creatine has been causing me stomach discomfort and i've been loading for about a week with no results, in fact, i went 43' in the triple when my best from a couple of weeks ago is 46'. and get this, the day before i started creatine i went 41'1" off of a 3 step run up. should i stay on this stuff for a little bit longer? or should i try something else. i recently purchased some zma so we'll see how that goes but obviously they're 2 different things. have any of you guys ever tried swole v.2? i've heard it's good for creatine non-responders. anyway thanks in advance for your input, and if i can answer any other questions that might lead to a better understanding of my situation feel free to ask.
If creatine is causing problems, bloating, etc. discontinue use immediately. Also, you should've only been loading for 5 days before going to maintenance dosages. That might be playing a part in it.
After you've loaded, your muscle creatine levels should peak. Don't expect direct results in your performances, rather expect quicker recovery between bouts of work and between workouts. If you are experiencing stomach problems, quit taking creatine altogether. I am not familiar with the product you mentioned, however most products which claim to work for 'non-responders' spike your insulin levels either through high doses of suger (like in cell-tech) or through tricking your body into releasing insulin with certain chemicals. I know athletes who have had success with cell-tech, however since you experienced problems with creatine i would recommend staying away from it.
you're exactly right, swole works by causing an insulin spike. i'm thinking i might start taking the creatine with some gatorade powder mix and my usual whey protein, as this combination of dextrose and whey supposedly causes the same insulin spike. i'll probably try this for another week or so, and hopefully the maintenance phase will be a little easier on my stomach as i'm only ingesting 1 or 2 servings a day instead of 3. i'll let you guys know how it goes.
well it's only been two days but i can say i'm definitely feeling better, as my stomach isn't feeling bad at all. my vertical actually improved by an inch or so(over my pr) on monday, which begs the question, how the hell did i only jump 43 on sat.? i'm not convinced it's the creatine as i've only been on it for a week, but i'll stick with it for a little longer, and i have confidence i should go some distance this weekend. btw, one thing that's odd is that i actually feel more tired right now after a workout where i'm on the creatine than when i was actually not taking it. i thought this stuff was supposed to make you recover faster? ah well i'll report back.
I wouldn't over-analyze and attribute all successes or shortcomings to the creatine. Many studies have been conducted with placebo and creatine groups where members of the placebo group (taking glucose) claimed to feel more explosive, or 'quicker on their feet'. You could feel more tired after workouts because you are working out harder? Nevertheless, its good that your stomach is handling things better. Be sure to take your creatine with some carbs or carbs + protein so your body absorbs it. Good luck.
I agree with Rice on not attributing your sucessses or shortcoming to creatine. The placebo effect is indeed a powerful thing. I bet if you had a party and had gave non acholholic beer to half the guests theyd all act and feel drunk.
Also perhaps in some of the studies Rice mentioned the placebo group that was giving glucose may have felt faster and lighter on their feet due to the actual placebo since the glucose raised there blood sugar level.
Maybee the placebo is actually not a true placebo in that instance. :dance:
I complete agree with you guys it may be placebo, plus i haven't tested vertical in 3 weeks, so the training between then and now definitely had something to do with it i'm sure. but it was odd that i'd trash my pr by that much when i'd been holding steady for a good 4 or 5 months. and you bet it was inches!! almost touched 11' for the first time (i swear my finger tip hit it but ah well) i could get it with a step into it no problem though. hopefully i won't be feeling so tired after a couple of days, still haven't quite figured that one out as i really didn't lift any harder, in fact, much easier as i have a meet this coming weekend that i want to be fresher than i have been for.
