Creatine: Anyone using it?

[Hot Rod Harry]

It's a cell volumizer, keeps water in the muscle. Increases strength, and I always noticed quicker recovery & less pain the next day after a weightlifting workout.

I've started some weightlifting, & wanted to know thoughts & opinions before starting the creatine.

 

[Tom F.]

The naval special warfare command bans the stuff for BUD/S students and the entire naval special warfare community. While legal, and while it does seem to pump up muscles, your cardio conditioning program will suffer. At BUD/S they found that students using it grow large muscles, but their strength is not really helped much, and on the long runs and swims those using it tend to fall out quickly, usually with bad cramps. So I guess it depends somewhat on what you want your body to be able to do. I just pass it on as an FYI.

 

[Jims]

Good question

Good question

Hi Harry,

This was a very good question ... I knew nothing about Creatine, so I went to my favorite starting point : www.wikipeadia.com. This not the most definitive source but it is always full of ideas and new links...

They said:
"There is scientific evidence that taking creatine supplements can marginally increase athletic performance in high-intensity anaerobic repetitive cycling sprints, but studies in swimmers and runners have been less than promising, possibly due to the weight gain. Ingesting creatine can increase the level of phosphocreatine in the muscles up to 20%. It must be noted creatine has no significant effect on aerobic exercise (Engelhardt et al, 1998)."

I think this supports Tom's point. But, it might improve your sketetal muscle strength.

The report goes on to say:
" There has been controversy over the incidence of muscle cramping with the use of creatine. A study at the University of Memphis showed no reports of muscle cramping in subjects taking creatine-containing supplements during various exercise training conditions in trained and untrained endurance athletes (Kreider R. et al, 1998)." It further says that the research was sponsored by a major manufactreror Creatine. So,

But, your question has made me want to research this more .

Thanks,
Jim

 

[mtkayak]

I used it several years ago. It does work and your muscle will grow due to water retention. You can usually get a few more reps in your routine, you will notice a difference. I did notice weight gain in other areas (my stomach) so you may want to watch your diet as well. Also, if you stop working out, stop taking the creatine or you will gain weight. Always take after a workout not before.

This from an article...
"Research indicates that creatine supplements can increase muscle phosphocreatine content, which is absorbed by muscle cells and becomes an energy reserve. It creates an energy reserve that is important in transitions from rest to exercise -- especially very intense, explosive exercise."

I would like to take it again but I'm not sure what effect it will have on my INR since I take Coumadin.

 

[Turkey Hunter]

I too took it a few years ago and would offer my oppinion to be to avoid it.
Potential water retension issues as well as a few others.
I would reccomend that you get your creatinine from natural sources such as beef and ostrich meat.
Concentrate one your intake of quality proteins and carbs. (Complex carbs; not simple ones)
If you are looking to have the "look" of a 'bodybuilder' (ripped) try cycling your carbs. i.e.
First day eat normal carbs
Next two eliminate carbs as much as possible
next day load carbs
two more eliminating them
next day normal intake of carbs
next three eliminating
next day load
ect.
ect.
ect.
It is better to get your needed supplementation from learning what is naturally in your diet.
Just my $0.02 worth.

 

[mtkayak]

I'm not an advocate either way. However, I think there are many benefits that have been discovered lately. Creatine is naturally synthesizes through the liver so it is natural to the body. It produces something like 2 grams a day. Half of our creatine come from meats and fish. All your doing is "loading" and increasing the amounts to recieve more benefits.

Other benefits:

Creatine administration was shown to significantly improve performance in cognitive and memory tests.

Creatine supplementation has been, and continues to be, investigated as a possible therapeutic approach for the treatment of muscular, neurological and neuromuscular diseases (arthritis, congestive heart failure, disuse atrophy, gyrate atrophy, McArdle's disease, Huntington's disease, miscellaneous neuromuscular diseases, mitochondrial diseases, muscular dystrophy, neuroprotection, etc.).

 

[Turkey Hunter]

Creatine administration was shown to significantly improve performance in cognitive and memory tests.

Creatine supplementation has been, and continues to be, investigated as a possible therapeutic approach for the treatment of muscular, neurological and neuromuscular diseases (arthritis, congestive heart failure, disuse atrophy, gyrate atrophy, McArdle's disease, Huntington's disease, miscellaneous neuromuscular diseases, mitochondrial diseases, muscular dystrophy, neuroprotection, etc.).

I don't want to hijack the thread; but where did you find this info?
Can you provide a link?
Would be worth reading.

 

[mtkayak]

I don't want to hijack the thread; but where did you find this info?
Can you provide a link?
Would be worth reading.

I read an article the other day about the Creatine use for vegetarians but I can't seem to find the link. The article had to do with cognitive and memory test on vegetarians since they don't eat meat or a lot of fish. Wikipedia makes reference to this trial and others.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creatine

Of course, I'm sure the theraputic doses would probably vary from what a person would use for weightlifting. This is just my guess.

 

[Turkey Hunter]

Thanks for the link.