220TC

Hi,

Ive just stated training 4 days a week and also eating 6 meals a day along with protein shakes etc...

My question is this, Im thinking of using Creatine but im a bit unsure ! Is this something that if you start then its best to carry on using it (with the usual breaks) ie. if you use it for say a year, bulk up, then stop using it all together, will the body loose shape ?

Also, are there any long term effects ?

Any help much appreciated, cheers, Duncan

Tigran

Tbh with something like creatine I really would not trust what people say on an internet forum. If you are part of a gym and they have an experienced (some of the kids working there know less than the gym members) instructor there perhaps ask him for opinions.

The thing with creatine is that it has only been commercially available since the early 90's. There are no real studies into long term effects or any other problems it may throw up, which is why I prefer to stick to normal ways of helping my muscles regenerate - protein and so on.

FAST AS FORD

Creatine is overated, you wont loose any gains by taking it and then stopping, you MAY notice that your not hitting your maximum lifts IF creatine does work well for you.

Its recommended that you take a week or so off every 6 weeks or so as your body adjusts to the higher intake of creatine thus lessening the effect.

Creatine is found in most meats, its just the amount you would have to eat would be huge, hence the supplement.

Some people just take it when there cutting to try and help with the loss of strength that might bring. Also, it tends to make your body hold more water giving a slighty "rounder" look.....apparently .

If your unsure just run a search on it, there's loads of info on the net.

Jay,

iTrader: (4)

depends how u load i used prolab creatine on a off cycle had some good results with it like on a cycle would gain say 7/8 pounds then swapped to creatine still a small gain 2/3 pounds over 4/5 weeks,

creatine is a natural food sorce has good qualities for repairing muscle but long term duno

speaking from exsperience try and keep to good diet train hard and keep off the additives as much as poss although amino acids are a good suplement

Matt

why the shakes in addition then?

in my experience creatine made me train longer harder faster

FAST AS FORD

You dont have a protein shake instead of a meal do you?

Matt

no not at all i generally have half a pint (protoplex and skimmed milk) with my lunch at work and the other half mid to late afternoon but i certainly dont class that as "a meal"

i was trying to say that if you are getting 6 meals a day that should be more than enough protein for someone just starting training

off topic but inline with your question.....theres a bloke at my work who takes 3 protein shakes a day (made with water) at work and has only one "meal" in the evening whilst in training for the sheffield half marathon last month - he lost 2 stone since xmas lol

cossiecrew

im thinking of using creatine for the reason of being able to work harder and not feel so drained does it put weight on then ? as im sixteen and half stone now does it increase muscle or just general weight

Jay,

iTrader: (4)

mark creatine helps promote muscle repair so it wont help just wieght gain , itll put wieght on as ur muscle groups get bigger as due to the fact when using creatine as said repair quicker then u can work em harder

cossiecrew

see i dont have problems with muscle repair anymore its more the lack of energy that i suffer

Jay,

iTrader: (4)

then diet isnt right mark , try eating fast carbs through the day i.e fruit ect just not to many bananas the as there a a slow burn carb and upmost importance get proper rest to

chriskj

if ya want to try a great creatine then you should try maximuscle's creatamax extreme. ive been usin it for nearly4 weeks now. the best creatine ive used so far and i dont think ill stop usin it. really powerful stuff

DaveEscos

Im just back on my second 'season' of creatine. Im currently loading up. (4 servings a day for a week)

I use creapure

I tend to stay on it till the tub is empty, then ill have a month off... then start again