First a little background - I've been working out on and off for about 2 years now. I havent worked out or eaten as clean as usual due to school for about a month and a half now. I am 5'9" and weigh about 155, with about 15-17% bodyfat or so.

In 3 weeks I am having knee surgery for my torn acl. I could work out now for the next couple of weeks or so, doing upper body work. After my surgery I'll be in rehab for 8 weeks, and I could probably start some light upper body stuff (i'm guessing) maybe 2-3 weeks after surgery.

None of this would be that big of a deal, except that after my 8 weeks of rehab I'm planning to go to california for a few weeks, and definetely want to drop bodyfat.

I'm thinking that if I get back on clean food, and lift until surgery that'd be good, and then stay clean throughout rehab. But...
-should I eat at or below maintanance (sp?)
-would starting on some sesathin or the HEAT stack be advised?

SesaThin and H.E.A.T. Stack could certainly be used, yes.

If you are an androgen user (I'm guessing you're not), post-surgery would be a good time to run a cycle for LBM preservation sans much lifting.

It's tricky: if you want to maintain muscle more than you want to drop fat, eat at slightly above maintenance during this time. If you want to lose fat more than preserve LBM, you can eat slightly below maintenance. If eating below maintenance, LeptiGen basic may help with muscle preservation.

Get in as many upper body workouts as you can.