Creatine is grossly misadvertised in today's fitness market, and that leads to a lot of misconceptions by the consumer base. Creatine doesn't stimulate hypertrophy, hyperplasia, or strength increases (that is, it doesn't increase the size, quantity, or efficiency per muscle fiber)... it just increases each individual cell's propenstiy to retaining water. Nothing else. It makes you bigger overall, and helps you gain weight, yes, but it doesn't lead to an increase in lean muscle mass. Since when does weight gain mean muscle gain anyway? Another misconception is that it'll help burn fat. If creatine led to hypertrophy, then obviously, this hypertrophy would be accompanied by a higher metobolic rate... but as I already said, this isn't the case. That makes it a pretty dumb product in my book. Not only because it doesn't lead to any type of muscular improvement, either. Not even taking into account the cost, or its purported adverse renal side effects, what it all comes down to is, if you really care only for the cosmetic appearance of "strength training" (I use quotations here because I don't really view bodybuilding as a legitimate form of strength training, and I view creatine as a bodybuilding supplement more than anything else), then why not just eat more to bulk up? Fat is natural and will give you the same bulk and look, sans the cost and potential side effects. It's not neccessarily a placebo, in that it does help effect a change in the body, but like I said earlier, the product is misadvertised, and its effects miscontrued by the consumer base. It's garbage. And Alio, I'll make you a deal. I'll post my stats once I get my bench back on its feet. Gimme a few weeks to reacclimate myself with the barbell and I'll have them up.
Thanks guys for the opinions. I really have no use for Creatine, since I'm not looking to retain more water. I don't really care about looking a bit more pumped, like 1028 said, if I want to get a little more weight to turn into muscle mass, I'll just increase my calories. And 1028, I'm not trying to force you to do it if you don't want to. I just figured if you wanted to, you shouldn't feel like anyone would mind. I surely don't. If you don't want to post your numbers, don't sweat it. It's cool either way man.
Guess it's time to quit working out.... http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/07/h...Iizxq luYBavokrw&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin
You should post before and after shots in the Pics thread... congrats on the weight loss... I know how hard it is after losing 95 lbs
Here's my tip on losing weight: Limit yourself to a $15 budget for food per week. Because I'm cheap, I inadvertently lost 20+ pounds living that way since September. It's weight I can't wait to get back once I strike it rich.
Damn, nice work. Did you ever try that program you linked? The one with the eat like a machine, pound 8 of these shakes, do ridiculous amounts of weights all day, and collapse. I've plateued myself. I haven't changed up any of my program in a while, so I'm neither gaining muscle nor fat. I'm just staying the same. I want to get into weight training, but I'm just too damn tired.
Alio, tell me this: I've been playing hockey 3 times per week since about a month ago...monday, tuesday, and wednesday. I go to the gym on thursday after work, and try to go on friday but usually just want to start my weekend. Is it worth goign to the gym from like 530 till 7 on mon to wed and then go to hockey got an hour or so at like 830? I feel that if I go to the gym and go my normal routine, which I try to make pretty intense, I'll be useless at hockey later that night...yet, if i dont get in the gym I will lose all my strength I know you're not a gym guy...but its where I need to be to make myself work out.
I hear you. I don't knock gym rats at all. It's just not for me. As for your question, I'd probably skip the gym before hockey. Why not do the gym on days you don't play hockey? On your gym days, you'd just do a full-body owrkout, rather than particular muscle groups. Granted, you'll probably be a little more sore on your hockey days, but at least you'll have the energy to play.
I was thinking of that. Like Thursday night and then Friday actually skip the beers for an hour or 2 and get in the gym before going out..... If i was goign to go in for a full body workout it would probably look liek this (minus legs): Seated rows lat Pulldowns flat bench incline bench lateral raises standing barbell curls shrugs shoulder press tricep curls abs
You mean the one where you gain an inch on your arms in 24 hours? Nah, I decided against it. I'm not too interested in bodybuilding for bulk on my arms anyway. It sounded like a fun idea at the time, but I'm training more for power and strength than visual aesthetics. Besides, I'm satisfied with my arms the way they are... any bigger and I'm afraid I'll become too clunky and lose precious speed and agility. If you need help starting a regimen to get into weight training, I'd be glad to help you out. I can post my own or advise you on yours, if you'd like. After all, you can never be too strong or too fit, heh.
Damn straight. My only problem is the fighting off of exhaustion. I can barely keep my eyes open most of the time, so it's a struggle just to do my 10 minutes a day. (I just keep telling myself how much of a pussy I'd be if I couldn't even do 10 minutes a day. Otherwise, I'd have gained back all of my weight by now.)
Exhaustion from what though? Lack of sleep and proper nutrition, or do you mean muscle fatigue betwen sets?
Lack of sleep. Proper nutrition is partly to blame, since I'm definitely not eating as well as I was. My wife went back to work (overnights) 2 months ago, leaving me home at night to take care of the kids. My 5-month old has a nasty habit of not sleeping through the night. It's really nothing that can be solved in the immediate future, so I'm just doing my best to deal with it.
Well, I'm stumped at this point. I've tried every diet and workout regimen that I can find, I'm stuck at 6'3 3/4", 220lb. Granted with twice a day gym trips, minor weight lifting in my room and eating healthily, I'm slowly losing fat and gaining muscle, I'm just not gaining any weight. It is a minor improvement from my old year-long plateau of 215, but that's just five frickin' pounds. Not good enough says me. The worst part is that this is only going to get worse since I'm going home and thus lose all of those precious leg machines that I've come to love. For a month. Are there any cheap gyms in Nassau? Cause' my old one would probably be $100 for the break, and that's just not kosher.
You want to gain weight, you have to consume more calories. You have to be careful what those calories come from though. Protein, protein, protein. Balance your diet overall, but consume extra protein. Also, immediately after working out, consume a protein shake. I posted my recipie a while back if you need an idea of what to make it with. I don't know of any gyms to suggest, but definitely find a way to work out no matter what. Also, are you doing full-body, or only working on your legs? You won't convert most of the fat to muscle if you aren't getting your whole body in shape. Another thing, sprint. Do wind sprints to burn calories. It will also help maintain leg strength, and will help you gain muscle. Just because you're away from your comfort zone doesn't mean you can't improvise! It sucks, but if you stick to it, you'll be fine. Good luck!
