8/20    Who has taken creatine? Is it good stuff?
        \_ It's alright. It doesn't make you bigger necessarily,
           but it does make you stronger (which in turn can correspond
           to a size increase). In my experience, though, as much
           as it doesn't have any (currently known) side effects,
           I'd still stay away from any of those supplements. If you're
           dedicated and consistent with your workout, you'll gain the
           same strength soon enough. That's why I stopped taking it.
           \_ Is creatine all-natural or does it contain steroid?
              \_ which definition?
              \_ Creatine isn't a steroid.  However, if you take the
        supplement, your body stops producing it.  Not good.  It also
        increases water retention.
       n 1: any of several fat-soluble organic compounds having as a
            basis 17 carbon atoms in four rings; many have important
            physiological effects
       2: any hormone affecting the development and growth of sex
          organs [syn: {steroid hormone}, {sex hormone}]
        \_ is whey protein bad to take?
           \_ You don't need any more protein. It all comes out your piss
              anyways.  Try fixing your sleep habits.
           \_ And you know this how?  Protein needs for athletes training
              10-15 hrs/wk is pretty high.  If you live off Smokehouse,
              you're right, but serious athletes should know better than that.
        \_ Creatine is already in your muscles; the supply of creatine in
           the muscles is normally used in high exertion scenarios and
           lasts for 1-2 seconds.  Ingesting additional creatine doesn't
           really help you any unless you're looking for very short bursts
           of energy, and even then it's not really proven to help.  I
           would ask you why you'd want to take creatine.  It isn't a
           panacea by any means.  -chaos
        \_ I would add that you must accept that any real change in
           your body will require long term effort and dedication
           and there is no quick fix.  All the supplements have one thing
           in common, they are to be used in addition to exercise and
           good diet.  -ax
           \_ so how long did it take you to go from whimpy biker tom
              physique to ax superman physique?
                   \_ The absolute limits most people hit are:
                        20 lbs of muscle the first year you have ever
                        worked out.  6 lbs per year after that until
                        you plateau.  It was about 6 years of working
                        out to go from 145 lbs to 190.  And in the last
                        ten years, I've only added 20 lbs.  -ax