creatine... good?

[Sephroth57]

Yeah so i been lifting for a couple weeks now, and i was wondering about creatine. I asked one of the trainers in my gym and he said its kind of useless for me right now cause i wouldnt be utilizing all the proteins it would be giving me. and that it helps more in the high end once youre like already ripped. but i know a couple people who using creatine bulked up pretty quickly, im not lookin to get huge but some quicker gains for all my effort would be nice. I know it goes away shortly after you stop using it, but main question is, will creatine help me right now?

[Shape D.]

If you don't use all the bulk building energy it gives you it gets converted to fat.

Think of the south park episode weight gain 2000

[DrewKaree]

Do a quick search for "creatine".  The thread recently started is prolly on page 2 or 3 here, but searching will find it for you.

I think 1hooked posted a link to a workout method/theory in there. 

I think you'll find that method interesting with your newfound vigor.

[the3eyedblindman]

I take whey protein, L Glutamine, and Creatine, all seem to be working. I may get the new NO2 thats out, supposed to be best supplement out there. Only take the stuff if your serious about lifting though..not just on occasion. Im so serious I buy all the magazines on body building and crap. All creatine does is send water to the muscle, so for it to work and make you look big, you need to really seriously lift, or else you just look bloated.

[Sephroth57]

yeah i been going 3 days a week and i been working out pretty hard. i think ill start out just taking the minimum dosage and see if i notice anything and how i like it. my friend gave me a jar of it for like 10$ so nothing much to lose

[maraxle]

Use steroids instead.  Jose Canseco says they can turn average athletes into great ones, and great athletes into otherworldly ones.

[danny_galaga]

cretins? yeah, get rid of em i say! huzzah for eugenics!!

oh, wait...

[Paul Olson]

When you first start, you need to load up on it.  Check the label, I don't remember how much, but it is a lot more than the normal serving.

Paul

[ChadTower]

Yeah so i been lifting for a couple weeks now, and i was wondering about creatine. I asked one of the trainers in my gym and he said its kind of useless for me right now cause i wouldnt be utilizing all the proteins it would be giving me. and that it helps more in the high end once youre like already ripped. but i know a couple people who using creatine bulked up pretty quickly, im not lookin to get huge but some quicker gains for all my effort would be nice. I know it goes away shortly after you stop using it, but main question is, will creatine help me right now?

You've posted on this before.   

Do some research in an appropriate place.  An arcade board is not the right place to research a supplement.

I've used it, and know countless others who have used it.  All say the same thing:  it's a waste of money.

That trainer is an idiot.  There is no protein in creatine.  Just so it's clear, I will say it again:  CREATINE DOES NOT CONTAIN PROTEIN.

[Dexter]

Creatine can bulk you up but you would want to be doing serious training, and more weight training then rep work. Be warned though, big doesn't necessarily mean healthy. I used to train with bodybuilders that competed at national level. They were BIG, but weren't fit by any stretch of the imagination. If you're going for bulk and ripping, try to get in some cardio exercise into your workout. Also, get a good stretching routine together or you can become musclebound and inflexible VERY quick.

[whammoed]

Its also pretty insoluble in water so a lot of people don't even absorb much when they take it.  Mixing it in warm liquid will do the trick but boy can it give you bad gas, so be warned.  I say, like most people who have tried it, don't waste your time with it.  I don't know anyone who found it worthwhile enough to keep taking it.

[ChadTower]

Excellent flexibility can be achieved with large muscle mass.  Most people just don't bother.  Look at any gymnast for examples.

Bodybuilders are a bad example of everything.  They are not fit by any means, just muscular.  A bodybuilder in competition form can barely walk stairs and has bodyfat at nearly fatal levels.  There is nothing healthy about competitive bodybuilding.

This is very simple.  Lift 3x week with a balanced routine.  He's a beginner so he's going to see fairly quick gains if he works hard.  That will then plateau after about 6 weeks to a more realistic pace.  Eat natural, whole foods (not processed food, not supplements).  Take a good multivitamin and drink a lot of water.  Make sure you stretch properly 3x/week as well to maintain and improve flexibility. 

[stevejt]

The problem with most suppliments not working, is not always the supplement.  Creatine is stored in the muscle WITH water.  So it "swells" your muscle tissue.  Some people see this as silly to put water in your muscles.  Your body uses water as you used your muscles and burn stored carbs.  So the extra water in your muscles can give a person greater strength, and/or endurance.  The effects will be different for everyone.  The main thing with EVERY supplement is consistancy.  That means consistancy with the supplement, and consistancy with working out.  There is nothing that you can take that will make you gain just muscle without working out.  I have used creating many times over the years.  But ONLY ONE time did I take it AND work out consistantly.  There was a noticeable difference. I could see it in muscle gain and strength.  But the significant gain is only in the begining.  Once your muscles have the extra stored water, they do NOT keep adding additional water.  They will only replenish to the maximum level they achieved with the creatine.  I hav been working out on and off all my life.  What I noticed to be the most important for building muscle is to eat enough protein.  You can work out forever, but your body MUST have the protein necessary to increase your muscles.  I know alot of people here think they know alot on the subject, including myself.  And we don't all agree all the time.  But I am talking with 20 years of experience working out, taking supplements, and reading weightlifting and fitness magazines.  Not bragging, but to show that I do have some actual knowledge, my incline press workout weight goes up to 225lbs on some of my sets.  I would guess my flat bench max is between 250 and 300.  What makes me proud of that, is that by looking at me you could never tell.  People also guess I weigh about 180, and I am actually 210.  I also thought I was a "hard gainer", until I gained some experience in working out.  Now I realized I am not a hard gainer, I am just lazy...

Steve

[ChadTower]

Not only are creatine gains only in the beginning, but the week you stop taking creatine all that extra stored fluid goes away.  It's not useful unless you want to take it forever and there are no long term studies on the effects of creatine supplementation.

[stevejt]

Their theory with creatine, is while you have the extra "energy" from the creatine, you can use it to workout harder, therefore using it to make an increase in actual muscle "tissue".  Which is different from muscle "mass".   I bet only Chad knew that.  You seem to know your stuff.  It's good to hear from people that have some knowledge on the subject.  I laugh sometimes when I hear people say, "I tried it one time, and nothing happened".  Or they quote something from an article.  BTW  hows that new years resolution going?  Think it was "back to 250"? 

Steve

[ChadTower]

HA.  It was actually "bench back to 300, deadlift back to 425, bodyweight back to 200".  By far the most difficult for me will be the bodyweight since that's a 23lb loss.  So far, some work done but I have a long way to go.

The problem with that theory of creatine is that it's crap.  The tiny bit of extra energy one gets is all psychological via expecting help.  I wouldn't be surprised if the product is really flour or something dependent on the placebo effect.  I sure as hell didn't get much other than a few lb of extra fluid weight when I used it a few years ago.  As soon as I stopped taking it, with the same diet and training levels, I lost the weight.  It was useless weight anyway.  It may as well have been menstrual.

There are no secrets to this.  Eat, lift, sleep.  Repeat.  That's it.   The better you do each of the three, the better your results.

[Paul Olson]

I think the placebo effect will explain the benefits of most (or all) supplements.  I have given up trying to discourage people from using them.  Most people just will not put in the work in the gym unless they think they have an extra advantage.  The only supplements I have used in the last few years are Myoplex shakes.  I only use these because when I am working out, I eat 6 meals a day, and I don't want to prepare that many meals.

Chad - I wish I had your resolution goals.  I want to get my bench back to 365, and my bodyweight back to 250.  They are pretty much reversed right now .

I was a truck driver for 9 years, on and off, until last November, and that is just not a good profession for my health.  The last year was the worst, my weight went from 300 to 390, and my blood pressure was at 190/120.  Needless to say, I finally had to quit and I am still looking for a new career that pays as much.  I'm 33, much to young to be risking my health like that. 

I am looking forward to lifting again, but am looseing some fat first.  Trying to get my blood pressure under control first.  I lift heavy, and I'm afraid something might pop with BP that high.

It's going pretty good, I'm down to about 350 now, and the blood pressure is down close to normal, about 145/90.

I'm really glad to hear that there are some lifters here.  Since we do have this Everything Else forum, I'm looking forward to talking with you guys about it.

The opinions here are correct, creatine is not worth the money based on it's usefullness.  It is, however, worth it if it gets your butt in the gym.

Paul

[stevejt]

Speaking of the placebo effect...  I don't know if it's still on the label, but someone I know was once using rogaine, and he read me the label.  Something to this effect:  During testing 80% of the users given rogaine had significant hair growth, compared to 20% of the placebo group having significant hair growth.

Can you imagine that?  Growing hair with water, just because someone told you it would work...  Some one tell me I am getting rich please...

Steve

[Paul Olson]

You're getting rich!!! (and you like to share your riches) 

Paul

[ChadTower]

Chad - I wish I had your resolution goals.