Creatine

[rawa9 0]

I know there arent any doctors on here, but I also know the response I am going to get from most doctors. I'm looking for feedback from you guys who have experience with it, and the other guys on here who seem to know their stuff about training/supplements. Thanks

[Cavs019 710]

Its safe, but its definately not necessary. One of my friends took it and had kidney stones afterwards. Take it as you like but old fashioned working out and a solid diet will get you the same results.

[Chris_H 0]

Read about creatine on www.bodybuilding.com.....it basically provides you with the ability to lift more, so that u can get bigger and stronger in a shorter period of time.

[LegoDoom 0]

Its safe, but its definately not necessary. One of my friends took it and had kidney stones afterwards.

Do you see how that's not safe?

[Veltri 0]

Its safe, but its definately not necessary. One of my friends took it and had kidney stones afterwards.

Do you see how that's not safe?

oh of course its safe..kidney stones are no big deal...

[Veltri 0]

creatine doenst do much for strength gains, it puts water in ur muscles, so that you look bigger. there are minimal strength gains, but its mostly just making u look jacked.

[SB39 2]

Back when I took it I didn't take it right so it didn't do what it could. Basically, if you have a solid diet and train consistently well, then creatine will do great things, if taken correctly and if you drink way more water. For creatine, and most other supplements to work, you have to have everything else in line for them to take effect. It's the same as eating all fast food and expecting a multivitamin to make your diet healthy to eat a subpar diet and train without the proper intensity and expect creatine to make you strong. creatine does work; I've seen it and will probably go on it when I get back from Spain. I don't know about kidney stones and how your friends were taking it Cavs, but the general consensus in the bodybuilding world is that its the closest thing to steriods and its infinitely safer. I will let you know in about 8 months how my progress is...

[Buzz_LightBeer 972]

i noticed myself getting real sick to my stomach when i took it (mixed it with juice, apple/pineapple, etc) but very little gain in muscle

[D3nZ 0]

They can also give you a good amount of weight and fat if you do not train properly or often enough.

[blackhawks4ever 0]

Actually rawa9 I am a doctor (but not a nutritionist). Heres what I have been told about Creatine. Its main benefit is for muscle memory skills (ie hitting a baseball, bench press etc). Its speeds up mucle response and muscle strength to a repetative motion. There is risk to the kidneys, so if you are going to try this stuff drink lots of water!!!!! I don't think you will find a hockey specific benefit from this stuff since hockey requires an all around fittness and agility....unless you want to spend an hour a day hitting slapshots or something. Hope this helps :D

[Bo from Boston 0]

Guys I used to play with in college used to take this CRAP. Quickly grown muscle is less dense and is not as strong as good old fashioned muscle grown by a normal weight regimen. Bottom line, 3 guys had torn quads during camp after bulking up with this shit over the summer.

There is a reason all this stuff is sold at GNC...none of it has been approved for healthy use and thusly the health risks are not fully known. I feel sorry for the people who feel they need to take these kinds of things - its basically looking for an answer to confidence in your game issue or the lazy way out on strengthening yourself. Ephedra is a good example on the other end of the spectrum...whatever happened to eating right and exercizing??? People want the easy way out and don't want to put in the work for the results they require thinking a pill or powder will fix them magically.

[Flyerguy91 0]

well i know i am gonna lose some ppl with this explanation but ill try to dumb it down a little,

ATP (adenosine TRIphosphate) is the body's key energy system for maximal efforts in short period of time, around 10 secs (i.e. weight lifting, sprint for a loose puck). To explain how ATP works, think of a rechargable battery. When an ATP molecule is used it kicks out one phosphate molecule as a result. that ATP molecule now becomes ADP (adenosine diphosphate). ADP cannot be used again until it recieves another Phosphate (it is "deactivated").

Creatine is a naturally occuring molecule in your body, its made from amino acids and is also found in red meat. Creatine's main purpose in the body is to help repair those ADP molecules, Well there is another molecule name PC (Phosphate Creatinine). This PC molecule goes to the ADP and gives it the Phosphate it needs so it can be used again for a quick maximal effort.

So in theory, by having more Creatine in your system you can reduce the turnaround time for ATP molecules, decreasing recovery time allowing you to work out sooner and harder than you just did. But it will only increase strength if you use the quicker recovery time to your advantage. It also increases size and water retention, which is great for bodybuilders. I dont think that hockey players want extra size to carry around that is water. It would decrease mobility and speed.

So in closing i dont think that creatine is best to use during a season, but if you use it in the offseason and take advantage of your "extra" energy, you should see results

Training is 20% excersize and 80% nutrition

-end biology lesson

[Flyerguy91 0]

another tidbit on supplements and alot of the bashing going on here

they help HOWEVER they are not the only thing, NOTHING substitutes a good diet and training regimen. Supps should also used AS THEY ARE DIRECTED.

Random thing bout ephedra: why is ephedra banned yet Sudafed isnt?

main ingredient in sudafed is PseudoEPHEDRINE a medical strength form of ephedra. something to think on

[Chadd 916]

Random thing bout ephedra: why is ephedra banned yet Sudafed isnt?

main ingredient in sudafed is PseudoEPHEDRINE a medical strength form of ephedra. something to think on

That has more to do with the lobbying power of the drug manufacturer.

[lee92 2]

i dont think theres much anything wrong with creatine...like you said, it puts more water in your muscles and makes you dehydrate quicker so to counter that you just take more water in. a couple players from my hockey team were on it...they'd go a month on and month off and so on, going to the gym like 5-6 times a week...they put on about 15lbs or so and realy beefed up

[Gongshow11 1]

bottom line, it makes you stronger by putting water n your muscles. this is creatine monohydrate. there are stronger forms liek v12 and stuff which do diff things, but you must always supplement with lots of water to make it effective,a nd must work out

[Flyerguy91 0]

they put on about 15lbs or so and realy beefed up

with creatine some of that weight may have been water, they may not have gained strength proportional to their weight gain, hindering their speed.

[Chadd 916]

not to mention upper body weight gain doesn't increase speed or quickness.

[Cavs019 710]

Exactly, I don't understand why hockey players want to get "huge." Sure the strength will help in the corners, but not everyone would benifit from playing a Donald Brashear style.

[Cavs019 710]

Theo I agree with you 100%. Once I started seriously working my legs,I found that my skating was infinitely better as I was able to get a much deeper knee bend as a result of my quadriceps being much stronger.

[mojo122 538]

oh of course its safe..kidney stones are no big deal...

No big deal if you don't mind excruciating back and flank pain, in addition to surgical procedures for when they are too big to pass on their own.

[biff44 0]

Before you look for some quick fix, untested, unproven supplement like creatine, are you really doing all you can with basic, proven, safe methods, like the following???

Take a high quality (not a CVS type) multivitamin, like Solray Spectro Multivitamin

Take a Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc supplement (80% of athletes tested are deficient in these minerals that are vital for muscle development and performance)

Take Omega 3,6,9 oils with every meal, like Total EFA brand, to convert the fat in your body to muscle, and help your heart.

Get most of your carbs from fruits and vegetables, NOT from rice/bread/pasta/ice cream/double mocha frapuchino lattes with extra caramel sauce, etc.

Get enough protein, 1 to 2 grams per pound of body mass per day. Lay off the Capt'n Crunch, and instead wolf down eggs for breakfast, for example.

Drink lots of water, and lay off the sports drinks except for right after a game/workout when you need a big shot of carbs and some protein within 30 minutes after the workout ends.

Lay off the diet drinks with Apartame in them, as it screws up your muscle/brain connections.

In other words, build your body's foundation before trying some quick fix substance. If that is not enough, THEN try something like creatine.

[lee92 2]

well one of my friends thats on the creatine is 6'8, 210...so i think he could use the extra weight and strength. he jsut got drafted to lewiston maniacs too, so he's givin' er 110%

[biff44 0]

He needs a trainer to work with him this summer.

[chippa13 1844]

All the weight gain from hockey should be strictly lean muscel. Relative strength is much more important then absolute strength as well, IMO. And for hockey players, we all agree that mass in the lower body is more important since it lowers your bodys center of gravity which helps a players dynamic balance and stability. By lowering your center of gravity and improving lower body mass and muscel, one can bend their knees more which improves skating immediately.

Don't underestimate the value of upper body strength. It helps with battling in the corners, along the boards, and in front of the net, as well as adding power to your shots and passes. It also makes you stronger on your stick so you can win one on one battles for the puck. An all around strength program works best for hockey.