Creatine and the sickness!
#41
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oh btw in case you are lookin for ephedra here is an auction for them: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...560685681&rd=1
the reason why these are probably the real thing is the exp date.....ephedra wasnt banned till a couple years ago and pills have a shelf life of a few years. in addition to that no where on the bottle do you see the label ephedra free, and of course the price is a clear give away.
the reason why these are probably the real thing is the exp date.....ephedra wasnt banned till a couple years ago and pills have a shelf life of a few years. in addition to that no where on the bottle do you see the label ephedra free, and of course the price is a clear give away.
#42
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Originally Posted by oneilc
I take the GNC creatine burst. It's what they call their transport system. It's basically taurine and lots of sugars which enables the creatine to get to your muscles quicker.
Sugars wont do anything to make it go to your muscles faster. As long as it's micronized creatine, it will go as quickly as possible.
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Originally Posted by fdl
sugars? You can get creatine in a pure powder form and then just mix it with water.
But I would suggest you stay off the stuff all together. All it does is fill you with water and its hell on your kidneys. I was on the stuff for a long time and my kidneys were really hurting so I stopped. I hope I didnt do too much damage. I also lost between 5-10 pounds over the next few weeks. It was all water weight. The extra push it gives you in the gym is nice, but not really worth it IMO.
But I would suggest you stay off the stuff all together. All it does is fill you with water and its hell on your kidneys. I was on the stuff for a long time and my kidneys were really hurting so I stopped. I hope I didnt do too much damage. I also lost between 5-10 pounds over the next few weeks. It was all water weight. The extra push it gives you in the gym is nice, but not really worth it IMO.
I am a little confused here. Your kidneys hurt because of creatine intake? I find that hard to believe. If anything, because you were drinking more water (because creative absorbs water), your kidneys were helped by that fact.
Did you go to the doctor for your kidneys? Sounds serious.
Finally, creative does not give you any extra push at the gym. It helps to build muscle which hopefully will give you that extra push.
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#45
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Originally Posted by fdl
I think its not too bad if you cycle it and dont stay on it for years. But I was stupid and stayed on it straight for many months. I can only imagine how big my heart was.
Creatine can be taken in two "modes":
1. Loading mode
2. Maintenance mode
Maintainance mode can be taken after a loading mode.
But cycling between no creatine for 4 days and loading mode for the next 3 is better for adding even more muscle.
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Originally Posted by oneilc
I just might try the apple juice mix.
The stuff I'm taking now definitely makes a difference in the gym. I have a greater endurance because of the creatine. As a side effect I can perform more reps and thus grow stronger.
The stuff I'm taking now definitely makes a difference in the gym. I have a greater endurance because of the creatine. As a side effect I can perform more reps and thus grow stronger.
1. Creatine does nothing to increase endurance (or if it does, that's not its primary benefit, not even secondary probably)
2. More reps do not "grow you stronger"
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Originally Posted by fdl
You become bloated and retain lots of water (which is why you need to keep drinking). Since your muscles become bloated and enlarged, and your heart is a muscle, this can be dangerous.
As for your kidneys, well your kidneys have to process this stuff every time you take it, and over time it can cause damage. Same holds true for many pharamcuticals. I dont need proof, i know what I felt and my kidneys started to develop a constant dull pain which went away when i stopped. But as I mentioned, i took it in high dosages and did not cycle.
As for your kidneys, well your kidneys have to process this stuff every time you take it, and over time it can cause damage. Same holds true for many pharamcuticals. I dont need proof, i know what I felt and my kidneys started to develop a constant dull pain which went away when i stopped. But as I mentioned, i took it in high dosages and did not cycle.
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Originally Posted by oneilc
I've never tried just the regular creatine. I've always used the creatine that came mixed with its own little transport system.
The main reason is for strength gains I would have to say.
The main reason is for strength gains I would have to say.
It's a gimic.
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Originally Posted by rise
Take pure creatine monohydrate. Spoon it into your mouth then wash it down with water since creatine is unstable in water and quickly becomes creatinine.
the ultimate CREATINE FAQ:
http://www.abcbodybuilding.com/forum...&page=0#870836
the ultimate CREATINE FAQ:
http://www.abcbodybuilding.com/forum...&page=0#870836
Really? Never heard of that one before.
#52
Originally Posted by gavriil
Creatine can be taken in two "modes":
1. Loading mode
2. Maintenance mode
Maintainance mode can be taken after a loading mode.
But cycling between no creatine for 4 days and loading mode for the next 3 is better for adding even more muscle.
1. Loading mode
2. Maintenance mode
Maintainance mode can be taken after a loading mode.
But cycling between no creatine for 4 days and loading mode for the next 3 is better for adding even more muscle.
BTW, no need to load.
And like Hobo sad, drop the mono and pick up some CEE.
BEET, PM me if you want a site for ephedra.
#53
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Originally Posted by Adam_Schwartz
Same here man - in the morning when I do cardio, I have to drop a bomb after about 15 min. It must be all that moving that gets stuff headed toward the emergency exit.
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#54
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Damn gavrill! Enough messages already ![Big Grin](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
Creatine does give you more energy (see the breakdown of ATP to ADP) so you can do more reps. That is the primary benifit of using it. As a side effect of being able to do more reps you can push your muscles harder and they rebuild bigger and stronger. The creatine itself does nothing to build your muscles. If you take it and just sit and watch tv, you shall see no strength gain.
![Big Grin](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
Creatine does give you more energy (see the breakdown of ATP to ADP) so you can do more reps. That is the primary benifit of using it. As a side effect of being able to do more reps you can push your muscles harder and they rebuild bigger and stronger. The creatine itself does nothing to build your muscles. If you take it and just sit and watch tv, you shall see no strength gain.
#55
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Originally Posted by gavriil
I am a little confused here. Your kidneys hurt because of creatine intake? I find that hard to believe. If anything, because you were drinking more water (because creative absorbs water), your kidneys were helped by that fact.
Did you go to the doctor for your kidneys? Sounds serious.
Finally, creative does not give you any extra push at the gym. It helps to build muscle which hopefully will give you that extra push.
Did you go to the doctor for your kidneys? Sounds serious.
Finally, creative does not give you any extra push at the gym. It helps to build muscle which hopefully will give you that extra push.
gavrill, creatine gets processed by the kidneys, its a fact. And it is documented that it may cause kidney problems, although not yet proven.
And creatine DOES give you an extra push at the gym by decreasing your recovery time between sets, and giving you an extra push to do 1 or 2 more reps. Thats how it works. Its not a steroid. And it does not build muscle.
Im aware of the loading phase, etc. However my mistake was that i continued to take it every day for several months, vs cycling it (6 weeks on, 4 weeks, etc). I really got hooked on the pumped feeling it gave me in the gym because of all the water retention. Sometimes it would feel like my skin was going to rip because of how pumped I got. I loved it, but Im pretty sure I was doing damage to my kidneys.
By the way check out this link for more info. http://www.vitacost.com/science/hn/S...onohydrate.htm
Details of this case strongly suggest that creatine supplementation triggered this case of kidney disease. Creatine supplementation may also be dangerous for people with existing kidney disease. In one report, a patient with nephrotic syndrome (a kidney disorder) developed glomerulosclerosis (another serious kidney condition) while taking creatine. when the creatine was discontinued, the glomerulosclerosis resolved.
#56
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Originally Posted by gavriil
1. Creatine does nothing to increase endurance (or if it does, that's not its primary benefit, not even secondary probably)
gavriil, are you a lifter?
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Originally Posted by oneilc
The creatine itself does nothing to build your muscles. If you take it and just sit and watch tv, you shall see no strength gain.
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Originally Posted by oneilc
Creatine does give you more energy (see the breakdown of ATP to ADP) so you can do more reps. That is the primary benifit of using it. As a side effect of being able to do more reps you can push your muscles harder and they rebuild bigger and stronger. =.
Now, a recent study completed by researchers at Craighton University has shown that a loading phase (20grams/day) for 5 days resulted in boost in power but that is just one study for now. Too ealry to tell at this point.
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Originally Posted by fdl
gavrill, creatine gets processed by the kidneys, its a fact. And it is documented that it may cause kidney problems, although not yet proven.
Interesting. I have never heard of those claims. Maybe because they are not proven.
Originally Posted by fdl
And creatine DOES give you an extra push at the gym by decreasing your recovery time between sets, and giving you an extra push to do 1 or 2 more reps. Thats how it works. Its not a steroid. And it does not build muscle.
It does decrease recovery time but not STR (short term recovery = in between sets recovery), but only LTR (long term recovery = when you "sit at home").
Originally Posted by fdl
Im aware of the loading phase, etc. However my mistake was that i continued to take it every day for several months, vs cycling it (6 weeks on, 4 weeks, etc). I really got hooked on the pumped feeling it gave me in the gym because of all the water retention. Sometimes it would feel like my skin was going to rip because of how pumped I got. I loved it, but Im pretty sure I was doing damage to my kidneys.
#62
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I'm going to switch from taking 10g of creatine a day to 10g on my workout day and 5g on non-workout days. That should hopefully reduce the sickness. I guess I really only need 5g a day anyway. The instructions on the creatine call for 10g in case you were wondering.
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Originally Posted by Adam_Schwartz
What does that mean?
I was kidding. I have being back to lifting during the past 14 months after a 10 year break. But I also started playing indoor VB again (during the past 6 months) so there are several conflicts there.
#66
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It's all good man, just wasn't sure what you meant. Gald you are lifting and playing VB again.
I used to LOVE basketball and got pretty damn good at it but my left ankle is now a POS. In a game I sprained it as much as possible without breaking it and to this day it's really weak, so I am aprehensive on the court.
I used to LOVE basketball and got pretty damn good at it but my left ankle is now a POS. In a game I sprained it as much as possible without breaking it and to this day it's really weak, so I am aprehensive on the court.
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Originally Posted by Adam_Schwartz
I used to LOVE basketball and got pretty damn good at it but my left ankle is now a POS. In a game I sprained it as much as possible without breaking it and to this day it's really weak, so I am aprehensive on the court.
Havent squats help heal it? Not that they always do, but in cases of weakness from small injuries they do help.
Before I started lifting again, both knees were hurting just going up stairs, now the left is 100% healed and the right knee is about 70% good.
Also how can you lift such serious weight with dead lifts and squats with a f!cked up knee?
#68
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My knee is fine man, it's my ankle that is weak. And by weak, I mean that I can twist it much easier than most other people when coming down on someone's shoe, for instance. Squats and deads don't have the same effect on my ankle as does landing on someone' size 12. Know what I mean?
But while we are on the topic, I used to have a so-so right knee and squats indeed helped it a great deal.
But while we are on the topic, I used to have a so-so right knee and squats indeed helped it a great deal.
#70
Drifting
Originally Posted by dragon084
that shit is synthetic.
![Huh](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/huh.gif)
I take creatine everday I lift which tends to be 3-4 times a week. I take it before I go work out, then afterwards in a smaller dose with whey protein and glutamine. I'd always read that creatine's main benefit was to give you more edurance, i.e., more reps when lifting. I'd read this both in various fitness/lifting magazines as well as a number of websites. I've acheived large gains in the last two years with the creatine/whey protein/glutamine combo.