Creatine and field sports

KeithReilly

I've read all about the benefits of creatine but if you quickly jump in weight in anything from 6-10lbs of bodyweight due to water retention would this not in turn slow you down, certainly initially, and therefore outweigh the benefits?

Hanley

KeithReilly wrote: »

I've read all about the benefits of creatine but if you quickly jump in weight in anything from 6-10lbs of bodyweight due to water retention would this not in turn slow you down, certainly initially, and therefore outweigh the benefits?

Show me someone who gains that much from creatine.

WHIP IT!

Hanley wrote: »

Show me someone who gains that much from creatine.

'Numbers' aside, is a creatine effective/recommended for field sport athletes, ie rugby/GAA players who will be doing alot of hard running work as well as strength and conditioning work?

Like the OP, my concern about using it is that 'water weight' could slow you down?

jugger0

Most sprinters would be taking creatine, the water weight isnt high enough to effect your speed. I have never noticed anything other then positives when on creatine. As for field sports the vast majority of rugby players would be taking creatine without any loss in performance, its good stuff.

WHIP IT!

jugger0 wrote: »

Most sprinters would be taking creatine, the water weight isnt high enough to effect your speed. I have never noticed anything other then positives when on creatine. As for field sports the vast majority of rugby players would be taking creatine without any loss in performance, its good stuff.

Thanks jugger. What are the benefits of taking it for the above athletes, sprinters and rugby/gaa players? Is it taken pre/post training, or both?

Khannie

Has to depend on the field sport. Creatine's going to help with anaerobic capacity, but if you're mostly jogging around the place the extra weight will take its toll.

Do professional footballers use creatine?

jugger0

WHIP IT! wrote: »

Thanks jugger. What are the benefits of taking it for the above athletes, sprinters and rugby/gaa players? Is it taken pre/post training, or both?

It increases ATP regeneration, all explosive movements require ATP, sprinting, running people over, tackling.. all that fun stuff. It reduces lactic acid build up so you can recover faster,and you will gain some weight which is an advantage for some sports, This varies greatly from person to person though, i gained around 5lbs when i first took it when i was 16, thought it was great! So pretty much you have more energy which equals more reps, you will recover faster and be able to sprint more. I have taken creatine many times and notice it working, its IMO the best supplement around.

I only take it once a day, usually at night. A cup of boiling water,5g creatine monohydrate and miwadi... tastes pretty good too.

BadCharlie

What about someone trying to lose a little bit of weight but also get stronger at the same time. any point in taking creating then?

I noticed i put on 6pounds in a week after starting creating when i first started. But at the mo trying to lose a few pounds.

Hanley

BadCharlie wrote: »

What about someone trying to lose a little bit of weight but also get stronger at the same time. any point in taking creating then?

I noticed i put on 6pounds in a week after starting creating when i first started. But at the mo trying to lose a few pounds.

Take creatine for a few weeks. Weight yourself. Stop taking it. Weigh yourself 4 weeks later. BOOM - creatine driven weight loss

Seriously tho, creatine wont stop you losing fat. It might increase your bloat a bit, but it'll give you more energy, allow you to work harder and push training more. Once you stop taking it, that bloat goes. And the fat you lost when taking it, and strength you gained, won't have changed.

WHIP IT!

Hanley wrote: »

Take creatine for a few weeks. Weight yourself. Stop taking it. Weigh yourself 4 weeks later. BOOM - creatine driven weight loss

Seriously tho, creatine wont stop you losing fat. It might increase your bloat a bit, but it'll give you more energy, allow you to work harder and push training more. Once you stop taking it, that bloat goes. And the fat you lost when taking it, and strength you gained, won't have changed.

I hate the presence of the word "bloat" here - I have too much natural "bloat" as it is, I don't want more.... but I do want "more energy that allows me to work harder"! Hmmm...

Hanley

WHIP IT! wrote: »

I hate the presence of the word "bloat" here - I have too much natural "bloat" as it is, I don't want more.... but I do want "more energy that allows me to work harder"! Hmmm...

The bloat isn't noticable. At all.

Poccington

WHIP IT! wrote: »

I hate the presence of the word "bloat" here - I have too much natural "bloat" as it is, I don't want more.... but I do want "more energy that allows me to work harder"! Hmmm...

As Hanley has already said, it isn't noticeable.

Last year while playing GAA I was taking creatine. I really wouldn't worry about it affecting your speed, while I was taking it I managed to run a sub 35 minute 10k. While that time obviously wasn't directly attributed to creatine, it certainly didn't slow me down.


I really wouldn't worry about it slowing you down. It won't.

Banks

Khannie wrote: »

Do professional footballers use creatine?

Yes, I know of 3 pro teams that take it outside Ireland, 1 international team and 2 MLS teams that I personally handed the creatine to.