Diet, Nutrition and SupplementationPost here for supplement reviews or nutritional advice. If you're trying to get "ripped abz" THIS is where you should be.
I'm 22 year old guy, 5'8, 165 pounds, 16%BF. I'm following the mens health program the Testosterone Advantage Program to reduce my BF percentage. I'd love to be around 8-10 so I can start bulking. My goal is to be between 190-200 pounds later on. No big hurry. Just trying to lose the gut and love handles. I have a fairly good diet. Using fitday and everything. My question is about creatine. I've read and heard that it can help you gain muscle and actually help lose the fat too. So I've been reading about Muscle Tech's Cell Tech. I read some pretty good reviews on the stuff. But in one serving, 2 scoops, it has 300 calories, 75g of sugar, 60mg of Sodium, 75g of carbs. It has that dextrose in it. So I really don't know if this is something I should take if I'm trying to cut my BF. What do you guys think?
Any information I can get would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!!
If you're trying to bulk 30 lbs of Muscle you probably wont reduce the bodyfat as easy as you think. Usually if you're wanting more definition and less BF you'll have to sacrifice some muscle because you'll require less calories to burn the fat so your muscles will be shortchanged those calories that they need to grow.
You can buy the Creatine without all the sugar and it will not have any calories, just the creatine.
But Dextrose is an important sugar for pre/post workout supplementation when your body needs it or is depleted of glycogen. I take some along with some whey protein. It will cause a quick insulin spike which will get nutrients to your cells quicker. So IMO, the sugar is a good thing.
So what's more important to you, bulking 30+ lbs or losing BF and looking more defined?
Anubis, at the moment I just want to reduce my Body Fat, but try to gain SOME muscle. I figured the creatine would help me do that. Later on I'd like to bulk, but I think if I started now, I'd just get fatter.
So if I just want to reduce the body fat and try to gain some muscle, just buy regular creatine? Would the cell tech be better for bulking then?
Lost dog, whats a good creatine monohydrate product maker?
Yes, for cutting body fat I'd definitely go with the Creatine Monohydrate WITHOUT sugar.
IMO you really should use some sugar for your post workout supplementing coupled with protein (even with cutting BF)
As far as brands, any creatine is good creatine. Cell tech is a big name, but really if it's Creatine, it's creatine. So find the cheapest you can come by. I personally buy Vitamin World's brand (which is precision engineered I think).
Again, I agree with Anubis. You should take simple carbs with protein in the post workout window, whether your losing or gaining.
If you already have Cell Tech, by all means us it up with some protein powder mixed in after your workouts.
I've always bought creatine on sale at the gym (24 hour fitness carries EAS Phosphagen (spelling?)) or even at Target.
Just check the labels. When they add sugars and/or carbs for you, they add price, too. Creatine, plain, is usually very inexpensive. Like 3-4 months worth for anywhere from $10-15. I don't worry about the brand, as they are all just basically flavorless powders that I stir into my workout drinks.
Also, you are right to take it when losing fat, too. I think it does help to retain muscle mass.
You mentioned post workout shakes or whatever. What I've been doing is this. I'm only getting 2,000 calories a day. Maintenance for me is around 2350 calories. I'm not taking any shakes or any other type of supplement. While I'm at work, around 3pm I eat a cup of cottage cheese and a small container of yoplait fat free yogurt. I've been getting all my protein, carbs and fat from just food. I'm going by the mens health program The Testosterone Advantage Program. I get off work at 5, so I start working out between 5:30, 6pm. And I eat dinner around 7:15ish. So now I'm not sure if I'm doing this right.....
Ok, great. Haven't bought any creatine yet, but I've noticed on the directions it says to load it. For 5 days or whatever. I've also read that your body only takes in like 5 grams or so a day, and to just take the creatine once a day. Which should I do, load and follow the directions, or just take a scoop a day? Why does the directions say to load while everyone else says to not? I'm so confused, I'm sorry.....
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