As a trainer I'm often asked about creatine. It's the most popular bodybuilding supplement of the last two decades and despite countless studies and unlimited products on sale there are a lot of people using this supplement who are a little unsure as to what exactly it is meant to do for them.
Most of the supplement industry is built around hype. Each product will tell you that you 'need' it to get a good workout and try to make you believe it's the best thing since sliced bread. That's just life. But usually this also leads to companies trying to over complicate matters by simply confusing people with science. Most people never get past the beginner stages of supplement knowledge because they're led to believe that you need to be a rocket scientist to build muscle.
This supplement is no exception. How can a product with so much scientific fact behind it be so unclear to people? Because when money is involved things become unclear. Companies want you to buy their latest products after all. But when you get down to it, this supplement is really simple to understand.
Make no mistake here, this is a naturally occurring substance not a scientific monster. Your body generates this substance already, it's responsible for your explosive strength. So dismiss any worries you may have about illegal or steroid-like effects.
So what does it actually do?
This is the point where most people get completely lost, with supplement companies trying to out science each other to make you think you need to buy their product over the others on offer. None of that right here.
Think about when you sprint outside. For the first fifteen seconds you practically fly at full speed, but then what happens? Usually you'll be forced to slow down by you body as a burning sensation fills your legs. This sensation is known as lactic acid and is your body's way of telling you it can't keep exercising at the same level of intensity.
That initial explosive strength you had comes from your body's natural resources of this supplement. When it's gone, it's gone. You'll notice you can carry on running but you need to slow down considerably. As you recover from the burning pain in your legs you're levels of the substance are building back up slowly in the background. After a couple of minutes you are able to briefly sprint once more, as your levels have now built back up.
By using this product you are able to increase your explosive strength briefly.
A better example would be in the form of a boxer. How many fights have you watched where one competitor appears to have run out of gas only to suddenly get another burst of energy, often referred to as a second wind, and win the fight?
Now you know what's going on underneath the surface it's time to take that example and put it into a gym setting. By having more of this product inside your body than the base levels provided by your muscles, you'll notice that you can push slightly harder for slightly longer.
This can result in a slightly heavier lift, or maybe another rep you previously could never perform. And in a nutshell, without any over complicated science talk, that's how creatine works.
Most of the supplement industry is built around hype. Each product will tell you that you 'need' it to get a good workout and try to make you believe it's the best thing since sliced bread. That's just life. But usually this also leads to companies trying to over complicate matters by simply confusing people with science. Most people never get past the beginner stages of supplement knowledge because they're led to believe that you need to be a rocket scientist to build muscle.
This supplement is no exception. How can a product with so much scientific fact behind it be so unclear to people? Because when money is involved things become unclear. Companies want you to buy their latest products after all. But when you get down to it, this supplement is really simple to understand.
Make no mistake here, this is a naturally occurring substance not a scientific monster. Your body generates this substance already, it's responsible for your explosive strength. So dismiss any worries you may have about illegal or steroid-like effects.
So what does it actually do?
This is the point where most people get completely lost, with supplement companies trying to out science each other to make you think you need to buy their product over the others on offer. None of that right here.
Think about when you sprint outside. For the first fifteen seconds you practically fly at full speed, but then what happens? Usually you'll be forced to slow down by you body as a burning sensation fills your legs. This sensation is known as lactic acid and is your body's way of telling you it can't keep exercising at the same level of intensity.
That initial explosive strength you had comes from your body's natural resources of this supplement. When it's gone, it's gone. You'll notice you can carry on running but you need to slow down considerably. As you recover from the burning pain in your legs you're levels of the substance are building back up slowly in the background. After a couple of minutes you are able to briefly sprint once more, as your levels have now built back up.
By using this product you are able to increase your explosive strength briefly.
A better example would be in the form of a boxer. How many fights have you watched where one competitor appears to have run out of gas only to suddenly get another burst of energy, often referred to as a second wind, and win the fight?
Now you know what's going on underneath the surface it's time to take that example and put it into a gym setting. By having more of this product inside your body than the base levels provided by your muscles, you'll notice that you can push slightly harder for slightly longer.
This can result in a slightly heavier lift, or maybe another rep you previously could never perform. And in a nutshell, without any over complicated science talk, that's how creatine works.
About the Author:
About the author: Russ Howe is a respected Personal Trainer. See our free guide to get the most from creatine immediately.
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