Re: FITNESS: Creatine monohydrate for lean mass gain?

Russell Whitaker (whitaker@extropia.corp.sgi.com)
Fri, 16 Aug 1996 15:01:27 -0700

On Aug 15, 7:14pm, Max More wrote this (quoted with ">"):
> Subject: Re: FITNESS: Creatine monohydrate for lean mass gain?
> At 02:23 PM 8/15/96 -0700, Russell Whitaker wrote:
> >I tend to be rather skeptical of dietary fads in bodybuilding,
> >preferring a long-term strategy of a generally lowfat diet
> >spread out in small meals over a day, and a protein intake
> >of 1.2-1.5g/lb bodymass, but have recently heard from a number
> >of people I respect, some trainers, of creatine monohydrate.
> >Has anyone here in the extropian bodysculpting community
> >heard of this? If so, have you any opinions?
>
> Yes! It works! I'm also highly skeptical about these things, and have never
> seen results from other substances, such as chromium picolinate. However, I
> decided to try creatine after Dr. Ray Sahelian, who is coming out with a
> short book on the stuff (see the forthcoming Extropy for a review), did some
> research and said it looked promising.
>

Interesting time for me to have brought this up, then! And about
chromium picolinate: I tried it for several months myself, and
similarly found it inefficacious.

> After two months using it, I gained about 10 lbs. Usually I gain much more
> slowly, having been stable at around 183 lbs for months. I'm now 193 lbs. I
> don't think much, if any of it is fat. Possibly some may be extra fluid
> retention, though I have no particular reason to think so. Certainly my
> strength has increased considerably. E.g., I've gone from 580 lbs to 650 lbs
> on the leg press, and from 80 lbs to 110 lbs (for 15 reps) on the barbell
curl.
>

Your 580 lb on the leg press is close to what I'm doing on the
same exercise, though I don't think I've reached my plateau for
that on my present regimen. I _am_ stuck at 198 lb of bodyweight,
and am interested to see if creatine & exercise would make a difference
(present target: 205 lb bodyweight). I'll need to read some more
before I start it. Also, before trying it in earnest, I plan a
fitness evaluation to determine present states of weight, percentage
bodyfat, cardiovascular fitness, and dimensions of major muscle
groups.

> I'm happy with the results!
>

Great! I look forward to testing creatine for myself.

> >I haven't tried it yet. I'm told by a friend:
> >
> >> ... Creatine Monohydrate is approximately 300 mg and costs $40.00;
> >> the manufacturer is Sports Pharma, out of Concord.
>
> You can get a kilo for $80, or 450 g for about $45. Ray's book gives
> guidelines for dosing. I got my from Lindberg/Nutrition Express:
1-800-338-7979
>

Will call and compare.

> Get a bigger body to go along with that bigger brain!
>

But of course!

Russell

>
>-- End of quoted excerpt from Max More

--
"Here the ways of men part:  if you wish to strive for peace of
 soul and pleasure, then believe; if you wish to be a devotee
 to truth, then inquire..."  - Nietzsche


Russell Earl Whitaker	                       whitaker@sgi.com
Webmaster, Silicon Junction
Silicon Graphics, Inc.	                      Mountain View, CA
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