Creatine and BCAA
riches41
Posts: 127 Member
What are everyones thoughts on taking creatine and BCAA suppliments
0
Replies
-
Creatine is a very well researched supplement and it may provide you with a slight increase in performance.
If you use it, I'd go with monohydrate which is the most effective and also least expensive.
BCAAs are conditionally useful however if you're getting in adequate protein it's questionable whether BCAAs have any additional benefit.
2 -
I eat real food that contains BOTH so NOT needed0
-
Michael190lbs wrote: »I eat real food that contains BOTH so NOT needed
I'm just curious, how much creatine do you believe you're getting through your diet?2 -
I use IBCAA when I'm cutting
Mainly intra work out in the gym.
They taste nice as well1 -
Creatine Mono is about the only supplement that is worth using in my opinion. I use BCAAs intra work out when I'm on a deep deficit. Probably not needed but worth it just for my reassurance of nothing else.2
-
It takes about 3lbs of chicken or 2lbs of steak to get the beneficial amount of 5g of creatine. You might want to rethink whether you are getting that amount in your diet.4
-
It takes about 3lbs of chicken or 2lbs of steak to get the beneficial amount of 5g of creatine. You might want to rethink whether you are getting that amount in your diet.
Now I'm curious what most people tend to get as far as dietary creatine.
I would make the assumption that if one were to get it entirely via diet that you may need to go even higher than the standard supplementation dosage since when testing the supplement I would think the subjects were getting some creatine via diet already.
Interesting to think about anyway, now I want to go look at examine.com and check it out LOL1 -
I eat about 24 ounces of Meat a day 16 ounce red meat and 6-8 ounces chicken or turkey chicken. so about 3.5 grams Creatine from food..
Guilty as charged my Protein/extra calories shake has 4.5 grams of Creatine in it and didn't even know it till I just looked.,.
Crap my c4 has Creatine in it too..0 -
It takes about 3lbs of chicken or 2lbs of steak to get the beneficial amount of 5g of creatine. You might want to rethink whether you are getting that amount in your diet.
Now I'm curious what most people tend to get as far as dietary creatine.
I would make the assumption that if one were to get it entirely via diet that you may need to go even higher than the standard supplementation dosage since when testing the supplement I would think the subjects were getting some creatine via diet already.
Interesting to think about anyway, now I want to go look at examine.com and check it out LOL
I personally, probably take a little higher daily dosage than some (on top of what I get from normal diet). I don't measure exactly, but know it's usually between 9-12 grams a day (so around twice the recommended daily dosage once saturated).
My logic behind this...(disclaimer...my personal logic/opinions):
1. I'm bigger than 200lbs, so the extra is a buffer for being bigger.
2. Very well researched at even larger dosages, so know it will not be detrimental on that slightly higher dosage in any fashion.
3. I feel like I respond to Creatine well enough.
4. It's super cheap, so why not.
5. There is some very good research now with Creatine Monohydrate dealing with brain trauma and its application of offering some protections for the brain. I have some family history of Alzheimer's, so again, I proxy it as a buffer against this, using it as a "just in case".0 -
I've been taking 5g of creatine a day for 2 months but can't tell if it's any help or not. This is in addition to whatever I'm getting out of the meat and protein supplements that I also take each day out of around 180-200g of protein/day.
I haven't gained any weight (lost weight actually) and haven't noticed any specific energy boost while using it while lifting or doing my bodyweight exercises. Then again, I might not be doing those things as well as I am without it.
Guess the only way to determine if it makes any difference or not at all is to stop using for awhile but I really don't want to do that.1 -
So im looking to take both as i got a deal on suppliments my issue was more energy in the gym i got a bcaa sample and noticed a difference by 3-5 reps will these help over a long period plus i heard of a loading phase with creatine can someone explain.0
-
So im looking to take both as i got a deal on suppliments my issue was more energy in the gym i got a bcaa sample and noticed a difference by 3-5 reps will these help over a long period plus i heard of a loading phase with creatine can someone explain.
If you feel like you're getting a performance boost from BCAAs then by all means keep using them. I would at least, under that scenario.
Regarding loading creatine it's not at all necessary but you may reach saturation faster which basically means you might see a slightly greater effect a bit earlier.
downside to loading phase is the possibility of stomach upset2 -
I have been taking 5mg day for a few months. I give it credit for making me a slightly faster cyclist, and also giving the muscles in my shoulders and biceps a slightly fuller appearance. While staying at the same calorie and activity level, I've gained about 2 pounds of water weight. I haven't had any gastric problems.1
-
Creatine is a very well researched supplement and it may provide you with a slight increase in performance.
If you use it, I'd go with monohydrate which is the most effective and also least expensive.
BCAAs are conditionally useful however if you're getting in adequate protein it's questionable whether BCAAs have any additional benefit.
This exactly. My dosages of both vary depending upon the rest of my diet. When eating normally, I'll supplement maybe 5g of creatine per day, and don't really bother with BCAAs. I run CKD, so I can assure you that I get plenty of both at maintenance and surplus.
However, when in a hard cut, I increase creatine by roughly double (because I am getting almost none from food), and start using BCAAs around lifting sessions, and during extended stints between meals.1 -
Ok so mixed review whats a good starting portion of each and when should they be taken0
-
Ok so mixed review whats a good starting portion of each and when should they be taken
If it were me, 3-5g creatine monohydrate daily taken whenever you prefer to take it and don't bother buying BCAAs provided you're:
a) not training fasted
b) consuming adequate total daily protein distributed somewhat evenly throughout the day0 -
For a begginer0
-
plus i heard of a loading phase with creatine can someone explain.
the idea of a loading phase is you take a bit more of it for a few days so as to let it 'build up' in your muscles first. afaik it's kind of an old-school idea and you don't really need to do it.
i've been taking creatine daily for a couple of years. it's my staple supplement, with bcaa's as a now-and-then thing when i'm afraid of the doms. every so often i lose interest or run out on the creatine, but i haven't bothered with doing the loading when i start up again.
the main thing i'd say if you're taking it is to make sure that you drink lots of water. two reasons: 1. without enough water you can get a bit of an upset stomach (apparently). and 2) creatine works by adding atp to your muscles, and atp storage needs water. so if you're not giving the creatine enough fluid, you're not really giving it a chance to do its best thing.
the recommendation i found was for 1/2 cup per gramme, but i go with a full cup just because that seems to be the proportion that works well for me.
1 -
The only time I take BCAA's is when I am going to undertake fasted training. If not, I don't believe there is any need for them.
In my opinion creatine is a waste of moneyfor 90% of people but I know that others are die hard fans. I would suggest taking it for a short period 10-12 weeks and see if you notice anything.1 -
Ok creatine on off days yes or no?0
-
-
I tried creatine and had all kinds of stomach issues with it (didn't even front load), even with over 150oz of water a day, and a few other tricks I found online. Either way, didn't see any improvements in volume from it. It could be that I have a fairly high diet in protein as it is. But who knows.
And since I eat around my workout (right after), I haven't done BCAAs.1 -
the idea is to keep a percentage in your body at all times so EVERYDAY2
-
Both are great, except LEUCINE is the only BCAA that really helps from what I've read and experienced. Check out Mike Matthews (Muscle for Life), he links some studies where HMB (a leucine metabolite) and Leucine are where it's at as far as BCAAs. Creatine Monohydrate (from Germany) is great for anyone lifting weights. 3-5g per day. I actually do creatine pre workout, but I don't think it really matters as long as you take your creatine consistently and pump iron.1
-
OK, I'll bite. Why from Germany?0
-
OK, I'll bite. Why from Germany?
My understanding is, they have good quality control and labs, and also regulations when it comes to this particular supplement. Otherwise, you may be getting your creatine from China or some other country and you risk not knowing what you're getting. I'm basing my comments from people I personally know who are in the supplement business.0 -
Good stuff.
Think of creatine like loading a magazine. You add the rounds via your 5g dosage and fire them off when you push those last couple reps beyond fatigue in your workout. When it's empty, it's empty ... Reload. Fire. Reload. Fire.
That said, the common expectation of creatine, while effective and consistently proven so, shouldn't be that it's magic. It doesn't build muscle in and of itself or make anyone ripped beyond allowing the body to have access to a little extra ATP for that extra rep or two... which may increase muscle growth/strength by providing a bit of added volume and time under tension previously exhausted otherwise. It's like the pull up assist once you burn out on regular pullups.
As mentioned, if you're consuming adequate protein, the jury is leaning toward "meh" but still generally out on BCAAs.2 -
I take creatine off and on, mostly when I take it I seem to have slightly more endurance in my workouts and slightly better recovery after workouts. BCAA's are really only beneficial to me for fasted workouts and seem to make me feel better. If I'm going to take creatine, I take it every day but I also workout pretty much every day, but still - the benefit with creatine comes with the consistency. Also there are some people who's body naturally makes enough creatine that they will feel no difference if they take it, the only way to know for sure is to have your doctor check it with a blood panel, it happens to be something my doctor checks for me on a regular basis.1
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.4K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 426 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions