As a Fitness Instructor one of the most popular questions I am asked is about the effects of creatine when using the gym. Over the last 20 years or so, it has become the most researched and purchased bodybuilding supplement of all time. But not so many people actually know what it is supposed to do.
The majority of the bodybuilding supplement industry is based upon sales hype. Each product claiming to be better than the last, and so on. This often leads to a state of complete customer confusion, nobody knows what to buy or who to believe.
When you cut to the chase, however, this supplement is very easy to understand.
This isn't a superhuman substance developed by scientists. In fact it is already inside your body right now, it's generated by the human body. So don't worry about it being illegal or steroid-like.
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.
Using this supplement allows you to briefly increase that small period of explosive strength.
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?
So now you know what this does underneath the surface of your skin, let's put it into a gym context. In effect, by having more of this supplement within your muscles you are able to go slightly harder for slightly longer. That can make all the difference to building muscle.
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.
The majority of the bodybuilding supplement industry is based upon sales hype. Each product claiming to be better than the last, and so on. This often leads to a state of complete customer confusion, nobody knows what to buy or who to believe.
When you cut to the chase, however, this supplement is very easy to understand.
This isn't a superhuman substance developed by scientists. In fact it is already inside your body right now, it's generated by the human body. So don't worry about it being illegal or steroid-like.
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.
Using this supplement allows you to briefly increase that small period of explosive strength.
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?
So now you know what this does underneath the surface of your skin, let's put it into a gym context. In effect, by having more of this supplement within your muscles you are able to go slightly harder for slightly longer. That can make all the difference to building muscle.
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 Writer: Russ Howe is a respected Personal Trainer. See our free guide to get the most from creatine today.
No comments:
Post a Comment