When Creatine hit the bodybuilding scene about 15 years ago, it was considered a miracle supplement.
After following the instructions of “loading” up on creatine, you most likely saw some substantial gains but they slowed and/or tailored off.
Yet, if you fell off the creatine wagon, then your saw your muscle mass and strength drop.
Which promptly got you back to taking the supplement (note: you should not stay on a creatine cycle for too long, lest your body get used to working harder than normal to expel the salt).
Creatine naturally occurs within the body, which is why it works so well. When you get down to brass tacks, creatine does build muscle, yet it’s a semi-artificial build.
I say this because most of the mass that you gain is from water-weight. Creatine causes your muscles to retain water longer, so you can do a little more weight per lift and probably knock out an additional rep or two.
Creatine is able to do this, because it buffers the lactic acid building up in your muscle fibers when you’re working out (the lactic acid build up is what causes the burning sensation).
Since creatine increases your water retention levels as it’s working to increase your muscle size, what happens is that you’ll have more bloated look than a ripped look. It’s actually a little bit more difficult to get ripped while you are taking creatine.
How To Take Creatine
You have to load up on creatine before you start working out, so that when you do begin working out the supplement is active in your system.
And depending on your weight, you’ll have to take 5g of creatine 3 to 5 times a day for a week before your start your bodybuilding routine.
An Alternative To Creatine
The most effective alternative to creatine is whey protein powder or protein shake.
While this doesn’t provide the immediate visual boost that you’ll get from taking creatine, if you eat the right high calorie diet and design a proper bodybuilding program, then that’s all you really need to gain the weight, the mass and the strength you’re looking for.
If you do opt to take creatine, then the one thing to watch out for is to stay extremely well hydrated.
If you want the mass and strength that dynamic bodybuilding is supposed to give you, then pick up Vince Delmonte’s powerful and elucidating eBook, “No Nonsense Muscle Building” for a detailed analysis of how to properly and effectively load up on creatine and increase your muscle mass in the process.
Related posts:
