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creatine????
Bristol newbie
Posts: 149
in General Chat
I've heard mixed opinions on creatine and was wondering what the general opinion was? I was thinking of giving it a go while i get the miles in this winter.
I welcome your views,
merry christmas
I welcome your views,
merry christmas
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Science bit - ATP is used inside the muscle providing a few seconds of muscle contraction, turns into ADP, creatine phosphate within in the muscle gives a phosphate to ADP to make it back into ATP. Thus providing extra seconds of contraction. This is all done anaerobically.
Therefore i think it is not much use for an endurance athlete, if you want my advice save the money and spend it on sacks of porridge and gallons of milk!
It is just strength benefits?
The main claim of creatine is the increase in muscle mass and so strength, therefore if you are doing heavy weights, which most cyclists will do to increase leg power it will help.
I think it all depends on your body setup, i.e if you are quite lean and could do with some more leg power for the bike then do heavy weight lifting, such as squats, take the creatine, it may help to add some bulk.
The only reservation I have in regards to creatine for triathletes is bulk is not always your friend, it may harm you running.
However, in my own honest opinion I really felt the stuff made a big difference to my own temper more than anything. I used to get really moody when I was on it, I also used to get massive cramps and the nasua feeling when drinking the bloody stuff as well. I had to mix it into yoghurt or thick milkshakes as its disgusting.
I stopped taking it when I started tri and I feel better for it. I'm with TommiTri. You'll get bigger benefit from porridge, milk, pasta, fish etc than you will from creatine. You need to hammer the stuff into you and not everyone get big benefits from it, most don't notice anything.
I don't buy creatine anymore, I think money can be wasted on other things![:D]
Seriously, since you've already bought it, use it in a specific period. For example, when using the creatine, do a period of specific strengt training: swimming with paddles, hill running, weighted running, riding difficult gears/hills,......
Watch out for injury though!
Best of luck!