[quote]Hayser wrote:
If he does decide to take it, make sure its during the offseason. The extra water weight will slow him down on the ice. [/quote]
No and no. Just no. No. Hayser… no.[/quote]
Why no? A typical water weight gain while taking the monohydrate version of creatine can be between five and ten pounds, sometimes more. That makes a huge difference while skating, especially throughout the later stages of a hockey game. It would be akin to having someone wear a weighted vest while skating. Sure, the creatine improves strength to some degree, but not enough to offset the immidiate water weight gain. I understand that the kid wants to be bigger, but nonfunctional weight can be very detrimental to performance on the ice, especially in a game such as hockey, where speed endurance plays such a large role.
[quote]kpsnap wrote:
Any downside or side effects to a 14-year-old taking creatine?
My son is a hockey player and trying to put on mass. He’s about 6 foot and a buck fifty.
Just want to make sure that creatine’s not contraindicated for youth.[/quote]
I can’t really comment on the safety of creatine because I haven’t done all that much research, but I can comment on quality.
I’ve taken three brands of monohydrate. One was some random brand pill form, one was Optimum Nutrition, and the last was Biotest.
The pill form I used did absolutely nothing, the Optimum Nutrition stuff left me feeling kinda weird at times, but the Biotest stuff is legit. It just looks like quality stuff when you open it compared to others.
I will vouch for Biotest and agree that they do make some quality creatine because I can tell the difference between when I’m taking the stuff and when I’m not. IMO I feel fuller, my muscles don’t feel quite as sore after a lift, I’m less prone to injuries, my work capacity increases, I don’t get hungover if and when I drink, and for some reason it’s easier for me to get going in the morning (not a morning person).
There are obviously a lot of factors but that is what I have found IME.
As I stated above, I don’t know much about the safety but I do know that some of the health disputes with creatine were believed to be from by-products in creatine from China.
[quote]Hayser wrote:
If he does decide to take it, make sure its during the offseason. The extra water weight will slow him down on the ice. [/quote]
No and no. Just no. No. Hayser… no.[/quote]
Why no? A typical water weight gain while taking the monohydrate version of creatine can be between five and ten pounds, sometimes more. That makes a huge difference while skating, especially throughout the later stages of a hockey game. It would be akin to having someone wear a weighted vest while skating. Sure, the creatine improves strength to some degree, but not enough to offset the immidiate water weight gain. I understand that the kid wants to be bigger, but nonfunctional weight can be very detrimental to performance on the ice, especially in a game such as hockey, where speed endurance plays such a large role.[/quote]
If creatine is supposed to increase performance and work capacity how would some water weight be “detrimental” when it is keeping him hydrated and still performing optimally at the end of a game?
[quote]Hayser wrote:
If he does decide to take it, make sure its during the offseason. The extra water weight will slow him down on the ice. [/quote]
No and no. Just no. No. Hayser… no.[/quote]
Why no? A typical water weight gain while taking the monohydrate version of creatine can be between five and ten pounds, sometimes more. That makes a huge difference while skating, especially throughout the later stages of a hockey game. It would be akin to having someone wear a weighted vest while skating. Sure, the creatine improves strength to some degree, but not enough to offset the immidiate water weight gain. I understand that the kid wants to be bigger, but nonfunctional weight can be very detrimental to performance on the ice, especially in a game such as hockey, where speed endurance plays such a large role.[/quote]
If creatine is supposed to increase performance and work capacity how would some water weight be “detrimental” when it is keeping him hydrated and still performing optimally at the end of a game?[/quote]
Creatine enhances maximal strength output by increasing the amount of “High Octane” fuel available for maximal strength efforts fueled by the ATP/CP energy system of the body. The problem is, this energy system only functions for efforts less than fifteen seconds. Since the average hockey shift lasts between fourty five and ninety seconds, most energy is generated through the anaerobic lactate system, which does not use creatine for fuel. Thus, the creatine usage is doing nothing to help improve the energy system being utilized during the majority of the game, and adding useless water weight, which will only serve to slow the athlete down and tire them out. While I agree that off season usage would be beneficial in helping the athlete to add muscle mass, I don’t believe that usage in season would be beneficial, as a typical heavy in season hockey schedule doesn’t leave much time for weight training, making in season creatine use serve no purpose but to weigh the athlete down with nonfunctional water weight.
However, I disagree with water weight being detrimental. I simply see it in a positive light that being fully hydrated at all times does more good than bad.
[quote]Kakarat wrote:
Nothing you said is illegitimate.
However, I disagree with water weight being detrimental. I simply see it in a positive light that being fully hydrated at all times does more good than bad. [/quote]
Not all of the water weight held by a creatine user hydrates them in the typical sense of the word. Creatine pulls extra water into the muscles, hence the bloated or somewhat puffy look of a user. This water does little to aid in performance beyond what a fully hydrated non user of creatine would experience, and sometimes lowers the amount of water that can reach other areas of the body.
Jesus Christ Hayser could you just take some creatine and go to the gym and lift for a few years and get back to us? You are ridiculously far off base.
[quote]csulli wrote:
Jesus Christ Hayser could you just take some creatine and go to the gym and lift for a few years and get back to us? You are ridiculously far off base.[/quote]
I have done both, thank you very much, and as for being far off base, I have played junior hockey and am currently studying kinesiology at university. So don’t try to attack me, unless you are going to back it up with some sort of scientific or anecdotal evidence.
Haysayer, 5 to 10 lbs of water bloat? That tells me that someone is taking way too much creatine. 5g/day might make you retain a few lbs of water. In my experience, it’s less with higher quality creatine.
I’m don’t understand how someone would be slowed down in any noticeable way by 5 extra lbs of water weight.
[quote]Hayser wrote:
If he does decide to take it, make sure its during the offseason. The extra water weight will slow him down on the ice. [/quote]
No and no. Just no. No. Hayser… no.[/quote]
Why no? A typical water weight gain while taking the monohydrate version of creatine can be between five and ten pounds, sometimes more.[/quote]
If loading, sometimes. (But “sometimes more than 10 pounds”? Nope. Certainly not the norm.) While loading was “in” a while back and some people still do it, it’s generally accepted that it’s unnecessary to load creatine. 3-5 grams a day would not overwhelm him with any sort of immediate, significant water weight gain.
Not comparable. Wearing a weighted vest would have zero benefit. As was discussed earlier in this thread and in the two links I posted, creatine has several benefits outside of cellular hydration/“water weight”. And if the kiddo does start creatine while eating well and training properly, I’m comfortable expecting his performance on the ice to only improve.
I’m hoping you also understand that as underweight as he currently is, practically all bodyweight for the next 25 pounds or so will be “functional” provided he doesn’t go on a Mountain Dew and Snickers diet. Also because he’s starting out so light, he can see muscular and physical improvement relatively-quickly, especially if he gets on a smart training and eating plan with or without creatine.
I remember taking CellMass (creatine mix) by BSN back in 2007 first time still an old teenager. My acne got worse in the face and I started getting acne in the back too, I got 6lbs more weight and my dumbell bench press went from 80lbs per dumbell to 90lbs.
This was after about 5days of use. I started lifting heavier and I remember I was doing Max-OT with 4-6rep sets and my joints would get painful(temporarily).
Now I started taking CreaPure (creatine monohydrate) my weight got up by 6lbs in two weeks, though I have no reference on lifting effects since I have had a 2 month break. Ive gotten tiny acne breakout but nothing like in 07.
So either CellMass had a mixture that made me get worse acne or then it’s just creatine. Another possibility is that I dont drink enough water.
I don’t think your son needs creatine in hockey. Hockey is more about skill anyway.
[quote]NikH wrote:
I don’t think your son needs creatine in hockey. Hockey is more about skill anyway.
[/quote]
What I think of when I think of hockey.
I would assume weighing 5-10 more pounds and moving around the ice just as fast would be advantageous.
While on the subject of Creatine quality, I have been taking Kre-Alkalyn pretty much since I began working out (so I cannot really vouch for its effectiveness, but from what I’ve heard I don’t see reason not to take it). Would anybody here be familiar with this brand and whether or not it is quality?
While on the subject of Creatine quality, I have been taking Kre-Alkalyn pretty much since I began working out (so I cannot really vouch for its effectiveness, but from what I’ve heard I don’t see reason not to take it). Would anybody here be familiar with this brand and whether or not it is quality?
Just curious - thanks.[/quote]
Kre-Alkalyn isn’t considered monohydrate so I don’t know.
However, monohydrate manufactured by Creapure in Germany is one of the companies that is high quality.
And from what I understand the Optimum Nutrition creatine I took also uses Creapure product, but it wasn’t micronized to the extent of what Biotest uses so that may be the difference in effectiveness.
