Seriously: Based on YOUR experience.....

[Monsoon X]

What is creatine gonna do for me? I know we've exhausted this whole creatine thing but, did it do anything for you?

I've taken it and yeah I was pumped but for about only two weeks then I deflated. I might get back on it if will help me.

What about CellTech? Anyone use that?

[Head Hunter]

I have heard lots of great things about Cell Tech and I currently have a 4lb bucket of the fruit punch. Wish I had been able to taste it before buying it though bc I can't stand it personally.

Creatine itself has given me great results and also no results. I think it's all in who you use and how commited you are to it. I put on 30lbs and my max bench went up 33% in 3 months on creatine and a healthy diet so it can definitly do good things. At the same time last time I used some liquid version, I lost 2 lbs and saw no major gains.

[The Raven]

I've cycled it a few times as it's a good motivator to see the pounds go up, but overall gains were no more than having gone without. Something like creatine would be more beneficial to an endurance or seaonal athlete who could use it in the "on" season, but it can be a good way to break out of a rut in the gym as well.

[White_lightning]

in the past.. i have bought suplimetns.. and wasted money on them.. after 3-4 days.. i stop taking them... its mental..
you start taking a suppliment.. say Creatine or some other bogus" almost as good as juice.. but made from natural extracts of a carrot" crapola and i see an increase in strength... then i get parranoid.. what if i cant buy the suppliment any more.. will i get weak again??

i solve this by nOT getting supliments, and just sticking to protein shakes

[KevinH78]

The protein has majorly helped me in gaining strength and size over the last few months along with Ripped Fuel helping get rid of extra fat. I've heard tons of hype about Cell-Tech so I am gonna buy that jug from MaddHatter and see what it's all about. When I finish the bucket, I will post up and let you all know what increases I see if any.

[lilgeezy]

i took creatine for a few months, gained about 25 pounds on the bench press, then stopped, and lost about 15 pounds... so, overall i liked it, it helped some, i mean 10 pounds isnt great but over just a few months its not bad either. I used ANSI creatine in the morning, and After Max after the workout (i think it also has some creatine, but alot of other amino acids, 40g of protein, and alot of other good stuff) so in other words, give it a try. if it does nothing for you, remember it only works for like 75% of people - you can try a small bottle. if you notice nothing in like 2-3 weeks, then you can probably guess it won't work much for you, or your not taking it right. (someone correct me if im wrong about that %, but i think thats what i've heard) - if you load it (take about 20g/day) for the first week, that may help you make some quick initial gains. hope that helps. and remember cycling is good! it helps your body not rely on it so much

[Cooter]

it can help you break a plateau... especially if you've NEVER used it...

I use it all the time... 3-4wks on, 3-4wks off... I don't see it as any big deal. it's a naturally occuring substance that your body can only hold so much of. any excess gets pissed out, so you're not gonna "overdose" (though excess is added stress on the kidneys)

I mean, would you be worried about drinking too much water or eating too much steak? :confused:

just take it, but with your body mass, take a LOT!

when I take it, I generally take at least twice the recomended amount. Just because you're taking 5 grams doesn't mean your body is ABSORBING all 5 grams! I've noticed that I really see the results/effects when I take more than is recomended.

I drink 2-3 gallons of water a day, and every now and again, I'll mix some cranberry juice in my vodka to help out my kidneys! ;)

Forrest

[KevinH78]

Originally posted by Forrest
every now and again, I'll mix some cranberry juice in my vodka to help out my kidneys! ;)

Forrest

ROFL! :D

[Nero]

Everytime I get on it, I gain about five pounds in a week, from the
water gain , but it is intramuscular. so it's not a bad thing. My
stregnth goes up, slightly, and I look and feel bigger.
I think it is worth taking , in cycles, but the recomended
dosages aren't needed. I take half the "loading" amount for
about 4 days , then 2 capsules a day. I prefer the capsules
so I don't have to mix anything . Celltech is to expensive,
just drink a glass of non acidic friut juice when you take it, but not
grape juice, as it coupled with the creatine has a prune juice
effect, with a little color added. Creatine IMHO is one of the few
supplements that isn't a total waste of money.

[Bad89stang]

Do you guys realize what creatine is really meant to do? It has nothing to do with muscle mass increase. Not directly anyway. I think some of you above may know, but I have had so many people ask me if it "makes you bigger".

[Cooter]

based on the above posts, I'd say that everone in this thread knows what creatine does and that nobody thinks it magicly gives you muscle mass

Forrest

[Lethal]

Reading more about Creatine, I've seen that it helps give the muscle energy. As far as the actual mass, I think it just makes the cells bigger by having more water in them (not a bad thing).

[Cooter]

if you're going for a completely "shredded" look, the water will make the muscle appear smoother...

but yes, for most people (my fat ass included) anything that makes the muscles fuller is a visual benefit! LOL!

Forrest

[Head Hunter]

Originally posted by Bad89stang
Do you guys realize what creatine is really meant to do? It has nothing to do with muscle mass increase. Not directly anyway. I think some of you above may know, but I have had so many people ask me if it "makes you bigger".

My understanding, and this could be wrong, is that it turns the ATP molecules (expensed waste from muscles) back in to ADP (what muscles use to get that instant boost of energy) along with speeding up your metabolism and pushing more water and nutrients into your muscles faster giving you the "pumped up" look. It gives you more energy for better workouts and helps build muscle by getting it the much needed nutrients... but creatine is worthless without a good amount of sleep, hard workouts, and a cafinee-free diet.

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong though as I have a tendency to be

[Bad89stang]

Originally posted by MaddHatter
My understanding, and this could be wrong, is that it turns the ATP molecules (expensed waste from muscles) back in to ADP (what muscles use to get that instant boost of energy)

You were close, but you got the idea!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why does creatine make us stronger?

Any activity a cell undertakes is paid for with molecules of adenosine triphosphate, or ATP. This is true whether the creatine was produced in a test tube or in the liver. Simply, ATP is a molecule of adenosine attached to three phosphates molecules. Through the ages the cell has learned to store energy in the bonds between phosphate groups. ATP pays one phosphate group for just one tiny part of a single muscle fiber to move. Large, multi-joint movements can cost millions of phosphate groups! After being spent ATP becomes ADP, adenosine diphosphate, which has much less spending power.

This is where creatine comes in. Creatine quickly replaces ATP's spent phosphate group. Think of this as a loan. Creatine accomplishes this by obtaining a phosphate group of its own to become phosphocreatine, or PCr. It is this phosphate group that PCr later donates to ADP to recreate ATP. The end result is that ATP is recharged to power muscular activity with the help of PCr.

[Head Hunter]

Originally posted by Bad89stang
You were close, but you got the idea!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why does creatine make us stronger?

Any activity a cell undertakes is paid for with molecules of adenosine triphosphate, or ATP. This is true whether the creatine was produced in a test tube or in the liver. Simply, ATP is a molecule of adenosine attached to three phosphates molecules. Through the ages the cell has learned to store energy in the bonds between phosphate groups. ATP pays one phosphate group for just one tiny part of a single muscle fiber to move. Large, multi-joint movements can cost millions of phosphate groups! After being spent ATP becomes ADP, adenosine diphosphate, which has much less spending power.

This is where creatine comes in. Creatine quickly replaces ATP's spent phosphate group. Think of this as a loan. Creatine accomplishes this by obtaining a phosphate group of its own to become phosphocreatine, or PCr. It is this phosphate group that PCr later donates to ADP to recreate ATP. The end result is that ATP is recharged to power muscular activity with the help of PCr.

Thx BadStang - I guess I just had it backwards... never was good in biology

[RCobracon94]

I used cell tech before and now I am a fat ass....

not really it helped out and helped me break out of a plateau.

[Delerium]

It gives you the shits

[87bluehatch]

I have used the orange flavor of cell tech and it did not taste bad, the only problem was I was water logged after taking it and did not feel like working out, you will also gain alot of water weight.

The best thing you can do to get stronger is eat protein. Eat about a gram to a gram and a half of protein for every pound of your body weight, but do not exceed 50 grams of protein in a two hour period of time b/c your body can not handle that much.

[Cooter]

Originally posted by Delerium
It gives you the shits

no it doesn't

[Delerium]

it gives ME the shits

[Cooter]

Originally posted by Delerium
it gives ME the shits

correct. :p

[SlowLX]

Its helped me keep on what few lbs or so I put on before i leave for bootcamp in the fall.

[91poonstang]

The BEST Creatine supplement out there in my opinion is Phosphagen HP by EAS. It tastes great and works fantastic. I am not trying to show boat but i used it this year to prep for powerlifting my senior year and i did very well. I medaled every meet and got 7th at the state meet. Every bottle that i finished i had gained about 30-40 on my bench. I work at the smoothie king in burleson if any of yall are interested in something let me know.
ryan

[brien w]

when i take creatine it breaks out my back.. i duno if it does this to anyone else.