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Anonymous
I have hurt my back, and been told to rest for 3 weeks. No cardio, no lifting, no sports. Maybe swimming after 1 week.

Should I cut my calorie intake to just under my BMR...now that I'm not doing any exercise? I was thinking of trying the Zone diet or something for these 3 weeks.

Is there any point in taking protein shakes still during these 3 weeks? I assume I should to maintain muscle?

Is there any point in taking creatine during these 3 weeks? I assume not, as I will not be working out?
>> Anonymous
i would say a protein shake every 3 days so you are still gaining, and don't take the creatine until the day before you can lift again (you will slim down when you are off the creatine)
>> Anonymous
Okay, anyone else?
>> Anonymous
diet: what are your current goals? it's hard to say without knowing what you're trying to do.

personally, i'm slowly cutting. i take protein shakes every day, regardless. expect to see some small weight gain just because your physical activity has decreased, but it should come off once you resume.

creatine: leaves your body pretty quickly once you stop taking it. it also comes back quickly once you start back up. if you're on cheap creatine powder, 3 weeks isn't long and it doesn't hurt to stay on. if you're on some expensive mix like cell mass, you're just wasting it while you're not working out.

i would stop creatine if you're having swelling or problems retaining water, since creatine works by keeping extra water in muscles.

if you stop creatine, don't worry about "loading" once you start again. loading is a myth designed to get you to use more product.
>> Anonymous
>>96153
Hi, thanks very much for the advice!

My main goal is to lose body fat. I'm not that fussed about losing muscle at the same time, since I only just started lifting I hardly have much to lose anyway :P

I was thinking of using the 3 weeks to do a major cut.
>> Anonymous
>>96843

Sorry, anon, but if you want to lose fat without ANY bit exercise, you'll pretty much have to limit your calorie intake to sub-1500 levels, which will pretty much make your switch into "starvation" mode...otherwise known as "fail".

Just eat good, clean and healthy, making sure you MAINTAIN your weight, instead of losing any. Lean meats, lotsa veggies, and a minimal amount of complex carbs (preferably in the morning as oatmeal or whole grain cereal)

Besides, 3 weeks go by pretty fast these days.

Come back here after your all well and we'll take good care of you ;) .
>> Anonymous
>>96872
Thanks, I am doing pretty much as you say. Most of my carbs come in the morning from oatmeal + a scoop of protein shake.

I then eat lean meats and veggies for the rest of the day. I sometimes take some flax oil in a glass of milk at the end of the day if my fat intake was low.