Creatine

[Banana]

Is there anyone out there that actively works out and uses creatine? I'm not sure exactly what it is and the individual at the local GNC gives a simplistic "it helps you work out" and "it gives you more energy."

Now, I'm sure there are other aspects to using creatine such as unwanted side effects. Has anyone actually used it?

I've been browsing around the internet and it points out that it affects the heart slightly but nothing specific.

[lethal]

I used it with no real side effects. While on it, I saw a 20-25% boost in my strength and when I stopped using it, my weight lifted decreased by 20-25%. It also helped me gain strength faster.

The only issue I had was during the loading period it made my shit pretty runny.

[Banana]

Interesting.

Do you have to keep taking it? Do you lose all the gains you made once you stop?

[lethal]

The gains don't all disappear. You keep your natural muscle strength from working out. The creatine just gets you there a little faster by letting you lift a little more early on. You do lose a little off you maxes when you stop, but you don't lose all of your gains.

[lethal]

Weight training web sites should be able to tell you way more than yw.

[Hiroshi2]

Doesn't your body produce creatine naturally?


Anyway...............on a somewhat related note. I went to a smoothie place down here in Huntsville yesterday and they had a big ass jug of creatine sitting on the counter. I asked one of the employees about it and she said you can have it mixed into your smoothie right along with all the other ingredients.

[thaite]

^-- that sounds like a waste of money. Infrequent use isn't going to help you one bit.

I used it for a summer while I was mountain biking and going to the gym. Helped a lot and I had very few side effects.

I thought we had a previous thread on this, but this isn't the one I was thinking about.

http://forums.yellowworld.org/showthread.php?t=22198&highlight=creatine

[stupidredhead13]

Yep, about those unwanted bathroom side effects, this guy was hitting on me back in the day and mentioned how he uses it when he works out. He then mentioned that it gives him diarrhea. Quite romantic.

[Tao]

^no pain no gain baby.

[lethal]

^-- that sounds like a waste of money. Infrequent use isn't going to help you one bit.

I used it for a summer while I was mountain biking and going to the gym. Helped a lot and I had very few side effects.

I thought we had a previous thread on this, but this isn't the one I was thinking about.

http://forums.yellowworld.org/showthread.php?t=22198&highlight=creatine

Might be this one

http://forums.yellowworld.org/showthread.php?t=18671&highlight=creatine

[bluemonq]

Just don't overdo it or you'll overstress your kidneys.

[Banana]

Which is why I heard you have to drink tons of water.

[bluemonq]

It's not just the water; some creatine naturally turns into creatinine, and muscle converts some more. Creatinine an undesired breakdown product.

[Banana]

From what a buddy said, he would suggest I not use creatine just yet and get used to eating protein before and after a workout. He said it works wonders.

After a month or 2 of using the study model, he would then suggest to ease myself into use it for a trial period.