Creatine demotivating whilst cutting...
charlieaulert
Posts: 127 Member
I’m currently cutting and have been doing so for around 2 months now, with 4 weeks left for my cut.
I have been taking creatine for about a 6 weeks cycle now. I know the scales aren’t the best option of measuring body fat loss, but I feel like the water weight is preventing me from reaching my weight loss targets. Currently 68kg at 5ft8, (around 10-11% bf).
My diet is clean and I’m eating at a calorie deficit. (Maintenance =2200kcals, I’m eating 1700kcals). I’m weight training 4, sometimes 5 times per week with 3-4 cardio sessions in addition to this.
Should I drop my Kcals to 1500 and see what happens? I’m around 10/11% BF and just want to reveal my abs slightly more (Not overly concerned about losing muscle over the 4 weeks).
I have been taking creatine for about a 6 weeks cycle now. I know the scales aren’t the best option of measuring body fat loss, but I feel like the water weight is preventing me from reaching my weight loss targets. Currently 68kg at 5ft8, (around 10-11% bf).
My diet is clean and I’m eating at a calorie deficit. (Maintenance =2200kcals, I’m eating 1700kcals). I’m weight training 4, sometimes 5 times per week with 3-4 cardio sessions in addition to this.
Should I drop my Kcals to 1500 and see what happens? I’m around 10/11% BF and just want to reveal my abs slightly more (Not overly concerned about losing muscle over the 4 weeks).
0
Replies
-
my questions are....
how do you know you are 10-11% body fat? How are you measuring body fat lost?
How lean do you want to actually get?
Why are you trying to "cycle" creatine?
No, you absolutely shouldn't cut down to 1,500 calories as a man. That's an excellent way to kill gains, lower testosterone, and more.
It would actually be more helpful if we have an image... but in any case, answer the above so i can give more clear advice.5 -
1- You aren't anywhere near 10-11% if you can't see your abs.
2- Water weight isn't bodyfat
3- Clean eating isn't a thing
4- 1500 calories is low
5- You should be concerned about muscle loss
9 -
rainbowbow wrote: »my questions are....
how do you know you are 10-11% body fat? How are you measuring body fat lost?
How lean do you want to actually get?
Why are you trying to "cycle" creatine?
No, you absolutely shouldn't cut down to 1,500 calories as a man. That's an excellent way to kill gains, lower testosterone, and more.
It would actually be more helpful if we have an image... but in any case, answer the above so i can give more clear advice.
Thanks for the reply, I've attached a picture which I took yesterday.
Measured BF with calipers around a month ago suggesting 11%, I've definitely lost BF since then.
I'm not measuring body fat lost at all.
I wanted to get as lean as I can in 4 weeks.
0 -
trigden1991 wrote: »1- You aren't anywhere near 10-11% if you can't see your abs.
2- Water weight isn't bodyfat
3- Clean eating isn't a thing
4- 1500 calories is low
5- You should be concerned about muscle loss
1) I never said I couldn't see my abs.
2) True.
3) Okay, well I'm not high in sugar etc...
4) 1500 is low, that's why I'm asking if it's okay for my goal.
5) I want to lose weight in 4 weeks, I'm not exactly going to lose loads of muscle. I'm also taking BCAA's to aid.0 -
If you know it's water and not fat, why would you cut your calories?0
-
TavistockToad wrote: »If you know it's water and not fat, why would you cut your calories?
I'm 90% sure it's water weight! Cutting carbs would ensure weight loss, I assume.
cheers.0 -
Concentrate on aesthetics and not a number on a scale.
Drop the 4 week time frame.
Yule log gains will put pay to it all anyway.1 -
I think maybe just need a little fine tuning with your deit bro seems to becoming along good and yes if your not worried about the muscle loss drop the creatine pick up some caffeine and ephedrine.
Thanks mate.Concentrate on aesthetics and not a number on a scale.
Drop the 4 week time frame.
Yule log gains will put pay to it all anyway.
I have a holiday in 4 weeks, so am looking to be slightly more toned by then. After that, it's back to building muscle!
Cheers.0 -
Funny how we see ourselves.
OP: You already look great to me. More than enough ab dfn to suit most men.
FWIW, if you're already at 10% BF, dropping lower could endanger your health. Competitive body builders drop below that level but only for a meet and then let it go back to "normal" after that.
If you think the creatine is causing water retention and impairing your wt loss, stop taking it 4 a couple of weeks and see what happens.
That might be all you need to do to lose wt and "improve" your perception of your ab dfn.
Good luck!1 -
How is you water/fluid intake? Are you drinking enough?0
-
-
CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »
That stuff is banned in Australia!1 -
Christine_72 wrote: »CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »
That stuff is banned in Australia!
you can only get meds with it in it behind the counter. you have to show your license and sign a paper and you are only allowed so much due to people using it to make meth
0 -
Cause it's works lol its available in Canada also not sure where he is from.1
-
A lot of drugs work. Some quite well.
Many with side effects.
Some are prescribed by doctors. Some are prescribed by drug dealers. Some are prescribed by bros.
Why don't you send the OP some contact information so that he has it handy in case he ever wants to sue?
"With large doses of ephedrine sulfate most patients will experience nervousness, insomnia, vertigo, headache, tachycardia, palpitation and sweating. Some patients have nausea, vomiting and anorexia. Vesical sphincter spasm may occur and result in difficult and painful urination. Urinary retention may develop in males with prostatism.
Precordial pain and cardiac arrhythmias may occur
Prolonged abuse can lead to symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia. When this occurs, patients exhibit such physical signs as tachycardia, poor nutrition and hygiene, fever, cold sweat and dilated pupils"
Woot Woot: can I experience all that too?5 -
@CharlieBeansmomTracey I copied this from an Aussie website. I don't think it's even available in meds here??
"Quick Ephedra Summary Points
Ephedra is a stimulant herb that is also a BANNED substance in Australia and many other countries.
While the ingredient was effective for fat loss, it was also believed to be an ingredient used to make Ecstasy.
Your best alternatives to ephedra for fat burning would be natural fat burners and fat metabolisers.
Ephedra Availability
Due to legislative change Ephedra is now unavailable in Australia. Fortunately advancements in research and development in the sports supplement industry has resulted in the release of new supplements that not only replace the now banned Ephera, but provide fat loss supplements of equal or superior performance.
What is Ephedra?
Ephedra is a stimulating herb growing in arid regions of the world, and is also known as Ma Huang and Herbal Ecstasy. The Chinese have been using it for more than 5,000 years. The main active chemical component of ephedra is ephedrine, which increases the heart rate and body temperature. Due to Ephedra’s banning, supplement companies no longer manufacture Ephedra products containing Ephedra Alkaloids.
Why Was Ephedra Banned?
Ephedra was launched by the supplement industry as a key ingredient in the fat loss supplements. It is believed the use of ephedra as an ingredient in recreational drugs such as Ecstasy & the death of an American baseball athlete, who used Ephedra to enhance performance, brought about the ingredients ban.
Ephedra Risks
Thermogenic supplements are not for everyone. Whilst they can suppress appetite, these supplements can bring aboutmoodiness, headaches, anxiety, nervousness, sleeplessness, and nausea, to name a few symptoms."0 -
@PAV8888 Yup just like any other drug if you abuse it you will get side effects #genius
@D4LB Abusing a drug is taking it when you don't need it
Let's do a cost-benefit analysis:
The OP is already at a healthy weight and with a healthy physique regardless of whether his brain or your brain are capable of perceiving that.
Therefore he would be taking drugs in an attempt to improve something that is already good enough (his looks) while increasing the risk of making something else worse (his general health).
Which makes taking drugs to achieve that #stupid.
(note that I am not adding the phrase "in my opinion")8 -
So you have never had a beer or drink in your life? #drug. Because you don't ever need those either! but I'm sure you have... Should I go goggle the risks of drinking alcohol and the effects on the body for you lol. I'm not going to go into it any further we all know the risks and what we are putting in are body.0
-
Seems to me that rather than looking at EC or other drugs, the OP should be looking at doing a PSMF such as Lyle McDonald's UD 2.0. It's very specific to his wants/needs, has strict design/protocols for optimization and is intended for rapid fat loss in already lean individuals over a short term while preserving maximal LBM.5
-
-
Eating McDonald's also has health risks but we have all ate it.....we know the risks I didn't figure he would go start eating it like candy and do harm to himself. Taken responsibly it will work for what he was asking... Common people holy cow.0
-
Seems to me that rather than looking at EC or other drugs, the OP should be looking at doing a PSMF such as Lyle McDonald's UD 2.0. It's very specific to his wants/needs, has strict design/protocols for optimization and is intended for rapid fat loss in already lean individuals over a short term while preserving maximal LBM.
^This looks like an awesome plan!
OP, you look fantastic.1 -
As an aside, I doubt that creatine is your problem. Usually the water weight associated with creatine is intramuscular rather than subcutaneous.2
-
Christine_72 wrote: »@CharlieBeansmomTracey I copied this from an Aussie website. I don't think it's even available in meds here??
"Quick Ephedra Summary Points
Ephedra is a stimulant herb that is also a BANNED substance in Australia and many other countries.
While the ingredient was effective for fat loss, it was also believed to be an ingredient used to make Ecstasy.
Your best alternatives to ephedra for fat burning would be natural fat burners and fat metabolisers.
Ephedra Availability
Due to legislative change Ephedra is now unavailable in Australia. Fortunately advancements in research and development in the sports supplement industry has resulted in the release of new supplements that not only replace the now banned Ephera, but provide fat loss supplements of equal or superior performance.
What is Ephedra?
Ephedra is a stimulating herb growing in arid regions of the world, and is also known as Ma Huang and Herbal Ecstasy. The Chinese have been using it for more than 5,000 years. The main active chemical component of ephedra is ephedrine, which increases the heart rate and body temperature. Due to Ephedra’s banning, supplement companies no longer manufacture Ephedra products containing Ephedra Alkaloids.
Why Was Ephedra Banned?
Ephedra was launched by the supplement industry as a key ingredient in the fat loss supplements. It is believed the use of ephedra as an ingredient in recreational drugs such as Ecstasy & the death of an American baseball athlete, who used Ephedra to enhance performance, brought about the ingredients ban.
Ephedra Risks
Thermogenic supplements are not for everyone. Whilst they can suppress appetite, these supplements can bring aboutmoodiness, headaches, anxiety, nervousness, sleeplessness, and nausea, to name a few symptoms."
only thing I can find for the US is its banned in dietary and other supplements,I know a lot of meds stopped putting ephedrine in it and started using pseudoephedrine and those are considered a semi controlled drug so those are behind the counter.2 -
-
I apologize if you've already mentioned this in the thread.
In the past four weeks, what has your bodyweight done?
Are you taking an average of daily body weights and establishing a weekly or rolling average weight?
I'm not clear on what your body weight is doing exactly at the calorie intake you're currently at.
and just out of curiosity what dose are you taking of creatine and did you do a loading phase?2 -
In response to all the Ephedrine fear mongering: it is perfectly safe and one of the only effective legal "supplements" when paired with caffeine.1
-
trigden1991 wrote: »In response to all the Ephedrine fear mongering: it is perfectly safe and one of the only effective legal "supplements" when paired with caffeine.
if its so safe why was it banned in some country's? it raises you blood pressure,body temp among other issues(including death in some) it can cause(yeah yeah side effects come with any supplements,meds,etc). its a stimulant why would you pair it with coffee which is another stimulant? are you taking it? to me if someone needs to take these things then they really arent accomplishing anything and would hate to see your health years from now.2 -
CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »trigden1991 wrote: »In response to all the Ephedrine fear mongering: it is perfectly safe and one of the only effective legal "supplements" when paired with caffeine.
if its so safe why was it banned in some country's? it raises you blood pressure,body temp among other issues(including death in some) it can cause(yeah yeah side effects come with any supplements,meds,etc). its a stimulant why would you pair it with coffee which is another stimulant? are you taking it? to me if someone needs to take these things then they really arent accomplishing anything and would hate to see your health years from now.
Because there are people that think "hey if 1 tablet works, why not take 8 to lose faster".
I would suggest reading about the EC stack as it is highly researched and proven to work. Myself and many others on here have taken it with great success. It is only illegal in pure form and can ephedrine can be bought over the counter in most countries in the form of decongestants.0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.4K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 427 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions