Creatine

[BadKarma26]

Are any of you guys using creatine post workout supplements? I'm thinking about starting a BSN CellMass regimen in order to heal faster after workouts/runs. I drink a lot of water throughout the day and obviously won't be taking the supplement during a deployment to a high temperature TO.

I'm frustrated that my body can't keep up with the pace of lifestyle I'd like to have and need something to augment my recovery.

[lukasss]

Try Kre Alkalyn advanced form of Creatine, without side effects.

[INAT]

A good combo is whey protein and creatine together.As you mentioned fluid intake is very important with these.

[GNR]

Creatine is generally over-rated by most.
I avoid suppliments all together and just eat as best I can.

I avoid over-carbing (avoid pasta, bread or potatos), take in little to no sugar at all, take in lots of protein (not the powder crap, actual meat)....I take ibuprofen when I over-do it (which I admit I do a lot).

Check out http://paleodiet.com/

The essentials of the Paleolithic Diet are:
Eat none of the following:
· Grains- including bread, pasta, noodles
· Beans- including string beans, kidney beans, lentils, peanuts, snow-peas and peas
· Potatoes
· Dairy products
· Sugar
· Salt
Eat the following:
· Meat, chicken and fish
· Eggs
· Fruit
· Vegetables (especially root vegetables, but definitely not including potatoes or sweet potatoes)
· Nuts, eg. walnuts, brazil nuts, macadamia, almond. Do not eat peanuts (a bean) or cashews (a family of their own)
· Berries- strawberries, blueberries, raspberries etc.
Try to increase your intake of:
· Root vegetables- carrots, turnips, parsnips, rutabagas, Swedes
· Organ meats- liver and kidneys (I accept that many people find these unpalatable and won’t eat them)

[rwak9]

Make sure you go with a pure form of Creatine...checkout the brand "Creapure," its one of the best. Don't take more than 5g before and after...taking it before is not so important, its after that counts. Don't do load and taper cycles, just be consistent.

[Carib]

No-Explode works pretty well for me, gives you quick energy within 15-30 minutes of taking and lasts throughout a workout. I can lift a lot more than I used to, haven't added much bulk just muscle and you don't crash. It gives you a lot of stamina.

But you must drink a lot of water at least 3 liters (100oz) a day.

[Carib]

Try Kre Alkalyn advanced form of Creatine, without side effects.

which side effects are you speaking of? is this a monohydrate or esther form of creatine?

[Albatross]

Just take steroids................

[Waterman]

Probably the best thing that I have found to help me recover from workouts (and cut down on post exercise muscle soreness) is the Endurox R4 drink (and there are several other similar products out there that have followed the concept: Powerbar Recovery, Hammer Nutrition Recoverite, etc).

I have spent the last 30+ years doing multi sport type endurance workouts (swimming, running, paddling, biking-sometimes workouts lasting six or more hours non-stop). I have worked as a trainer and nationally certified coach in several endurance sports. In addition to that....I often do hard physical work as a part of my work day. I would consider myself to be very active on a daily basis.

I have tried pretty much every supplement on the planet at one time or another (creatine, HMB, etc, etc, etc). This has been the first one that I have used that I have seen a noticeable performance difference with.

Endurox R4 for me is the most important part of my sports supplement diet (my work situation often prevents me from eating as I should, so the supplements are a way for me to keep going in the absence of proper meals). But as stated above, the Paleo-type diet is another great method, my situation makes it hard to do-so I use the supplements.

I typically have far less muscle soreness the day after, which makes it easier to go out and hit a good workout again the next day. I prefer not to take pain killers or NSAIDs unless I am hurting badly.....but Endurox R4 keeps me in the game, day after day.

Creatine is best to help you bulk up (much of what it does is cause your muscle cells to hold more fluid....hence why you need to drink plenty of water while taking it). But a good recovery meal or supplement will help you be able to work out hard again the next day with reduced soreness and pain.

I have sent cans and packets of this drink to friends serving overseas (as well as hauling with me when I have been working overseas as well) and the reports back from them have all been positive. They often suffer the same problem that I have of not being able to eat as well as they might like while deployed....and this supplement helps fill in some of the gaps in their nutrition.

[thai-lan]

i thought creatine was a pre-workout supplement. At least nobody around me drinks it after work-out. Muscle Tech products are good. and no need for steroids if you have a good work out routine and use good supplements.

[Britboy]

Why not just have a pint of milk after going to the gym?

Milk has got protein and all sorts of other good stuff. And is cheap, natural, and available just about most places.

Regards
BB

[Migs]

my dad is a health teacher of 25 years.....old college football star, coach of football, basketball and baseball blah blah blah he knows alot about personal fitness...he's told my brother and I to stay away from this stuff...sure it helps your muscles heal faster but its unnatural and not-so-good for the rest of your body....my "little" bro is a big football player now, he takes wegh protein (spelling i cant do) and muscle milk....seems to be workin for him alright....i dont take any of that stuff, just eat the right stuff and drink lotsa water

[TurpoUrpo]

Whats so unnatural in creatine? do you even know that body synthesises part of it and you get another part in meat you eat. Body does naturally have creatine and use it, try readin from wiki for example.

Coffein for example is more not so natural than creatine (from bodys perspective). :roll:

Maybe you do not drink coffee? p-)

I have best workouts when i use creatine and do take 200mg of coffein and 5-10g taurine 30min before workout. By the way, taurine is natural also :)

But most important thing is to eat right and often enough:)

[Britboy]

I'm sure others know more about what is natural and good for you and whatnot. I'm certainly no nutritionalist. I just kind've feel something is wrong in paying to dose yourself with powders and pills that you don't necessarily know the ingredients of and chemistry behind. Sure, I don't know exactly how the pigs that made my bacon were fed either, but I am less at ease with the idea of supplements. I've also seen people get majorly hooked on the advertising/marketing side of it and end up in financial difficulties because of it too. Yeh, if it wasn't this they'd have probably done the same on something else dumb, but still it doesn't give me a positive perception of it all.

That, and I could probably do myself a world of good by just eating better and exercising harder, without supplements even coming into it :p

[TurpoUrpo]

Britboy, Ofcourse it would be best option to just eat nonprosessed food. But it in most cases is not possible. I give you some info:

Body starts recovery from catabolic (muscle eating) state and shifts to anabolic (muscle building) state by eatin immediately after exercise, best is to first eat only protein, plain tunafish (lots of protein very low on fats and no carbs) for example, some 30 mins after that you should eat another time, some fast carbs, some slow carbs and protein. That is mostly easiest done by drinkin protein drink (most protein supplements are made from milk, by filtering protein from it) at the gym just after exercise. Nothing unnatural, nothing synthetic. And by the way, gram of protein, atleast in finland is most cheapest when taken from protein supplement, so not so "putting you to financial problems".

Last note, yes there is people that believes in marketing **** and buys everything without studying about how humans diatarysystem (dont remember right word, i believe you get what i mean) works :)

[vinny_121_ND]

I hate creatine. I took it before, back in my college days, and it got to the point where I couldn't concentrate studying because I was always thirsty, and always going to the bathroom to pee. Diarrhea was common once a month or so, even more embarrassing when my girlfriend was wondering what was wrong with me since I was crapping so much for 20 minutes.

Never again. If I'm going to gain weight, it's because I ate right, and exercised the right amount.

[TurpoUrpo]

Maybe you took too much of it? Or maybe it just does not fit for you. 5grams per day is enough.

But people should themself decide what to take and what not. For me it works great though, at least for now.

[vinny_121_ND]

Maybe you took too much of it? Or maybe it just does not fit for you. 5grams per day is enough.

But people should themself decide what to take and what not. For me it works great though, at least for now.

Hmmm, maybe I should revise my words a little. I don't hate it, it's just the side effects. I did take the recommended dosage a day. I did gain some strength, and that's good considering I'm a hardgainer.

[RAF]

Just take steroids................

Mmmmmm steroids, mediciney.............

[quellish]

Are any of you guys using creatine post workout supplements? I'm thinking about starting a BSN CellMass regimen in order to heal faster after workouts/runs. I drink a lot of water throughout the day and obviously won't be taking the supplement during a deployment to a high temperature TO.

I'm frustrated that my body can't keep up with the pace of lifestyle I'd like to have and need something to augment my recovery.

As an endurance athlete, can't say that I'm a fan of creatine, in fact I avoid it. It tends to give you dead, wooden legs the next day.

For recovery, as the other posters have said, the most important thing is to get protein immediately after a workout. Tunafish and crackers is quick and easy, and there are specific recovery products out there like Recoverite and Endurox that work very well. I've used both and prefer Recoverite, I feel better overall using that and the taste is mild enough that there's no trouble going down.

The only supplements that I know to be effective for post workout recovery are fish/krill oil and Recovox. I've been using Recovox for about a year and am a big fan.


Eat natural, eat often, get your protein immediately after your workouts. Most of the things you can find in GNC/etc. are not tailored for the kinds of things you seem to be doing, so be careful if you go the creatine route.

[Fiber]

I have used creatine but stopped as it made my piss smell aweful. Asparagus doesn't even come close!

[thai-lan]

I hate creatine. I took it before, back in my college days, and it got to the point where I couldn't concentrate studying because I was always thirsty, and always going to the bathroom to pee. Diarrhea was common once a month or so, even more embarrassing when my girlfriend was wondering what was wrong with me since I was crapping so much for 20 minutes.

Never again. If I'm going to gain weight, it's because I ate right, and exercised the right amount.
haha you saying you couldnt concentrate because of creatine roflrofl..
why spend lots of money on right food and all that instead of taking creatine.. you still would have to pee if you drank as much water as you did when you were on creatine.

[boy1000]

Are any of you guys using creatine post workout supplements? I'm thinking about starting a BSN CellMass regimen in order to heal faster after workouts/runs. I drink a lot of water throughout the day and obviously won't be taking the supplement during a deployment to a high temperature TO.

I'm frustrated that my body can't keep up with the pace of lifestyle I'd like to have and need something to augment my recovery.

One thing I would like to know Badkarma, is your age. My background is Climbing extreme running, and endurances races. If you train An-Aerob around 45 mins excises It does have an effect but if you train that take longer I would be much more focused on Protein. Please be aware also that there is a huge difference between the proteins and you should try to pick the correct Protein, I have learned a plain chocolate milk can do miracles. Sleep is properly the best advice I can advocate for.....

Thank you all for posting your experiences very interesting...

[Migs]

By the way, taurine is natural also :)

But most important thing is to eat right and often enough:)
tobacco is also a natural substance :).....but i get what your throwing.....i do not take any type of supplement, just focus on what I eat mostly..... i wouldnt mind buying a batch of whey protein just to see if it does what the label says (but the price is the turn down for me).....but hey my little bro takes flax oil and muscle milk everyday because he doesnt want to have to eat all the necessary food (veggies gross him out lol p-)).....so it really depends on the person

[MJC9678]

Try Meta-Cell made by iSatori. Lots of big supplement companies use cheap creatine made in China. It does not digest and you end up peeing 90% of it out. Meta-cell is high quality made in the good old USA.

[TurpoUrpo]

tobacco is also a natural substance :).....but i get what your throwing.....i do not take any type of supplement, just focus on what I eat mostly..... i wouldnt mind buying a batch of whey protein just to see if it does what the label says (but the price is the turn down for me).....but hey my little bro takes flax oil and muscle milk everyday because he doesnt want to have to eat all the necessary food (veggies gross him out lol p-)).....so it really depends on the person

Tobacco is natural yes, but not natural to human body. Taurine, Creatine etc. are all essential for human bodys normal function. Only that dosage is smaller than usually taken by athletes in supplements, for example, body needs about 2 grams creatine per day 1g is synthetised in body and 1g comes from meat you eat. Taurine is essential aminoacid for neural system, and there has been research that it can even fix some neural damge.

[Migs]

Tobacco is natural yes, but not natural to human body. Taurine, Creatine etc. are all essential for human bodys normal function. Only that dosage is smaller than usually taken by athletes in supplements, for example, body needs about 2 grams creatine per day 1g is synthetised in body and 1g comes from meat you eat. Taurine is essential aminoacid for neural system, and there has been research that it can even fix some neural damge.

ahh.....hmm, now i want to go out and get some of this stuff to see what difference it can make

[BadKarma26]

As an endurance athlete, can't say that I'm a fan of creatine, in fact I avoid it. It tends to give you dead, wooden legs the next day.

For recovery, as the other posters have said, the most important thing is to get protein immediately after a workout. Tunafish and crackers is quick and easy, and there are specific recovery products out there like Recoverite and Endurox that work very well. I've used both and prefer Recoverite, I feel better overall using that and the taste is mild enough that there's no trouble going down.

The only supplements that I know to be effective for post workout recovery are fish/krill oil and Recovox. I've been using Recovox for about a year and am a big fan.


Eat natural, eat often, get your protein immediately after your workouts. Most of the things you can find in GNC/etc. are not tailored for the kinds of things you seem to be doing, so be careful if you go the creatine route.

thanks for referring me to this product. I remember during an EMT class about cortisol levels after long periods of exertion. i just bought a bunch of this ****...hopefully it works!

[Ballistic]

No-Explode works pretty well for me, gives you quick energy within 15-30 minutes of taking and lasts throughout a workout. I can lift a lot more than I used to, haven't added much bulk just muscle and you don't crash. It gives you a lot of stamina.

But you must drink a lot of water at least 3 liters (100oz) a day.

Yeah same, No-Xplode has been great for me. Weight loss and definition has been for me important and No-Xplode worked wonders. The buzz you get (if you have a break from using it, like your supposed too) is amazing. The pump you feel at the end of the workout is awesome. Been using for over a year now, with breaks, and I'm really happy with it.

Too much though in one hit can cause stomach upsets, but the overall results have been fantastic. Greater stamina, can lift more, faster recovery and the muscle increase has been pretty noticeable for me. Lots of water while using it is important like you said.

I might start using Cellmass soon, I've almost reached my target weightloss so will start focusing on bulking up.

[farmerboy]

i tried GNC branded creatine and used ON whey protein. worked great. i gained 20 lbs and most was muscle. then i went off creatine. i lost about 5lbs. now i dont have supplements and i lost another 10 lbs but i'm eating less too because my gym schedule is not too consistent right now. too much work :(

[Lt. James Anderson]

I use CEE pre/post workout ... On my off days I take it the first thing in the morning before I go to work.
Recovery? Lots of sleep and good clean food ...
Works great!

[sreto]

Yeah same, No-Xplode has been great for me. Weight loss and definition has been for me important and No-Xplode worked wonders. The buzz you get (if you have a break from using it, like your supposed too) is amazing. The pump you feel at the end of the workout is awesome. Been using for over a year now, with breaks, and I'm really happy with it.

Too much though in one hit can cause stomach upsets, but the overall results have been fantastic. Greater stamina, can lift more, faster recovery and the muscle increase has been pretty noticeable for me. Lots of water while using it is important like you said.

BSN has just marketed No-Xplode really really really really well. No-Xplode doesnt "work wonders" there are literally pages upon pages of people discussing No-Xplode on various bodybuilding sites you should read some. Instead of spending that money on some crappy well marketed product like No-Xplode go and buy a couple of pounds of lean grass fed beef.