what does creatin do to your muscles?
447644
Your body uses Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) as you primary energy source especially when lifting very heavy, there are other energy systems but in regards to creatine i will limit this answer.\n\nWhey you perform you're repetitions the ATP breaks off into ADP (Adenosine Diphospate) this is when you get your energy burst which allows your muscle fibers to contract. When you get low on ATP/ADP your body will grab some of the naturally occuring creatine from your cells and throw them in with the ADP for the energy burst.\n\nSo by taking creatine as a suppliment you will improve upon your performance allowing you to eventually lift heavier weight and or for longer periods of time. Hence you will gain more muscle or endurance etc...\n\nNote:\n"Creatine Ethyl Ester" will promote a leaner ripped muscles.\n\n"Creatine Monohydrate" will promote a larger albiet more bloated or less lean type muscle.
375310
Creatine does not build muscle mass, it simply adds water to the muscle.  It does enhance some strength parameters but it is not anabolic.  It has also been associated with bloating and cramping of the muscles.  Creatine is most likely useful only for high-intensity interval anaerobic sports that don't depend on body mass (like volleyball).\n\nFor working out, first, weight gain will depend on your age.  If you haven't hit puberty yet, you are missing some of the essential hormones needed to bulk up (androgens).  Working out will still make you stronger because the nerves learn how to stimulate the muscles better.\n\nTo bulk, you want 8-10 reps 3-4 sets for each exercise with 2-3 exercises per body part.  Work your core (stomach/back/butt) to improve your lifts.  You can use a 2/0/3 tempo, which means 2 seconds pushing the weight up, no pause on top and 3 seconds lowering the weight.  The weight should be heavy enough so you tire out between 8 to 10 reps (if you can go to 11 the weight is too light).  Make sure you have a spotter, especially if you are just beginning (someone to watch the weights and prevent you from dropping them on yourself).  Make sure to only rest 1 minute between sets.\n\nFor diet, eat 1.2-1.5g/kg body weight of protein.  Don't waste your money on supplements.  Just add it to your diet (meat products, soy, whole grains, some vegetables, milk, other dairy, nuts).  Watch out for too much fat though, because a lot of protein sources also have fat.  Choose leaner meats and fish so you don't up your fat intake stays at a healthy level.  It's good to eat something with some protein in it right after a workout (like yogurt or something else that is easily digested).\n\nAnd please, for the love of all things good, work your legs and your back.  You want a balanced, healthy and strong body, and don't want to walk around looking like an ape. Balance chest exercises with those for your upper back (rowing exercises and pulldowns/chin-ups).  Please work your legs, you use them every day and when you work the legs, you work the butt and ladies like a nice butt!\n\nHave fun and good luck!
776264
Creatine is not dangerous, just use it in the doses recommended in the products that you're buying.  There are some potential side effects (diarrhea, dizziness, weight gain) but contrary to the hype, none of them are serious.\n\nI should also mention, however, that creatine, though safe, isn't really very effective at what it's marketed for.  It has been shown to increase muscle power for simple, intense activity, but for coordinated movements like running, swimming, etc, there is no data to indicate it helps at all.  An example of something it might help with is arm wrestling, or weight lifting.
973909
Creatine causes muscle cells to absorb more water, causing them to stretch and look larger.  But the larger cell can also absorb protein better so that the increased size is retained.
1152653
put as much weight on your shoulders as you are comfotabl with when you work out. the only way to build muscle is to tear it. no pain-no gain. muscle grows on 3 things- protein, creatin, and water
903403
Creatine is FDA approved, but they have not determined its safety.  It has been known to create kidney problems, which can lead to renal failure and many other diseases.  I have attached an passage from the University of Connecticut Health Center.  I hope it helps.\n\nHave fun!
399496
creatine really works at trapping water in ur muscles. and thats all it does tho. u should take it about an hour before u hit the weights.  results depend on the the FIT principle. frequency intensity and time
892156
whey protein powder and a multivitamin really....ive learnt (by experience) that most others are just a waste of money...you just need to ensure you're getting enough protein to heal your muscles, and a good multivitamin just for the sake of it.....i also take a zinc supplement to make sure my testosterone level is high enough, and a magnesium citrate (300mg) pill to relax muscles..dont bother with most of that fancy stuff....creatine will add some bulk though....but yeah, vitamin+protein would be adequate
706574
Creatine is a nitrogenous organic acid that naturally occurs in vertebrates and helps to supply energy to muscle cells. Creatine was identified in 1832 when Michel Eugène Chevreul discovered it as a component of skeletal muscle which he later named creatine after the Greek word for flesh, Kreas.\n\nCreatine supplementation has been, and continues to be, investigated as a possible therapeutic approach for the treatment of muscular, neurological and neuromuscular diseases (arthritis, congestive heart failure, disuse atrophy, gyrate atrophy, McArdle's disease, Huntington's disease, miscellaneous neuromuscular diseases, mitochondrial diseases, muscular dystrophy, neuroprotection, etc.).\n\nDoes creatine cause cancer?\nRecently, there has been a lot of talk about creatine causing cancer. This concern initially arose from the fact that certain carcinogenic agents (AIAs) are produced in meats when exposed to high temperatures. The connection between creatine and cancer stems from the fact that meats with higher creatine content produce more of these cancer causing agents WHEN COOKED. The French agency for food safety, AFSSA (Agence Française de Sécurité Sanitaire des Aliments), thus alleged that creatine supplementation, since it increases our muscle creatine content, increases our chances of developing cancer. It remains to be clearly demonstrated, however, that these same cancer causing agents are produced within the human body. In other words, in a person that isn't cooked! Moreover, some experiments performed on isolated tumor cell lines maintained in tissue culture have demonstrated just the opposite. That is, creatine had either no effect, or even suppressed tumor cell growth.\n\nCreatine known potential side effects may include cramps, kidney stones, gas and bloating. \n\nFor full info, click the links below.\n\nThat's My Best Answer!
505076
Creatine is natural in skeletal muscle and is not harmful. The "good and bad" creatines have alot to do with how much is absorb by your body as useful creatine. Check out Muscular Development, they have a website.
793721
Creatine will dehydrate you so if you take it, make sure you drink enough water. Protein is always good. Without protein you can't build muscle.
43625
Creatine is overrated, you have to take it all the time to keep you're results you gain from it. But I would suggest Cell-Tech if you don't mind drinking it every day.
1043978
take it before and after nowadays creatine is cheap enough to use 2o grams per day if you wanted too..but 5 grams before and 5 grams following your workout is all you really need to experience benefits
241537
from a fellow body builder to another try L-Arigine at 1000 mg 3 times a day. (can be found at GNC for 12 bucks) it is a complex amino acid. that are the building blocks for protin and creatine. builds mass and pomotes fast healing. I also stack with L- otherdine for some fast healing. just so i get 4 days a week of heavy lifting and 2 on light.\nfor more tips brother check out www.trulyhuge.com good site and good people.
987158
OK here's the scoop on these products, they are HELL on your kidneys. They may promote bulk and fat burn but they are loaded with Creatine (something akin to creatinine phosphate which is a byproduct of protein metabolisim)  It is not the same but it produces excessive levels of creatinine phosphate when consumed... The best method to gain bulk and burn fat is increasing your caloric intake of LEAN MEATS and veggies as well as incomplete proteins such as beans and NUTS which will also increase the amount of healthy fats in your diet. You will burn fat gain muscle and add bulk.
576781
It is probably the only supplement on the market that can actually help you increase your loads, power and size in a realtively short period of time.  \n\nPROS\n- Increases the availability of energy for first 6-10s of power related movements\n- It increases muscle strength and power\n- May improve some endurance and delay fatigue. \n- Forces water into your muscles (cell volumization), making muscles bigger and firmer. Do not confuse this with water retention that happens outside the muscle cells, making the muscles look smooth. \n- Gain weight quickly (if that is a desired goal) 4-8 pounds is common in the first three (mostly due to increase of body fluids in the muscles). \n- Gain muscle faster since your able to lift greater loads longer due to reduced fatigue and leverage.\n\nCONS\n- Weight, strength and power gain are quickly lost approx 2-3 weeks after termination of last cycle\n- There have been some outrageous claims of Creatine causing everything from high blood pressure to cancer, but these have never been proven. There are no scientifically proven side effects from moderate Creatine supplementation.\n\nhttp://preventdisease.com/news/articles/creatine_boosts_brain_power.shtml\nhttp://preventdisease.com/news/articles/creatine_and_teens.shtml\n.\n.
210721
Creatine actually does work, if you cycle it correctly. It helps your endurance when working out & helps you bulk up faster. Check out the links.