Creatine - Thoughts?

[Mega Man]

You'll look bigger when you're on it as it makes you retain water, but you'll shrink when you get off of it.

[Thisisdudewhoru]

Originally Posted by Mega Man

You'll look bigger when you're on it as it makes you retain water, but you'll shrink when you get off of it.

Definitely. But in my experience, progress in weight slows more when I'm off it. I seem to move up in weight a lot faster while taking it. I can agree with you that the 10lbs I've gained is mostly water weight.

[DougLikesBMW]

Don't waste your money, just eat some red meat.

[Thisisdudewhoru]

Originally Posted by DougLikesBMW

Don't waste your money, just eat some red meat.

Haha. That's all I eat and some chicken. I eat no veggies except potatoes and corn.

[BoostedBMW]

Wow, this is like beating a dead horse.

[Hawkeye]

if you are only 55% water I think there may be something wrong with you! That is an incredibly low number compared to what is usually thrown out!

[Couch]

How in the hell are you guys gaining 10lbs on creatine?

Are you talking after 6 months of constant use and are you using more than 5mg/day?

[saeedg48]

It's water... Just eat protien and take good protien shakes with milk.

[DougLikesBMW]

Originally Posted by Thisisdudewhoru

Haha. That's all I eat and some chicken. I eat no veggies except potatoes and corn.

That's not exactly something to brag about...you need veggies man.

Originally Posted by BoostedBMW

Wow, this is like beating a dead horse.

Sorry was too lazy to read the thread.

[jimmyeatsworld]

Originally Posted by Mega Man

You'll look bigger when you're on it as it makes you retain water, but you'll shrink when you get off of it.

A little misleading. You will lose the water weight but should result in net gains compared to before the cycle.

[jimmyeatsworld]

I'm not sure that people realize that creatine already exists in your body. Some people just wanna supplement more.

I have used creatine mono, a creatine effervescent, and the EAS product (can't recall the name). I personally like the mono. Felt I had the best workouts and gains from it.

In reagrds to loading I don't think it's necessary. I think a part of it may be a gimmick to use more of the product.

[Memphis1]

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cre...tient-creatine

[ARMAN]

This is the creatine that I use. It has no monohydrates so you dont retain water. I've been using it for a few weeks now and it definitely boosted my energy.

http://www.gnc.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3480831

[Spec 1]

Originally Posted by Thisisdudewhoru

I've been taking the Kre-alkylyn which is supposed to be better than the monohydrate as it's supposed to absorb almost doubly as well into your body. It gives me no cramps that reg creatine gives me. I've gained 10lbs. I also take jack3d preworkout. I drink almost a gallon of water a day and I drink 1 70g protein shake a day but I have a high protein diet and carb rich diet as is.

This is the stuff I use and love it. pH balanced so the creatine absorbs better and doesn't break down into creatinine before reaching the muscles. 3g/day in 2 1.5g tabelts (pre & post workout) is a much smaller dose than one would take with the monohydrate (which tastes gross and doesn't mix in water, FTL) yet is more effective.

I'm not always consistent with it and my gains don't seem to drop when I'm off for a week. I think the biggest help is the added energy to pump a few more reps/sets out of yourself, forcing muscle gain.

[Htown09]

Originally Posted by TiAg335i

I am what you would call a hardgainer. At the moment, I am sitting at ~143 lbs, 5'9.

My physique is pretty good for my size. But I want more.

When I started working out I was taking True Mass for about two months or so. I wasn't crazy about all the junk they put in it so I switched to just pure Optimum Whey.

The problem is while I HAVE gained mass (I used to weigh ~128lbs just a year ago), I am not seeing the gains I truly want, like big arms, for example.

I was thinking about Creatine but was worried about the health risks. I believe my brother took it in high school and had problems with his kidney.

What do you guys think? I would be taking it after every work out, every other day.

Creatine is like steroids, once you are off them you will lose your strength eventually. I took them during a bulk phase when I was building muscle. But it's not sustainable, meaning you won't take it for the rest of your life but it CAN help gain strength. If you want to increase weight, eat foods high in protein (try 1 gram for 1 lb. of bodymass you want to be at) good carb's and workout everyday. Add creatine to shake afterwards if necessary. Diet is THE biggest thing in gaining weight. Sounds like common sense eat more to grow more but countless men spend 1 hour in the gym or more everyday and are not eating enough fuel (good food) for the body to build muscle.

If you are serious about getting big arm's you need to get every 2 hours even if you are not hungry. 30 grams of protein and good carbs like some wild rice to go with it. Do that and you will start gaining weight. You then will outgrow that phase in your life but that is the science behind getting bigger and stronger.

[Htown09]

Originally Posted by Thisisdudewhoru

Haha. That's all I eat and some chicken. I eat no veggies except potatoes and corn.

Eat oats, eat sweet potatoes, eat brown rice and wild rice. Look at your diet closely if you want to gain weight. You NEED CARBS to grow, can't just eat chicken all day. corn honestly is not the best body building food. Google is your friend.

[Simple22]

Ive been switching it up between jack3d and super pump. Both have worked very well for me. I eat steaks, tuna, chicken, veggies, and small amounts of brown rice. I have all you can eat kbbq like once a week also lol. Getting good results so far.

[eleven11]

Looks like an older thread that got bumped, but I'll add my piece since it's fresh.

I'm mostly mesomorph. I like to lift more than your average person, but I'm not hardcore. Also, I'm a physician. I use the stuff everyday - I don't get annual BMPs (to eval my kidney function), but I drink liberal amounts of water. I'm not concerned about ill health effects (again, that's for me taking 5gm/day with alot of water and knowing my body).

Protein and total calories are absolutely your most important aspect of getting bigger. If you have to (and many in your size category do), you'll have to just go overboard on total intake and shave the extra fat you pick up at a different stage. 6 meals a day (never more than 2 hours between), casein protein before bed, whey and natural other times.

As for creatine - yes, I would say take it every day, following a workout, with a whey shake. Some argue before or during, I prefer post-workout and have seen one study in the past that gave post-workout a slight edge. Loading isn't needed. After 2+ weeks of being off of it, I absolutely notice a difference in my overall bulk and strength. For me, it doesn't feel like water weight at all, despite knowing that is a significant aspect to it. Hope this helps.

[Htown09]

Originally Posted by Simple22

Ive been switching it up between jack3d and super pump. Both have worked very well for me. I eat steaks, tuna, chicken, veggies, and small amounts of brown rice. I have all you can eat kbbq like once a week also lol. Getting good results so far.

http://www.shoporganic.com/product/2316/grains