Caffeine and creatine -the “ines” have it. Proven to work, and inexpensive.
Creatine is something I only started recently, and the effect for me is definitely significant. Wish I had tried it sooner, but was held back by the popular, but wrong, misconceptions wrt “supplementation”. Creatine is apparently something the body can get naturally from red meat, so big red meat eaters might not get the same bang for the buck as I did.
Food, sleep, vitamin D and fish oil will take you 95% of the way there, if not more. Supplementation is for those folks trying to eke out the last 5% or less of performance for their genotype at the elite level.
The muscle load of ATP you get from creatine can’t be equaled by red meat. I mean - no one can eat that much red meat. However, “Do you need that much ATP in your muscles?” becomes the question.
Save the money which would be spent for supps for food instead and a good massage now and then is my opinion.
[quote]DaCharmingAlbino wrote:
Food, sleep, vitamin D and fish oil will take you 95% of the way there, if not more. Supplementation is for those folks trying to eke out the last 5% or less of performance for their genotype at the elite level.
The muscle load of ATP you get from creatine can’t be equaled by red meat. I mean - no one can eat that much red meat. However, “Do you need that much ATP in your muscles?” becomes the question.
Save the money which would be spent for supps for food instead and a good massage now and then is my opinion.[/quote]
As OP posted, you are master of Le Understatement. The work capacity and work output that you display is not that of the average 48, or even 38 year old dude.
My personal experience: I was aiming for 10 X 3 sets of MP (130 @ bw of 180), had worked up to either 6 or 7 sets; post full load of creatine, shocked myself by banging out all 10 sets next MP workout (a week later) fairly easily; next workout after that, up to 7 sets with 135, could’ve done more if I pushed it.
I shop at Whole Foods, so $12.99 doesn’t buy me much food!
I do agree with you that stuff like the AlphaGPC, Anaconda vs. just plain ol’ creatine, etc. price-wise really only makes sense for those who are either ultra serious, or have the disposable income to dispose.
I take D and fish oil because of what I read, but I personally have not been able to link a causality between usage and any kind of specific effect. e.g. foam rolling has done more for my knee health than fish oil.
(p.s. Jack, sorry to hijack your thread.)
My personal experience from creatine: Massive cramping.
Good work jack and welcome to Prowler Flu 
Supplements I take : Protein powder and pre workout is Jack3d – good stuff and cheap also. Thats it.
[quote]DaCharmingAlbino wrote:
My personal experience from creatine: Massive cramping.[/quote]
funny I hear that from some people. I have been taking it so long, and I buy such shitty cheap basic stuff, that I almost forget I take it. I think I remember cramping the last time I loaded, which was when Clinton was president. Since then I have just dumped 5g into my post workout shakes. No cramping. I really don’t even take it every day, just lifting days.
[quote]PeteS wrote:
[quote]DaCharmingAlbino wrote:
My personal experience from creatine: Massive cramping.[/quote]
funny I hear that from some people. I have been taking it so long, and I buy such shitty cheap basic stuff, that I almost forget I take it. I think I remember cramping the last time I loaded, which was when Clinton was president. Since then I have just dumped 5g into my post workout shakes. No cramping. I really don’t even take it every day, just lifting days. [/quote]
Probably has more to do with my fluid intake, or lack of it than the creatine mono itself. Old dog won’t drink water… 'less it has coffee in it.
[quote]DaCharmingAlbino wrote:
[quote]PeteS wrote:
[quote]DaCharmingAlbino wrote:
My personal experience from creatine: Massive cramping.[/quote]
funny I hear that from some people. I have been taking it so long, and I buy such shitty cheap basic stuff, that I almost forget I take it. I think I remember cramping the last time I loaded, which was when Clinton was president. Since then I have just dumped 5g into my post workout shakes. No cramping. I really don’t even take it every day, just lifting days. [/quote]
Probably has more to do with my fluid intake, or lack of it than the creatine mono itself. Old dog won’t drink water… 'less it has coffee in it.[/quote]
I cannot relate to no water thing. I am 2-3 gallons a day no prompting. My buddy just trained this fitness chick for a competition, her first, and she struggled when they cut her water to 1 gallon a day. I commiserated with her, by eating and drinking fluids in front of her. But no, seriously, I have many friends and relatives who act like water is some foreign substance. I am never more than a foot away from a bottle. Thank god some of the best tap water in the country is here, otherwise I might have to shell out for water as though it were a supp.
Protein and some sort of “mens” vitamin for me. I agree with the creatine opinions. It requires much more water intake and I think 5 grams is all you can absorb per day or something similar. I’ve never found it to be a big “mass” builder but if my diet is lacking red meat (very rare in Tex) then I add a little to my morning shake.
I do get a kick out of Surge workout fuel. Find myself breathing harder and less rest time between sets.
People who can see their abs are the ones who typically complain about creatine cramps. Me, I’ve never had a problem with cramping.
[quote]jjackkrash wrote:
People who can see their abs are the ones who typically complain about creatine cramps. Me, I’ve never had a problem with cramping. [/quote]
Words can hurt.
Great training Jack. Good to see the prowler finally came in. I have vit D and glucosamine at home I keep forgetting to take. I do like my low carb power drinks pre workout. Sometimes I won’t get to sleep until 2 am because of them but they get me pumped to workout.
The more I look at that thing… I want a prowler!!
I might try creatine again since I’m not skinny anymore, so maybe the cramping won’t happen this time.
I take fish oil, BCAA powder, Beta Alanine powder, Vit. D, and protein. I have heard good things about leucine(sp) and I’m considering it.
[quote]DaCharmingAlbino wrote:
[quote]jjackkrash wrote:
People who can see their abs are the ones who typically complain about creatine cramps. Me, I’ve never had a problem with cramping. [/quote]
Words can hurt.[/quote]
That is too funny. You can have every extra ounce of my belly fat if you want it, I got no use for it.
[quote]jjackkrash wrote:
[quote]DaCharmingAlbino wrote:
[quote]jjackkrash wrote:
People who can see their abs are the ones who typically complain about creatine cramps. Me, I’ve never had a problem with cramping. [/quote]
Words can hurt.[/quote]
That is too funny. You can have every extra ounce of my belly fat if you want it, I got no use for it. [/quote]
This is funny, and true. I hear so many complain at everything they consume, both supplement and food wise. I can drink too much one night, next day eat too much, and consume every crappy supp the healthfood store has to offer, and rarely do I feel any pain in my stomach, or cramping, or whatever it feels like. Bloaty, yes, but pain, no.
Jack, so you have the prowler, now what are you going to do with it?
Oh, I don’t get belly cramps. I get muscle cramps after consumption of creatine monohydrate. All over - neck, mid-back, calves and hands, forearms. It’s the weirdest thing.
DCA, I was about to write a dozen things that were juvenile and slanderous, I desisted simply because I believe this board is above that…
okay, did you take some midol? maybe Meat can give you a massage after you let him spoon you?
Can’t help myself, remembered this is Jack’s log. much to clean and proper.
[quote]PeteS wrote:
[quote]jjackkrash wrote:
[quote]DaCharmingAlbino wrote:
[quote]jjackkrash wrote:
People who can see their abs are the ones who typically complain about creatine cramps. Me, I’ve never had a problem with cramping. [/quote]
Words can hurt.[/quote]
That is too funny. You can have every extra ounce of my belly fat if you want it, I got no use for it. [/quote]
This is funny, and true. I hear so many complain at everything they consume, both supplement and food wise. I can drink too much one night, next day eat too much, and consume every crappy supp the healthfood store has to offer, and rarely do I feel any pain in my stomach, or cramping, or whatever it feels like. Bloaty, yes, but pain, no.
Jack, so you have the prowler, now what are you going to do with it? [/quote]
I was going to push that fucker tonight after squats, but unexpected shit got in the way, so no squats either. Hopefully tomorrow.
[quote]PeteS wrote:
DCA, I was about to write a dozen things that were juvenile and slanderous, I desisted simply because I believe this board is above that…
okay, did you take some midol? maybe Meat can give you a massage after you let him spoon you?
Can’t help myself, remembered this is Jack’s log. much to clean and proper. [/quote]
Thanks for taking the high road. I apologize if I’ve been particularly annoying. I manage to do that periodically and I appreciate the reminders to quit.
/hijack.