| Creatine is easily the most widely recognized nutritional | | | | giving their body time to create creatine naturally. |
| supplement on earth. But ironically, while people outside | | | | Sprinters, wrestlers, football players, |
| the bodybuilding community think it's some type of | | | | bodybuilders… and anyone who spends time in |
| anabolic steroid, the bulk of the people inside the | | | | the weight room can benefit from creatine |
| bodybuilding community think all it does is put water in | | | | supplementation. |
| your system just to make you look bigger without any | | | | Something else to note about creatine… it |
| real permanent muscle gains - all the while dehydrating | | | | requires bodily fluid (water) in order for it to be stored |
| the rest of your body. The truth of the matter is | | | | in the muscle. As a result, the muscle tissue will |
| creatine is the top selling supplement of all time for one | | | | increase and look larger. This is called "Cell |
| single reason… it works! | | | | Volumization" and although some people consider it an |
| Creatine is naturally comprised of three amino acids: | | | | unwanted side effect, it is not a bad thing! In fact, in |
| arginine, glycine and methionine. Amino acids are the | | | | order for creatine to work, this has to take place! |
| building blocks of all muscle tissue. Your body naturally | | | | Unfortunately, and this happens a lot, guys mistake the |
| produces about 2 grams of creatine per day, which is | | | | muscle cell volumization for water retention. They think |
| just enough to support a normal, non-athletic lifestyle. | | | | that using creatine will smooth out the look of their |
| For those of us who are active athletic types, 2 grams | | | | muscles and this couldn't be further from the truth! |
| just wont cut it and, unless we are using a creatine | | | | Water retention in the conventional sense, is the |
| supplement, we have to rely on our diet to get more. | | | | storage of water in the fat cells right beneath the skin |
| The problem is, the best natural food source of | | | | - between the skin and the muscle. Actually, because |
| creatine is red meat containing a measly 2 grams per | | | | creatine promotes muscle cell volumization, it works to |
| pound - most of which is completely destroyed when | | | | reduce subcutaneous water retention resulting in fuller |
| you cook it. And believe it or not, this goes for every | | | | muscles and a leaner look at the same time! This is a |
| nutrient… not just creatine! | | | | good thing! And, it's what makes creatine a great |
| If you really look at the way that creatine | | | | supplement for both mass and cutting cycles and, if |
| supplementation works in your body, you would see | | | | you've ever tried it you'd know, that the "Pump" you |
| that when you take a creatine supplement, you aren't | | | | get while on creatine is about as good as it gets! I |
| adding a muscle-building agent to your system like you | | | | know of some professional bodybuilders that take |
| do when you take steroids. What you are really doing | | | | creatine all the way up to contest day because the |
| is ensuring that your body has the nutrients it requires | | | | increased water in the muscles gives the illusion of |
| to build muscle and recover efficiently. I think creatine | | | | having more muscle mass overall and it continues to |
| should be a part of every athlete's regular diet! I like to | | | | re-hydrate your muscles during the posedowns. |
| think of it as adding gas to your car; without it, you just | | | | One more thing about creatine. Unlike many of the |
| cant go anywhere. In this scenario, adding synthetic | | | | other supplements on the market right now, creatine |
| testosterone would be like adding rocket fuel! | | | | supplementation was built on science! There are literally |
| What most people don't know about creatine is how it | | | | tons of clinical studies that support the effectiveness |
| really works. I'll try to explain it in very simple terms. | | | | of creatine on muscle size, strength, and stamina. |
| Creatine is naturally stored within the muscle cell and is | | | | Granted, like every other supplement, there are a |
| used to replenish energy during and after each muscle | | | | handful of poorly put together studies that show that |
| contraction. When the muscle contracts it uses | | | | creatine has little to no effect as well. But the |
| Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) for energy. In the | | | | overwhelming majority clearly shows that it is a very |
| process, ATP loses a phosphate molecule and the | | | | safe and effective supplement. |
| result is Adenosine Diphosphate (ADP). Then, to | | | | Not only is creatine a safe and legal dietary |
| complete the cycle, ADP combines with creatine to | | | | supplement; it is one of the most effective bodybuilding |
| create ATP again. In essence, your body's ATP supply | | | | tools available! In fact, it's not uncommon for someone |
| is dependant on creatine stores. | | | | to put on 6-8 pounds of mass in just the first few |
| With this said it is easy to conclude. If you increase the | | | | weeks of using it. And it works well during diet and |
| amount of creatine in your body, you in turn, increase | | | | cutting cycles as well. You could viably consider |
| the ability for your body to provide energy to your | | | | creatine the "holy grail" of all bodybuilding supplements! |
| muscles. This is especially beneficial to athletes who | | | | It was there in the beginning and it won't be going |
| require explosive, short quick burst of energy - not | | | | anywhere any time soon! |