Will Creatine help prevent muslce loss in absence of training?

[Douglas]

Say you're going on a 1 to 2 week vacation, and you pretty much won't be able to lift any weights or do any kind of physical training, and you're worried about getting weaker due to goin' so long without working out, will taking creatine help prevent the muscles from detiorating until you can get back in the gym? Thanks.

I've noticed if you do a lot of walking around, you don't seem to get as weak as you would if you were just sitting around...

[donnydarkoIRL]

I don't really know, but I assume it would cause bloating.

[Dizaster]

As they say, use it or lose it.. If you have a big enough absence from training, your muscles will eventually start to shrink.
I'm not sure creatine will help keep your muscles. If you can drink enough water, it will keep them hydrated, thereby keeping and optimum environment for them to stay healthy.
L-Glutamine is something you should look into.. It's a little more expensive than creatine, but really helps prevent muscle loss. It is pretty much pumped into burns victims or trauma victims in hospitals where their immune systems are hard at work repairing their body. It helps slow the body eating itself and helps cells rebuild. This will probably be better for your task that creatine.

The absolute main thing though is to make sure your body had enough protein, calories & glucose. Without training, your muscles will eventually decline no matter what you do,,, but without a sufficient intake of nutrients, your body may resort to taking what it needs (energy) from your muscles, and this will surely lead them to decline faster.


If you have a good training routine that you have been sticking to regularly (which it sounds like you have), your body is going to LOVE the 2 weeks off. It will help everything repair to it's maximum. Your metabolism will alter slightly, your muscles will relax and realise it's "Off time", and basically your whole body will relax a little.
This is GREAT news, as when you get back into training, it will be a "shock" to your system, and you could get some great gains!! Most likely if you look at it over a 4 month period, you'll probably make more progress having these 2 weeks off during the 4 months, than if you just worked out straight for the 4 months without a break.

I always felt bad about having time off training, but your body needs time off every now and then, and it only does good for you in the long run..

So RELAX, enjoy your vacation, don't stress about your training to much, and just use the time to get yourself pumped and looking forward to getting back in the gym for some super intense sessions!

[ono]

No.

Creatine does give you increased muscle fullness and hardening.....but this is due to water retention.

While you're away try keep your protein intake as high as it normally is. This will be the key to retaining muscle.

Also don't worry so much about the 2 weeks off. 2 weeks isn't really long enough to see any significant change in muscle mass....unless you get severley sick.

Muscle memory will also play it's part in getting you back to where you were, if any muscle wasting occurs.

Relax and enjoy your holiday. Everything will be fine.

[Douglas]

Thanks for all your info and uplifting replies.

[Dizaster]

I thought about this today for some reason, and through of something else to add.

It's probably actually a BAD idea to take creatine while on holidays... If you don't drink a lot of water, it badly dehydrates your body, which is just bad all round.

Unless you want to carry around water everywhere you go and not be able to relax, it's probably better to just have a break from it all for your vacation.

Where are you going anyway?

[ono]

I thought about this today for some reason, and through of something else to add.

It's probably actually a BAD idea to take creatine while on holidays... If you don't drink a lot of water, it badly dehydrates your body, which is just bad all round.

Unless you want to carry around water everywhere you go and not be able to relax, it's probably better to just have a break from it all for your vacation.

Where are you going anyway?

Yeh spot on about the dehydration. You'll feel like shite if you don't get enough fluids. It's also a waste of money to take it when you're not in training.

It's only 2 weeks anyway.

[USA LOVES THE KLITSCHKOS]

Say you're going on a 1 to 2 week vacation, and you pretty much won't be able to lift any weights or do any kind of physical training, and you're worried about getting weaker due to goin' so long without working out, will taking creatine help prevent the muscles from detiorating until you can get back in the gym? Thanks.

I've noticed if you do a lot of walking around, you don't seem to get as weak as you would if you were just sitting around...

A week or two away from the weights will give your body time to rest and you will feel stronger when you start back. It takes a long time to lose muscles, it takes longer to lose muscle than it does to build them, by far.You got me curious so I went and measured my bicep(like I once did every other day when I use to work out) 15 7/8" was 16 1/2" of course the 16 1/2 measurement was after a full set of preacher curls when your muscles are nice and pumped, the last time I worked out was in 93. I worked out off and on from 78 to 93.