I'm trying to build my muscle mass by doing a rigorous upper body oriented workout routine three times a week and trying to eat a high protein diet. I was using whey protein supplement as well for a while, and that was moderately helpful. But I'm not seeing the results I want. I don't want to be beefy and veiny, I just don't want to be skinny anymore.

Anyway, obviously if there were serious health concerns, they wouldn't sell it (then again, look at cigarettes...). I've hear some horror stories about it causing seizures and all kinds of bad stuff, but I also know people who have used it and say that it's fine as long as you drink lots of water and don't use it for extended periods of time.

What are the board's thoughts?

 

Two of my friends used it without any problems. I've been considering using it also.

 

I've used it, it gave me really bad stomach crams I seemed to feel dehydrated all the time, but I've heard of plenty of people who used it without a problem.

 

Since your muscles will be using up more water with the larger amount of creatine in your body, just make sure you drink a lot of water to keep hydrated and you'll be fine. Creatine is natural in the body, so you won't harm yourself by taking it (unless, like everything else, it's taken excessively). Go for it and see if it works!

 

Somebody went to class.

 

Do I get a gold star?

 

You go to class to learn? You're doing it wrong.

But yeah, I agree with the concat. Personally, I wouldn't use any of that stuff just cause you don't know what kinda interaction chemicals have with your body. In fact, even as a doctor, I tell people to stay away from medication unless they absolutely need it.

 

Creatine won't help you build mass. It's a synthetic version of ADP(adenosine di-phosphate) and ATP(adenosine tri-phosphate), both of which are produced naturally in your cells' mitochondria as energy sources. Essentially, it helps you extend your workout by increasing your muscles' ability to work under a load for long periods.

I used creatine for years with good(non-eventful) result. Make sure you follow the loading doses to get your body "full" of the creatine, then follow the maintenance dose recommendations. I mixed it exclusively with water and/or orange juice when I used it.

If you're looking to add mass and are having a difficult time gaining weight, consider what my doctor recommended. He ordered me to eat six meals a day and 1000 calories per meal. Supplement that with a good structured workout routine and there's little harm of it turning to fatty tissue. Additionally, you could consider(and I also used) weigh protein. It's inexpensive and really does the trick, the downside is that it tastes like ass even in chocolate disguise  

 

VENOM or GTFO!

 

I've used it for three years now and had no problems. Seems to work well with protien shakes added to your diet too. Does make you thirst alot more though but thats not really a problem.

 

how the hell did you get my mugshot!?

 

thanks for the responses! so what about using creatine AND taking whey protein?

 

It shouldn't be a problem at all, it's all natural stuff you're putting in. Just watch out for side effects from the creatine (tummy aches, dehydration) and if you get none of them then roll with creatine and whey protein.

And I love your avatar!

 

i take both of those, i get good results. but like they said, drink lots more water

 

you'll hear horror stories about everything...people getting this, people getting that...but its how you use it, use it incorrectly (over use, used with another product, etc) and bad things can happen. use it correctly (like the directions says) and it shouldnt.

i use creatine (post workout), whey protein (post workout), casien protein (bedtime), nitric oxide (pre workout), and ocassinally anabolic (intra workout) for years now...havent seen/hear anything bad. No tummy aches or no dehydration anymore (when i first started, there was a few times, but maybe it was the product or maybe i just got used to it)

the one i use tastes great...Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey Extreme Milk Chocolate...yuuuuummmmm


and if you plan on buying, stay away from GNC and Vitamin Shoppe...way too pricey (even during the gold card days), you can find it online for cheaper (even with the s/h added to it)

 

Whey Protein rules, even if it gives me wicked gas!

 

That is so pimp that you can say something like that. How many times do you bust that out at the bar?

Great points. I used Creatine for about a year, and other than almost going to jail (white powder in a ziplock bag in the trunk of my car in a random 2am checkpoint in Florida) it helped extend my workouts A LOT. I am actually thinking about that and also some whey for supplemental protein.

  which can be useful at times (certainly not for your upcoming weekend however)

 

I used it for a while a few years ago. It worked pretty well, but make sure you keep working out or you'll blow up. I gained about 10-15lbs of muscle but stopped working out and ended up really overweight because of my lifestyle (desk job + junk food - exercise = fat ass)

 

First off there are different types of creatine supplements. The one I think everyone is referring to here is Creatine Monohydrate. There are other creatine supplements that companies try pass off as 100 % absorption creatines (buffered creatine, or kre-alkalyn for example). I never heard of anyone having any adverse effects from the monohydrate (keep fluids in your system), but the other ones are usually packaged with some form of NO2 which people tend to have side effects with. However, I am not a doctor and this should not be taken as any sort of bible. Different people react differently to different things. I am just telling you what I know from personal experience. Also if anyone asks I am a semi-pro weightlifter (basically I have a real day job, then I compete for fun), I weight 275lb~300lb, depending on the season, and can bench over 500lbs x8 reps.