If recovery is insufficient, you can move toward exhaustion, where performance declines due to insufficient rest.