Brand New to Creatine

Diet and Nutrition
1

I’ve been cutting for the past 6-7 weeks and will continue until next Friday. I then have spring break and will use this as a transition week. I’ll be taking Surge and Low-Carb Metabolic Drive with me to maintain my protein intake of around 1.25 grams/lb. During this transition week, I assume I should continue high protein and fat and low carbs?

To the main question, I will start bulking when I’m back from spring break. I’m currently just over 170, stand at 5’11" and I’d say getting close to 10% bf (I can see top 2 rows of abs). Looking to add 15 to 20 lbs before I head to Europe this summer for 8 weeks.

I’m going to buy the Biotest Creatine. Should I be following the guidelines on the creatine jar or should I go about taking it in a different manner? Just looking for advice on that and any other general advice yall may have for me. Thanks

JM

3

is 1 week a sufficient period for a transition? I feel like it is, but wanted another opinion. Are you going to start taking creatine here soon?

4

With regards to the transition period i would prefer 2 or 3 weeks transition period, gradually increasing your carbs over this period.
Iv never used Biotest creatine so not sure what the guidelines are, but in general for creatine monohydrate; 4-5 days loading phase during which you take 5g 4 times a day(total of 20g), and maintanance phase for which you reduce to 5g twice a day. I personally take these two servings before and after training.

5

Thanks for the advice. I’ll extend the transition out a little bit longer. I was really just a little bit nervous about starting the creatine because none of my friends nor I have ever used it. They still see it as ‘legal steroids’ I feel like. I realize it’s not that but just wanted some advice still on using it and bulking up while using it. Can’t wait for my order from Monday to come in! My order history page is still blank though :frowning:

7

[quote]il_tx85 wrote:
Thanks for the advice. I’ll extend the transition out a little bit longer. I was really just a little bit nervous about starting the creatine because none of my friends nor I have ever used it. They still see it as ‘legal steroids’ I feel like. I realize it’s not that but just wanted some advice still on using it and bulking up while using it. Can’t wait for my order from Monday to come in! My order history page is still blank though :frowning: [/quote]

I always get a bit antsy when I’m about to start a new supplement also…funny thing is, I never notice any huge changes. I’m considering just scrapping the glutamine and beta-alanine and spending the extra money on food. Anyways, I just take 5-7 grams of creatine after each workout, or on an off day at some point mid-afternoon with carbs.

People will give you all sorts of crap about putting stuff other than recognizable food into your body, bear with them and be nice so you don’t encourage the stupid angry meathead mold most people put us in.

8

Thanks guys. One more thing, could somebody critique the following diet plan for once I start bulking…

awake at 9:15: 2 hrx
9:45: Low-Carb Metabolic Drive shake w/ 1.5 tbsp peanut butter, 1 whole egg, 2 egg whites, spinach, handful shredded cheese(~60g protein, ~10 carbs, ~30g fat)

12:45: 6 oz chicken breast stuffed with spinach and cheese, 1 stalk celery, 1 tbsp pb Low-Carb Metabolic Drive shake(~60P, ~8C, ~23F),

4:00: 4 oz turkey breast, 1 serving almonds
(~25P, 0C, 16F) and 2 HRX at 3:30

7:00: this is where I start to get confused…I’ll go to gym around 8:30, stay til ~10:00.

I have Surge, Low-Carb Metabolic Drive, Power Drive, and creatine to use. I’m unsure of the timing in using these supplements. Could anybody help me with developing a paraworkout supplementation/food plan?

30 minutes after the workout, I was thinking 1/2 Surge, 5 grams creatine. 1 hour later, 6 oz ground chuck and 1 egg white. Finally, one hour later, around 12:30 am, Low-Carb Metabolic Drive shake with 1.5 tbsp pb, following by bed.

Also, I just ordered Superfood as well. Would I be best served to have that with breakfeast? I’ve always worked out, I have just never paid much attention to nutrition around work out times, that is until recently. These are all new products that will be entering my body. Any help is much appreciated!

9

Doesnt look like you have enough carbs, in my opinion. Before and after training take a protein source, and some sort of simple carb(E.G.Dextrose powder,maybe fruit) and your 5g(roughly) of creatine. Your diet looks ok but the big pitfall i see is the lack of carbs. This is your bulking diet, right? Maybe throw in one more meal throughout the day to boost your calories.

10

I mix 5 grams of creatine with a scoop of protein, and water/or milk. Just to double-check, mixing them is cool right ?

11

I used to take 5g before my workouts. Just wondering, but is the idea of taking it before foreign to anybody?

12

i do 5g pre and 5g mixed with my Surge post. so 10g a day on training days. on off days i do just 5g mixed with my morning shake.

13

Rock, I will slowly bring my carb intake up. I’m just a bit phobic of them since I’ve been doing less than 50-75 carbs a day for almost 2 months. I will likely do this through the use of oatmeal in the morning and small portions of whole wheat pasta.

Would taking Power Drive, along with Hot-Rox, and the Surge mixed with creatine be alright? Is 1/2 serving Surge pre and post workout the general consensus for the quantity?

15

[quote]il_tx85 wrote:
Rock, I will slowly bring my carb intake up. I’m just a bit phobic of them since I’ve been doing less than 50-75 carbs a day for almost 2 months. I will likely do this through the use of oatmeal in the morning and small portions of whole wheat pasta.

Would taking Power Drive, along with HOT-ROX, and the Surge mixed with creatine be alright? Is 1/2 serving Surge pre and post workout the general consensus for the quantity?[/quote]

Unless your very sensitive to carbs, i.e. your an extreme endomorph, i wouldn’t be too afraid of carbs.You need plenty of them in order to grow. Obviously this doesn’t mean to gorge yourself on pizza and ice-cream all day long.

Your right to raise them gradually to give your body a chance to “switch gears” so to speak. but be sure to give yourself enough.(just to be clear enough in my opinion is roughly 40% of your calories)

Again i’m not familiar with Biotest products, but as far as im aware HOT-ROX is a fat-burner(correct me if i’m wrong), which isn’t necessary on a bulking diet.

16

[quote]Rattler wrote:
I used to take 5g before my workouts. Just wondering, but is the idea of taking it before foreign to anybody?[/quote]

One of the main functions of creatine monohydrate is to help regenerate your body’s ATP stores, which basically means it will give you a helping hand in pushing out an extra rep or two in the gym, which all contributes to progress, which is why it is often taken pre-workout.