By Russ Howe
In this article we feature creatine monohydrate, possibly the most popular bodybuilding supplement of all time and also one of the most misunderstood. There is so much hype and so many lies surrounding products it is easy to get lost, so today we'll clear things up for you.
The truth is if you believe the statements which supplement manufacturers place on their products you will end up on a slippery slope to nowhere, constantly switching products and getting little in the way of results. It is very, very easy to over complicate things.
There are a few proven, noticeable changes which come from using this product.
This product is all about explosive strength. Whether you use it or not, this is a substance which is already inside your body and is responsible for those big sudden impact movements such as performing a heavy lift or a sudden sprint.
If you are trying to build lean muscle you may already be realizing the positives of a product like this. By having an increased amount of this within your system your ability to push out one more explosive power movement is greatly increased which, over time, will make a massive difference.
So you will often hear people talking about how their strength has improved while using this supplement but you should also be aware that it makes a change to your actual appearance, too. It pushes water into your muscles creating that full, round appearance.
As with all supplements, however, there are various side effects to look at which can play an important role in your overall results. With this particular product there are in fact a number of myths surrounding it.
Easily the most commonly heard myth surrounding this product is that it causes bloating. It does not. Science has shown that while it pushes water into your muscles, it does not under any circumstances force water between your muscles and skin to cause a bloated appearance. So don't fall for that myth, because that's all it is!
We would also like to discuss the opinion that you need to stop using this after eight weeks to avoid becoming used to it. As this is a naturally occurring substance you needn't worry about this the way you would with other supplements. In fact, athletes use this all year round.
The third myth concerns which blend is the best. Believe it or not, the most proven blend is the original and cheapest - Monohydrate. In fact most trainers consider that many of these other myths were developed by supplement companies looking to sell their latest product and needing an angle on why it was superior to the last.
The final myth is that this product will make you become muscular. It will not directly make you bigger, but it will help you indirectly. Taking this product won't make you bigger but it will increase your explosive strength. So if you are going to the gym and training hard, you will find that you can go for one extra heavy rep or perhaps slip an extra few lbs onto the bar which, in turn, will make you more muscular.
Now that you know what to expect when you use a creatine supplement you will be able to make much more of your time in the gym and elevate your progress to the next level.
The truth is if you believe the statements which supplement manufacturers place on their products you will end up on a slippery slope to nowhere, constantly switching products and getting little in the way of results. It is very, very easy to over complicate things.
There are a few proven, noticeable changes which come from using this product.
This product is all about explosive strength. Whether you use it or not, this is a substance which is already inside your body and is responsible for those big sudden impact movements such as performing a heavy lift or a sudden sprint.
If you are trying to build lean muscle you may already be realizing the positives of a product like this. By having an increased amount of this within your system your ability to push out one more explosive power movement is greatly increased which, over time, will make a massive difference.
So you will often hear people talking about how their strength has improved while using this supplement but you should also be aware that it makes a change to your actual appearance, too. It pushes water into your muscles creating that full, round appearance.
As with all supplements, however, there are various side effects to look at which can play an important role in your overall results. With this particular product there are in fact a number of myths surrounding it.
Easily the most commonly heard myth surrounding this product is that it causes bloating. It does not. Science has shown that while it pushes water into your muscles, it does not under any circumstances force water between your muscles and skin to cause a bloated appearance. So don't fall for that myth, because that's all it is!
We would also like to discuss the opinion that you need to stop using this after eight weeks to avoid becoming used to it. As this is a naturally occurring substance you needn't worry about this the way you would with other supplements. In fact, athletes use this all year round.
The third myth concerns which blend is the best. Believe it or not, the most proven blend is the original and cheapest - Monohydrate. In fact most trainers consider that many of these other myths were developed by supplement companies looking to sell their latest product and needing an angle on why it was superior to the last.
The final myth is that this product will make you become muscular. It will not directly make you bigger, but it will help you indirectly. Taking this product won't make you bigger but it will increase your explosive strength. So if you are going to the gym and training hard, you will find that you can go for one extra heavy rep or perhaps slip an extra few lbs onto the bar which, in turn, will make you more muscular.
Now that you know what to expect when you use a creatine supplement you will be able to make much more of your time in the gym and elevate your progress to the next level.
About the Author:
About the Publisher: Russ Howe PTI is a certified Personal Trainer who helps people discover how to lose weight and live healthier. Watch our guide to usingcreatine supplements next.