What does it mean when people say a muscle looks "flat"?

[shavs]

And how does this happen? I am thinking of dropping creatine for a little while and people told me i will look flat if I do this.

[alex a]

Flat is another word for Small or less size or less volume.

[Barn01]

Usually the term is tossed around while someone is on a low carb and or cal deficit diet. When you don't have much glycogen in the muscle it will appear flatter and smaller than say the day after you eat a big pasta meal.

[shavs]

Usually the term is tossed around while someone is on a low carb and or cal deficit diet. When you don't have much glycogen in the muscle it will appear flatter and smaller than say the day after you eat a big pasta meal.

So I guess if I stop creatine for a bit, because there's less water in my muscles I'll look flatter? Is there anyway to minimize this? Perhaps if I carb up the less amount of water will be balanced by the higher intake of carbs and I'll look relatively the same?

[mrusa85]

Looking flat is more about being carb depleted so the muscles don't hold water. they look thinner and smaller. When carbs are re-introduced the muscles swell back to nomral. One gram of carbs holds about 3 grams of water.

Also being flat normally is referred to when you're in a cutting phase and you're looking really lean. You can notice being flat much easier when you can see it. If you're covered with fat, you're probably not flat very often because you're eating plenty of carbs.

You can still be flat while on creatine if you're low on carbs.

[Barn01]

So I guess if I stop creatine for a bit, because there's less water in my muscles I'll look flatter? Is there anyway to minimize this? Perhaps if I carb up the less amount of water will be balanced by the higher intake of carbs and I'll look relatively the same?

Carb up? Are you on a low carb diet right now? If not then carbing up won't do anything for you. Why would you get off creatine. You don't need to cycle it!

[shavs]

Carb up? Are you on a low carb diet right now? If not then carbing up won't do anything for you. Why would you get off creatine. You don't need to cycle it!

Well I haven't made any gains in a while, and if I come off then go back on maybe i'll breakthrough a bit. Also I've been on it straight for years, it may be time to give my body a break. Also, although there is not research saying it hurts your kidneys, I think it might be best to give them a break too.

[TheHeirApparent]

Well I haven't made any gains in a while, and if I come off then go back on maybe i'll breakthrough a bit. Also I've been on it straight for years, it may be time to give my body a break. Also, although there is not research saying it hurts your kidneys, I think it might be best to give them a break too.

u wont make much gains on a low carb diet, if any.

[shavs]

u wont make much gains on a low carb diet, if any.

I never said I was going on a low carb diet. I said I've been on creatine for 3 years straight without cycling. I've plateaued gains wise, probably because my body has gotten so used to the creatine. If I come off it, then go back on, maybe I can break through. Also after three years my body could use a break from the creatine. I don't wanna risk anything.

[Barn01]

I never said I was going on a low carb diet. I said I've been on creatine for 3 years straight without cycling. I've plateaued gains wise, probably because my body has gotten so used to the creatine. If I come off it, then go back on, maybe I can break through. Also after three years my body could use a break from the creatine. I don't wanna risk anything.

Used to creatine?

[shavs]

Used to creatine?

The human body will adapt to most things, it has adapted to the dosage, therefore I am not making gains like I used to. People normally cycle things to keep their body guessing and so it doesn't get to used to certain amounts of things.

[chaosmatt]

The human body will adapt to most things, it has adapted to the dosage, therefore I am not making gains like I used to. People normally cycle things to keep their body guessing and so it doesn't get to used to certain amounts of things.

do you understand what creatine is and what it does?