Fitness
General Adaptation Syndrome
General adaptation syndrome is alarm, resistance, and exhaustion under stress—periodize training and deload before the exhaustion phase sticks.
General adaptation syndrome (GAS) is Selye’s alarm-resistance-exhaustion model—stress disrupts, the body adapts, then fails if load never backs off. Training periodization maps to alarm (new block), resistance (adaptation), and exhaustion (overreach).
Deloads reset the curve.
Common questions
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How does GAS relate to deload weeks?
Deloads prevent lingering in exhaustion by dropping volume before performance and HRV collapse. Plan them every four to eight weeks in hard blocks.
Related terms
Put General Adaptation Syndrome into practice
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