1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

Thinking About Using Creatine

Discussion in 'Health and Fitness' started by finsincebirth, Aug 3, 2011.

  1. finsincebirth

    finsincebirth Well-Known Member

    3,688
    3,133
    113
    Dec 1, 2007
    So I check all four pages in this sub forum and didn't see any topics on Creatine, but if I'm wrong for give me. Awhile back a former manager I had suggested used Creatine to help aid in building muscle growth. I've thought about incorporating it into my workout program, but I don't have any experience with it so I thought I'd come here and see if any of you guys have used it. Thoughts? Suggestions?
     
  2. GridIronKing34

    GridIronKing34 Silently Judging You

    23,388
    16,296
    113
    Nov 22, 2007
    Denver, CO
    Make sure you drink a lot of water is all I really can recommend.. just from my experience with it when I used it as a freshman in college. There are other guys who can give you way better advice/insight than me though.
     
  3. FasanoPaisano

    FasanoPaisano Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    534
    190
    43
    Oct 10, 2009
    Near People's Pizza
    I have used it in the past. Heed GridIron's advice on the water. It supposedly draws water into your muscles, making them larger. I didn't notice any difference on or off of it to be honest, other than feeling thirsty all the time (when on it). Some people rave about it, but I think it has better effects on some more than others. My focus is more strength/power training than bodybuilding these days, so even if it was giving me a muscle cell volume increase that I couldn't perceive, I definitely didn't see any strength loss when I stopped taking it....so I stopped spending cash on it.
     
  4. The_Dark_Knight

    The_Dark_Knight Defender of the Truth

    11,817
    10,321
    113
    Nov 24, 2007
    Rockledge, FL
    If you're wanting to get bigger, instead of taking creatine, I'd recommend giving BSA's "Nitrix" a try. I was using it last year when I was in Kabul and my incline bench went from about 165 to 245 in a matter of a few months...and that was 3 sets of 10 at 245.

    I've used creatine before and it just severely upset my stomach where I didn't have that problem with Nitrix.
     
  5. Laces Out

    Laces Out Well-Known Member

    3,428
    937
    113
    Aug 4, 2011
    Omaha, Ne
    Creatine basically adds water to your muscles. What you could do is go with either whey or casein protein. Also, I have heard wonderful things about NO-Xplod
     
    Fin-Omenal likes this.
  6. FasanoPaisano

    FasanoPaisano Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    534
    190
    43
    Oct 10, 2009
    Near People's Pizza
    Creatine gave me the rumbly bumblies in my intestines too, LOL!

    A lot of these supplements are what I'd call "fine tuners". In my experience, supplements like that don't need to enter the equation until you have undertaken several months (or even years) eating per your body composition goals and lifting at sufficient intensity. Until you are fairly close to your genetic potential, all you really need is a good clean source of water, milk-based protein powder, a daily multivitamin, fish oil and possibly BCAAs (depending on how low you are going on your calories), to supplement your food....oh, and caffeine can be a great pre-workout supplement if your doctor approves ;-). These are the supplements I have noticed a difference taking vs. not taking. This is of course my own personal experience, and I have tried a lot of different types of lifting and nutrition plans, and supplements since '86 when I got into all of this.

    And Dark Knight, now I am curious about how long had you been lifting when you started the nitric oxide supp? Depending on how long you had been lifting, an 80 lb increase like that on a lift like incline bench could have been what is called the "novice effect", in which case it wouldn't have mattered what you were taking. Most mortals need the likes of Winstrol, Dianabol or straight up Test to make those kinds of gains if they've already been lifting for several months/years. I haven't tried Nitrix specifically, but I have tried other Nitric Oxide supplements and I didn't notice a big difference in performance (unless the supplement also contained caffeine) or recovery...at least not over what I was already taking.
     
  7. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    75,121
    37,640
    113
    Nov 28, 2007
    New York
    Actually that last paragraph...xenadrine (with ephedrine) was gold for bench gains. I jumped from like 245 to 350 over about a year on flat bench when I was in college and from 185 to 265 on incline. Wasnt banned at the time and I never felt much side effect from it.

    Didnt like Creatine at all..had to drink so much water I felt consistently bloated. One positive that has me reconsidering trying it again is that my diet was all fruits and proteins. I had no craving for sweets which is rare for me.
     
  8. FasanoPaisano

    FasanoPaisano Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    534
    190
    43
    Oct 10, 2009
    Near People's Pizza
    I suspect my lack of noticeable difference while on creatine vs off ad to do with my diet staples being red meat and salmon, which are both good natural sources of creatine.

    I say folks who are looking to gain strength/size should try it to see if they can tolerate it and if it does anything for them. It is not expensive by any means, and has been shown effective in studies, certainly worth a try.
     
  9. Jaj

    Jaj Registered

    6,359
    1,671
    0
    Mar 23, 2008
    Los Angeles
    Try Kre-Alkalyne it doesn't give that water pump but gives a little better performance. You only need to drink probably a few more bottles of water with that since it's such a concentrated dosage.
     
  10. MikeHoncho

    MikeHoncho -=| Censored |=-

    52,652
    25,565
    113
    Nov 13, 2009
    Wondering: Have any diabetics here used Creatine?
     
  11. Fin-Omenal

    Fin-Omenal Initiated

    36,936
    10,264
    0
    Mar 25, 2008
    Thee...Ohio State University
    It all depends on your goals.

    If you want to gain power and strength and are not looking to put on lean mass then creatine is a good supp, if ur trying to get a 6 pack and wow the ladies leave it alone.

    JackD3d was awesome for me when I messed around with creatine, but now Im more interested in not looking inflated so I stay FAR away from it. Moral of the story is that it all boils down to what ur goals are.
     
  12. unluckyluciano

    unluckyluciano For My Hero JetsSuck

    53,333
    23,006
    0
    Dec 7, 2007
    creatine makes you retain water thats why it puts water in your muscles. I'm not sure about the upset stomachs I've never had a problem with regular creatine. No xplode is notorious for upsetting peoples stomachs. No shotgun is pretty good, and so is kre actalyn.
     
  13. RonD

    RonD New Member

    28
    6
    0
    Dec 13, 2011
    It will only help you if you know the proper dosing levels of creatine to attain maximum benefit.
     
  14. Sethdaddy8

    Sethdaddy8 Well-Known Member

    13,006
    6,368
    113
    Dec 6, 2007
    NJ
    I'm taking no xplode now. It doesn't upset my stomach, so much as it induces a bowel movement upon taking. But then Im good to go.

    I just ordered from Vita-cost a product called con-cret. Supposed to be a super concentrated, efficient creatine. My issues lately have been long recoveries after work-outs, so I'm going back on creatine after years of not bothering with supps. I'm sore for several days lately, so hopefully this aids in the recovery process.
     

Share This Page