Creatine...?

[buff6]

Hi,

when is it wise to cut creatine from diet, in contest prep?? how far from the competition should it be stopped or avoided...??

[XTRMEWJ]

Creatine is a great supp to use while dieting. The smart natural competitiors use it while dieting and stay on it all the way thru the show. Most of your water is held intracellularly and as such, it will not cause any issues with bloating. A lof of people blame creatine for obscuring the cuts in the muscles when in reality they are most likely not lean enough. If you are truly lean enough for a show, creatine will only help you.

Sean

[Massiv]

One step further. I am 10 days out from my show. I have been using Gaspari Products "Superpump250" for my preworkout and Taking "Sizeon" during my workouts. both have a Creatine Matrix in them. I have seen great success with them during my diet. I am very lean, but still hold my size and vascularity. Can I take these products up to the day of the contest? or do I need to drop them?

[XTRMEWJ]

I am not familar with the products...but by the name, it sounds to have a nitric oxide booster in it. That is one thing that I would discontinue. That said, you will want to ask Layne about it. I send you his way because if you cycle off a NO booster at 10 days out, your body may react in an undesireable way in the short term, which could then impact your physique on stage. The negative feedback systems the body uses to its functions are such that when the pendulum swings back the other way, it tends to over compensate...which in this case could mean sub-Q water retention that you want no part of.

Next time, cycle off that stuff at 3-4 weeks out to give your body time to adapt.

Also, I would tell you to pick up a creatine product and use a few grams of it each day thru your show. Be careful once again, as you are introducing a new thing to your body right before a show...so low doses are essential. I would take a look at a ethyl ester or AKG creatine. In my experience and reading they tend to have less extracellular water associated with them. I would say 3 grams a day would be enough...but base that on body weight of course...again, hopefully Layne will have some input.

Check with Layne...he is the biochem guy.

hope that helps a bit. Good luck!

Sean

[buff6]

thank you very much xtremejw....