Is Creatine safe ?

Hi Guys I am 48 been doing the weights for about a month and currently bulking ....with the help of some good advice from this site...weight is increasing and I am getting smaller round the waist so hopefully I am on the right tracks.

Being older I am finding recovery to take a bit longer than when I was younger , but I guess that goes with the territory...sorry to ramble, my goal is to increase strength and size. I am eating over maintenance and drinking between 4 and 8 pints of 1% fat milk per day (this is where the extra cals come from)

My question is what is the best product to take to aid recovery , and is creatine safe for an old fogey with so limited time in the gym safe to take.

Cheers

Dave

Dave,

Creatine does not aid in recovery; it is a supplement that helps to increase strength.

For recovery, adjusting your post-workout (PWO) nutrition could be a great way to help your muscles bounce back from intense training. It is important to have a balanced shake with low glycemic carbohydrates, high quality protein, and moderate fats. If you are looking for an 'out of the box' solution then Opticen has the ideal macronutrient ratios for workout recovery and utilizes a very high quality protein source. If you want something more versatile then Nitrean (picked by Men's Health as the #1 protein in 2008 and 2009) is a great choice. For post-workout I would simply add 1/2 cup of cooked oats to your shake to provide the carbohydrates/fat.

Here is something that I posted in another thread about creatine:

"In a nutshell, creatine's function is to help to supply energy to muscle cells. It's believed that creatine works as a phosphate reservoir which is used for regenerating ATP (adenosine triphosphate) -- which you may remember from high school biology is the main fuel for the muscle in initial high-intensity muscle activity. When a muscle contracts, ATP loses some phosphate in the process of creating energy. Creatine is a source of fuel for re-supplying that lost phosphate which in turn is then used to create more ATP. The theory is that with more creatine available, you will have additional energy for quick, high-intensity activity, such as pushing out an additional rep at the gym. Creatine also has a volumizing effect -- driving additional water and nutrients into muscle cells. This is why people will often gain weight or see some "bulking" when they use creatine. (Various Sources)

This basically means that creatine will help you to build strength which in turn will help you to build muscle."

Are you already using a protein powder for post-workout recovery?

Originally Posted by Tom Mutaffis

Dave,

Creatine does not aid in recovery; it is a supplement that helps to increase strength.

For recovery, adjusting your post-workout (PWO) nutrition could be a great way to help your muscles bounce back from intense training. It is important to have a balanced shake with low glycemic carbohydrates, high quality protein, and moderate fats. If you are looking for an 'out of the box' solution then Opticen has the ideal macronutrient ratios for workout recovery and utilizes a very high quality protein source. If you want something more versatile then Nitrean (picked by Men's Health as the #1 protein in 2008 and 2009) is a great choice. For post-workout I would simply add 1/2 cup of cooked oats to your shake to provide the carbohydrates/fat.

Here is something that I posted in another thread about creatine:

"In a nutshell, creatine's function is to help to supply energy to muscle cells. It's believed that creatine works as a phosphate reservoir which is used for regenerating ATP (adenosine triphosphate) -- which you may remember from high school biology is the main fuel for the muscle in initial high-intensity muscle activity. When a muscle contracts, ATP loses some phosphate in the process of creating energy. Creatine is a source of fuel for re-supplying that lost phosphate which in turn is then used to create more ATP. The theory is that with more creatine available, you will have additional energy for quick, high-intensity activity, such as pushing out an additional rep at the gym. Creatine also has a volumizing effect -- driving additional water and nutrients into muscle cells. This is why people will often gain weight or see some "bulking" when they use creatine. (Various Sources)

This basically means that creatine will help you to build strength which in turn will help you to build muscle."

Are you already using a protein powder for post-workout recovery?

Not using anything at the moment Tom..But I am looking for just the information you have given me. I have posted my routine in the bodybuilding section asking for critique,can I be cheaky and ask for your opinion please. The routine is based around one that you gave in the F.A.Q section so thanks on both counts.

Dave

Originally Posted by thecoder0

Hi Guys I am 48 been doing the weights for about a month and currently bulking ....with the help of some good advice from this site...weight is increasing and I am getting smaller round the waist so hopefully I am on the right tracks.

Being older I am finding recovery to take a bit longer than when I was younger , but I guess that goes with the territory...sorry to ramble, my goal is to increase strength and size. I am eating over maintenance and drinking between 4 and 8 pints of 1% fat milk per day (this is where the extra cals come from)

My question is what is the best product to take to aid recovery , and is creatine safe for an old fogey with so limited time in the gym safe to take.

Cheers

Dave

I've posted this article before (a long time ago). But I always find it's really good inspiration to take care of yourself as you age, and show that it's quite possible to both look and feel great even past your "prime."
http://outside.away.com/outside/body...ur_life_3.html