Creatine and Beginners

[BendtheBar]

There are many people strongly against creatine for beginners. The argument is that beginners should wait to master lifts, diet, etc. before they take creatine.

Where do you fall on this issue?

Personally I believe creatine should be used by beginners. It is cost effective, and can maximize strength and hypertrophy gains, and provide an extra boost of energy as a beginner is acclimating to hard training. More strength leads to more hypertrophy. Since a beginner is growing rapidly to begin with, I believe in doing everything possible to maximize that progress.

What say you?

[glwanabe]

Out of all of the stuff that is out there that promises to deliver something that you just have to have, Creatine is on the very, VERY, short list of supps I would say take.

This includes beginners. Taking Creatine has nothing to do with how well your technical execution of a movement is, or anything else for that matter. To say not to take creatine, then you might as well say not to take any Whey as well. Lets take it to extreme and say don't eat red meat.

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by glwanabe

Out of all of the stuff that is out there that promises to deliver something that you just have to have, Creatine is on the very, VERY, short list of supps I would say take.

This includes beginners. Taking Creatine has nothing to do with how well your technical execution of a movement is, or anything else for that matter. To say not to take creatine, then you might as well say not to take any Whey as well. Lets take it to extreme and say don't eat red meat.

My beginner recommendations are generally:

--Whey
--Creatine
--Multivitamin
--Fish oil

So we're on the same track. I would also add an NO product if someone is older and doesn't always have the energy when they hit the gym.

[glwanabe]

Originally Posted by BendtheBar

My beginner recommendations are generally:

--Whey
--Creatine
--Multivitamin
--Fish oil

So we're on the same track. I would also add an NO product if someone is older and doesn't always have the energy when they hit the gym.

Yup!!
Thats pretty much all I use, except I also have liver tabs.

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by glwanabe

Yup!!
Thats pretty much all I use, except I also have liver tabs.

One day I'll get on the liver train.

[kman025]

i dont see any reason to take it. why spend the money? yes its cheap, but its unecessary.

when people take creatine and then have noob gains, they think it was the creatine that did it. this leads to a distorted view of what supplements really do.

i would recommend waiting until strength gains slow before starting it.

[bb12]

--Whey
--Creatine
--Multivitamin
--Fish oil


Exactly... after getting diet and training program in check

[Grip-N-Rip]

ANYONE and EVERYONE can benefit from taking 3-5gm of creatine daily reguardless of the age/sex. I think it is a good supplement to have in a diet. Keep joint lubicrated and prevents injuried from happening.

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by Grip-N-Rip

ANYONE and EVERYONE can benefit from taking 3-5gm of creatine daily reguardless of the age/sex. I think it is a good supplement to have in a diet. Keep joint lubicrated and prevents injuried from happening.

^ Good, this is.

I would like to add more about my perspective...creatine can help you put more weight on the bar as a beginner. More weight and better performance aid in increasing hypertrophy. Personally, if I was starting over again there is no way I wouldn't take creatine. There are just too many benefits. I would want to maximize strength and muscle out the gate.

I think the guys that are making gains are working their ass off, just like Kman. They have a good sense that their gains are coming from hard work and diet. Most average schmoes aren't making any gains, so I doubt they would notice anything from creatine anyway.

Size gains from creatine aren't profound for most. But I like creatine because it does make me noticeably stronger. Strength begets hypertrophy.

I can respect your point of view Kman. When I speak of lifters, I generally over speak of serious lifters and never think about under-achievers.

[jslep]

well i think it would depend on whether or not you would agree with the thought of it never works as good as the first time. IF your body can become accustom to having a supp such as creatine in the body wouldn't be more beneficial to wait until you get your huge beginner gains out of the way at which point you can just eat and sleep right and you will see huge results then introduce creatine when they have slowed a little to get them jump started again.