sitnspin

As of this past Monday, I'm embarking on a totally different workout program from what I usually do, with a focus on strength and muscle gains and a lot less cardio. I'm gonna do it for 4-6 weeks and then go back to normal.

Anyway, to coincide with it, I started back on creatine. For the past two years, any periods of creatine usage I did were with NOX-CG3, which contains CEE. But at the moment I'm poor, and all I had on hand was two containers of monohydrate. One of them expired in December so I junked it, and one was an unopened container that a supplement store threw in for free because it's due to expire next month. So I opened that, and this week I've been adding it to my morning protein shake -- no loading, just a couple of teaspoons and away I go.

UGH! I'm suffering! You know all that stuff you hear about monohydrate messing with your gut? I've had stomach cramps for the past four days and varying degrees of the runs (and I'm not talking about the runs you do on the treadmill).

I've also felt totally fatigued and lethargic, which is another side-effect that people talk about.

In researching monohydrate, I keep running into sources that say none of these side-effects have been proven through any conclusive studies. Maybe that's the case, but I feel like crap and I'm done.

All this, combined with the limited rate of absorption/solubility in comparison to CEE, and I'm pretty much writing off monohydrate as a waste of time.

If you're supplementing with it, enjoying results and not suffering any of these side effects, congrats and keep at it. But for me, three days on it is enough. If I could afford CEE I'd go buy it, but since I can't, I'll just have to go without creatine altogether.

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Nimmy

i dont think il ever do supplements

786

I have also felt fatiguied after about an hour or two after taking creatine.What is CEE?

sitnspin

I think people have explained this in the threads you've started about creatine. It stands for creatine ethyl ester.

Bodybuilding.com - Creatine Ethyl Ester Information and Product Listing! Creatine Ethyl Ester FAQ!

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Goeth27

I am done using supplements, even protein powder. I got my best results from just eating a can of tuna after working out. I find that much like steroids, a lot of people come too dependent on the supplement and figure that's whats getting them their gains, and not the hours of training.

the_nothing

Yes, but if you're already doing all the training and proper dieting, don't you think the suppliments/protein powder would just add to your narural gains. So long as you don't solely rely on the suppliments, you should be ok......no?

Goeth27

If I were to have the perfect diet then I would say ok, but as of now with my diet not being at the level I want it to be. Then going on supplements then off I will lose more of what I gained on supplements I think.

And damn, having a good diet is expensive enough, supplements are pretty pricey ecspecially if you don't buy them off the internet.

Crashsti

i am sorry to hear about your bad experience with Creatine Monohydrate. what brand were you using if i may ask? some people feel that all brands are the same, i don't. cheaper, lesser known brands often come from China and contain higher levels of contaminants than other established brands.

sitnspin

Sorry, I had to wait until I got home to check. It's Creaforce by a company called ABB. As I said, the store threw it in for free last time I bought a large-sized NOX-CG3.

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Crashsti

hmm...never heard of the company. In general i usually steer clear of brands that i am not familiar with, its hard to judge the quality of the product.

SmashingMachine

You guys will probably laugh at me for posting this but I noticed a Brand name of Six Star. They have a pretty decent creating blend out now, it's close to 2 lb container I believe and it's right around 20 bucks. I think when I start into performance training again that I may try it as it is a cheap alternative.

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Crashsti

i saw this, they have Jeff Monson onboard as their poster boy. funny since he does'nt use Creatine but Six Star does make other products. i actually am using the store brand of Nutritionexpress.com, its Creatine Ethyl Ester under the brand "Fitness Labs", its cheap but i have had excellent results.

SmashingMachine

Any calories on that Crash? That was one thing I wasn't to kean on with the Six Star it was like 170 calories a serving I think.

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Crashsti

calories in the CEE? none that i am aware of, its just straight up CEE.
Fitness Labs - Creatine Ethyl Ester 750mg 240 Capsules - Save 47%

Kentified

Crash do you follow their instruction on taking the servings 30-60 minutes before and than 30-60 minutes after your workouts?

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"Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one."

-Bruce Lee

"Everything's about the journey" -Evan Tanner R.I.P.

Crashsti

i actually use a preworkout drink called Amino Shooter by Champion nutrition, it includes creatine monohydrate and caffiene. so no, i don't use the CEE before a workout but i do take it immediately after a workout along with a protein/carb shake. seems to work for me.
Champion Nutrition - Amino Shooter + Creatine & Energy Boosters Punch 340 Grams - Save 40%
supposedly this helps prevent your body from pulling aminos from your muscle during exercise. i have made my best gains in strength and muscle gains since i began using it.

texmo

I read the below article and this thread came to mind.

Exceptions to just going with the basic monohydrate powder include cases where there is gastrointestinal distress. If creatine does not get fully dissolved into free creatine in the stomach it can lead to problems of diarrhea and stomach upset in some people. In this case, try creatine citrate, micronized creatine (creatine more finely milled to increase solubility), or altering how you take it.

The-Iceman-Chuck-Liddell

I don't know but is it dymatized? I have the same problem sitnspin and I hated it. So what I had to do was get off it for a month then get on for 3 then get off etc etc.. It hurt so bad It ruined my workouts for weeks til I figured out wut it was.

name goes here

Have been taking creatine monohydrate for a couple of weeks now along with 'amino 1000' tablets. Its hard to see if theres been any increase in my rate of muscle gain, I don't think the rate of increase in the weights I've been lifting has accelerated at all. The only thing I can say conclusively is that for the loading week I got pretty blocked up and am now adding hempseed for fibre to counteract that.

GSPALLTHEWAY

let me just say, theres no doubt that creatine increases performance... your body produces some, but when you elevate the levels in your system you WILL perform better... with that being said those who do not see increases over a decent span of time simply arent working hard enough, or not dieting correctly... its not a magic supplement that makes you bigger, but it will help...