Any help with creatine?

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surfsatwerk

surfsatwerk

Lifer
Mar 6, 2008
10,110
5
81
SociallyChallenged said:
Wearing a belt for every single set WILL make you weaker. It's good for eliciting greater proprioception and tightness, but if you use it for every set, it enables you to slack your core in certain areas. The advice given to you might have been solid, especially if you used your belt for every set. The advice given to the OP was ridiculous. Creatine monohydrate is the only form of creatine firmly founded in research.
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This is information I have never come across before.

http://www.70sbig.com/?p=1594

That article is representative of the school of thought used to teach me how to lift and why I needed to use a belt. Not trying to get in a pissing contest because I have little to no personal knowledge about the subject. The only time I've heard of people training without a belt was for competitions where they didn't allow them.

Like this beast.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh-ikyBAQr8
 
alkemyst

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
After loading if you do it then 5g daily.

I take 5g pre and 5g post workout roughly...I am light on the spoon so it's more like 7-8g total.
 
alkemyst

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
surfsatwerk said:
This is information I have never come across before.

http://www.70sbig.com/?p=1594

That article is representative of the school of thought used to teach me how to lift and why I needed to use a belt. Not trying to get in a pissing contest because I have little to no personal knowledge about the subject. The only time I've heard of people training without a belt was for competitions where they didn't allow them.

Like this beast.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh-ikyBAQr8
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That site is sort of set in old ways.

This is a decent counterpoint to that http://stronglifts.com/weight-lifting-belts-to-wear-or-not-to-wear/

In the end it really is up to the lifter. I choose to lift so I can do things outside the gym and look good doing them. I pick my exercises for these purposes.

I haven't had a back injury yet due to lifting anything in the gym. I also directly train my lower back.
 
surfsatwerk

surfsatwerk

Lifer
Mar 6, 2008
10,110
5
81
alkemyst

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Creatine works. The problem is most think it's going to be like steroids.

For me I get a great pump from it and some added size...I seem to be able to lift better and recover faster.

It's one of the best bang for buck supplements out there.

If you aren't a serious lifter though it's going to be a waste of money. If you are hitting the gym at least 3x a week and pushing yourself, beneficial.
 
M

ManBearPig

Diamond Member
Sep 5, 2000
9,173
6
81
alkemyst said:
Creatine works. The problem is most think it's going to be like steroids.

For me I get a great pump from it and some added size...I seem to be able to lift better and recover faster.

It's one of the best bang for buck supplements out there.

If you aren't a serious lifter though it's going to be a waste of money. If you are hitting the gym at least 3x a week and pushing yourself, beneficial.
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Haha, due to lack of having a life i am in there more than 3x a week. My only concern is that when i took it 5-6 years ago, it didnt really benefit me (or i dont think it did). This could be simply due to the fact that i was relatively new to lifting and my newbie gains were masking any help that creatine was providing, or i could just be a non-responder. So im just trying not to buy like 2/3 a years worth of creatine if it wont do anything. Ill probably end up getting the 2.2 lb one either way since its almost the cheapest available. thanks...the increased recovery has me the most interested.
 
alkemyst

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
if it didn't do anything for you then I'd probably skip it. Personally I think a lot less are not really non-responders but just not at the level it makes a difference.

Keep in mind if your diet is not good, sleep habits bad, etc it will all diminish everything else.
 
M

ManBearPig

Diamond Member
Sep 5, 2000
9,173
6
81
Ok, i said fuck it and bought the 2.2 lbs.

1)Anyway, is a loading phase necessary?

2)Should i take 5g/day or 10g/day for maintenance?
 
DAPUNISHER

DAPUNISHER

Super Moderator CPU Forum Mod and Elite Member
Super Moderator
Aug 22, 2001
32,067
32,591
146
It is your money, but I would not bother loading, 5g/day should be more than adequate.
 
SociallyChallenged

SociallyChallenged

Elite
Mar 22, 2002
10,483
32
81
kazaam said:
Ok, i said fuck it and bought the 2.2 lbs.

1)Anyway, is a loading phase necessary?

2)Should i take 5g/day or 10g/day for maintenance?
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Loading is completely unnecessary and is where risks of creatine use are highest. I wouldn't risk it.

Also, unless you're over 300 pounds, 5g a day for maintenance should be suitable. Using 5g per day will allow your muscle creatine levels to increase slowly. You can continue to use 5 per day since it's usually the easiest and doesn't waste much. You can actually calculate how much you need just to maintain if you know your body weight/lean body mass, but that's a pain. I think mine was like 2.7g per day and I was 160 at 10% body fat.
 
S

skace

Lifer
Jan 23, 2001
14,488
7
81
I just want to say, creatine mixes like shit. I take that back, shit probably mixes pretty well. I've been drinking it in juice. Also, the scooper is 11cc, that's 2 teaspoon's right? And 1 teaspoon is 5g? I need to stop scooping it fully then...

I do think it has an effect on me. I've done a few reps that I should have given up on. However that could just be placebo + will power. Who knows. I am going to continue it and see how it goes.
 
M

mchammer187

Diamond Member
Nov 26, 2000
9,114
0
76
skace said:
I just want to say, creatine mixes like shit. I take that back, shit probably mixes pretty well. I've been drinking it in juice. Also, the scooper is 11cc, that's 2 teaspoon's right? And 1 teaspoon is 5g? I need to stop scooping it fully then...

I do think it has an effect on me. I've done a few reps that I should have given up on. However that could just be placebo + will power. Who knows. I am going to continue it and see how it goes.
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just take a spoonful with some grape juice or fruit. It is 100% tasteless so I found that to be the optimal way.
 
S

skace

Lifer
Jan 23, 2001
14,488
7
81
mchammer187 said:
just take a spoonful with some grape juice or fruit. It is 100% tasteless so I found that to be the optimal way.
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If it's tasteless, then it's the texture that pisses me off. I've been doing it with grape juice, which causes me to drink more juice than I'd normally drink, but no real issue. I just don't like it with water at all yet.
 
SociallyChallenged

SociallyChallenged

Elite
Mar 22, 2002
10,483
32
81
skace said:
If it's tasteless, then it's the texture that pisses me off. I've been doing it with grape juice, which causes me to drink more juice than I'd normally drink, but no real issue. I just don't like it with water at all yet.
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What you can do to help is heat up some water in the microwave. If you get it warm, the creatine will dissolve much more easily. If you mix it back into something around room temperature (i.e. juice), you can drink it down fine. Heating creatine doesn't really denature it, especially if it's only to slightly warm temperatures. It's acid that frequently converts creatine into creatinine.
 
T

the DRIZZLE

Platinum Member
Sep 6, 2007
2,956
1
81
I've found that creatine that is labeled as "micronized" seems to mix better and not have the gross texture. The larger the particles, the worse it mixes and the worse the texture will be. The Vitamin shop house brand was the worst.
 
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