OK ANOTHER STUPID QUESTION... for calorie counting freaks - JP Fitness Forums

Ciao · 01-15-2008, 05:58 PM

I have not been counting the calories in Creatine,,, should I? Also, there's calories in stuff like husks (you know, to keep the pipes running..) do I need to count those calories too?
Thanks from the depths of my heart from a calorie/ratio counting slave.

Olga.

OldGuy · 01-15-2008, 06:44 PM

How many calories does it say on the creatine label?

Aoife · 01-15-2008, 06:47 PM

pfft. unless you're shoveling that stuff in by the truck load, it won't much matter. All your counting is just estimates anyway. You estimate how much you need, they estimate how many calories are in a serving, you estimate how much you're eating (the scale may be off, or may not be sensitive enough for more than an 8th or 10th of an ounce or a couple grams).

It's all estimation. If you're not reaching your goals and you think everything else is dead on, then reduce your intake by that amount or increase your activity by that... but I doubt it'll have an actual impact.

Ciao · 01-15-2008, 07:01 PM

Well, thanks a lot. I sorta' guessed that it shouldn't matter but hey, you can never be too sure.

OLD GUY: It's 20 calories per 1 Teaspoonful (5g)

THANKS AGAIN. ;-)

OldGuy · 01-15-2008, 08:21 PM

Well, then your not just taking creatine. Creatine has no calories. You must have some carbohydrates in there too.

As far as counting, if you are counting your daily calories then you count all calories.

Ciao · 01-16-2008, 03:13 PM

OLD GUY:
That was an eye opener! I use Precision Engineered's CREATINE HARDCORE POWDER.
It says HPLC Pure Creatine Monohydrate 5,000mg (5g). Calories 20. There are no other ingredients listed, not even in the really fine print. Is the HPLC where the carbs are hidden or what? I am definitely not an expert in nutrition. thanks.
Olga.

OldGuy · 01-16-2008, 05:02 PM

This is the label I found online. Same product? This label shows no calories.

Ciao · 01-18-2008, 11:53 AM

OLD GUY:
I just went to VitaminWorld.com to check out the label (that's where I purchased the creatine) and that's exactly the same label you sent me in the link so I don't know what to say because my label shows EVERYTHING the same except the 20 calories right below the thingy. Oh, what the heck! I am very happy to learn that my label must be wrongly printed and there's really no calories. Thanks a lot for your time and patience! I really appreciatted your help.
Olga.

Cynic · 01-18-2008, 03:58 PM

I would not worry about 20cals. In the 2,000cal std, that's 1/100th of the total calories.

smittygouv · 01-19-2008, 01:21 PM

Creatine is a protein. Each gram of protein = 4 calories. Hence 5g x 4cals = 20 calories. The label is right, pure creatine.

OldGuy · 01-19-2008, 05:49 PM

Not.

Quote:

Creatine is nitrogenous organic acid that occurs naturally in vertebrates and helps to supply energy to muscle and nerve 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.

BamaDave · 01-21-2008, 07:55 AM

HPLC refers to "high performance liquid chromatography," which is the laboratory technique used to purify the creatine. It's sort of like "oven-baked chicken nuggets." The oven is not included in the nuggets.

Alcoholiday · 01-21-2008, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smittygouv

Creatine is a protein.

huh?

smittygouv · 01-21-2008, 01:14 PM

My apologies Oldguy I had been under the wrong impression of creatine for a while. I always thought creatine was a protein. Under further research I found that it is a "protein derivative". I guess i'm still a little confused as to how it "supplies energy to muscle and nerve cells" if it has no caloric value. I guess i'll have to bust out the ol' biochem book. Either way I do aplogize, infact creatine has NO caloric value.

LisaS · 01-21-2008, 01:16 PM

check the PCr energy pathway in your biochem book - my understanding is that the thought is that by enhancing this energy system it allows one to lift heavier (or do more heavy reps) or more power reps - and therefore contribute to training gains.

Ciao · 01-21-2008, 06:20 PM

Turned out it wasn't such a stupid question after all! LOL.
Thanks a lot for all your replies. I learned a lot.
Calories or not, I can tell creatine has definitely made a difference since I started using it.

Olga.

Cynic · 01-22-2008, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smittygouv

Under further research I found that it is a "protein derivative".

Is it even that? It's an acid, but it's not an amino acid. I've never heard it refered to as such, ever.

smittygouv · 01-22-2008, 03:25 PM

I looked up a few different sources and this is what I found:

"Unlike most supplements that athletes use, creatine is neither a vitamin, mineral, herb nor hormone. It is a naturally occurring amino acid that is found in our body that has the chemical name methyl guanidine-acetic acid (see Figure 1 below). As most of you are already aware, amino acids are the building blocks of proteins." -http://www.creatine.com/en/new s/2007/03/01/guarana-extract-5/

"Creatine is a small moleclue that muscle cells assemble from fragments of amino acids." - Anatomy and Physiology 7th edition (Martrini)

"Creatine is a small amino acid-like molecule that is both synthesized in the body and derived from foods" - Pathophysiology 7th edition (Porth)

I have been taking creatine on and off for a few years, and I would like to understand creatine better. So, please correct me if i'm misinterpreting something or if there is more to the picture.