Creatine for Serious Weight Training
Many bodybuilders and people who train hard with weights will get muscle fatigue, tightness or soreness at one time or another. Sometimes it happens the next day or lasts a few days. Sometimes it even lasts for a long time. I find that the best way to eliminate minor muscle tightness or soreness is to take Creatine.
Let me begin by saying that I am not an expert on Creatine. If you want the technical stuff about this supplement, you should check the research studies and case studies. I just want to discuss what I know and the results that I seem to attain while using Creatine.
I was off Creatine since September 2008. I usually stop using it in winter and the summer months. For the last couple of months I have been feeling increased muscle tightness and soreness so I went back on Creatine. I took a teaspoon right after a workout. Within 2 to 3 days the tightness and soreness were gone. This is because Creatine helps with water retention in the muscles and I guess you can say, it helps to lubricate the muscles! Also, my muscle strength and workout intensity have increased. After 5 to 7 days taking 1 teaspoon full of Creatine, I’ll lower my intake of it to about ½ a teaspoon and use it only on the days I work out.
When I am taking Creatine more consistently, meaning during the entire year maybe with short breaks here and there, I rarely will feel muscle soreness or tightness after workouts.
The other benefit of Creatine is that it volumizes your muscles and gives you the pumped look. Over time and with the increased intensity of your training, it may even help muscles grow. There is a lot of reading on this topic and is beyond the scope of my blog discussion.
There are many ways to take Creatine. Some may work better for you. What I suggest is that you follow the instructions on the product label and adjust it to your needs or what works best for you.
Is Creatine safe? Safe from what I have read. Like with any supplement or food, it’s best to use it in moderation and follow what the label says.
