Anyone who’s consistently followed an exercise regime knows that in order to improve your level of fitness, you have to push yourself each workout. No pain no gain etc..

Once your body becomes accustomed to working at a certain level, it’s easy to get too comfortable, not advance to the next level and subsequently never reach your peak level of fitness.

The term “supercompensation” refers to your body’s natural reaction to being pushed to the limits. By pushing our body to do something challenging or that it finds difficult, the body will adapt itself to a level beyond what it was pre-workout, that is, an improved level of fitness. Next time you go to workout, your body will feel better prepared and more capable of working at a higher intensity. Pretty neat huh?!

There is however a fine line between supercompensation and overtraining. The difference between the two seems to lie predominantly in the recovery stage following a workout. Supercompensation relies on adequate rest and the right nutrition. For example, you might run in the park for 30 minutes longer than you normally would on day one, then rest for a day or two before getting back to the park on day three or four. The rest you’ve experienced will help facilitate your next workout.

If however you push your body to the point that it cannot adequately recover, or you do not take time off between workouts, you may experience overtraining. In addition, training too often and not getting enough adequate nutrition are other precursors to overtraining.

So what happens to my body if I don’t go back to exercising?

If there are no further workouts, the body’s fitness level will slowly decline back towards the initial fitness level.

How do I know how much training is right for me?

The longer you train the more accustomed you will be to recognizing when you are capable of more, or conversely, may be over doing things. If you feel particularly weak or fatigued during a workout, consider taking a day off. Having said that, it’s important not to use overtraining as an excuse to avoid going back to the gym!