Protein or Creatine?

[Boston08]

Hey everyone, a few weeks ago I posted a questions about creatine. In all the feedback I got back, someone mentioned something about taking protein shakes. I was just wondering which one do you all think would be better for me to take? And what brand would be best? I am currently 19 years old, 6'2, 160 pounds, and more or less would like to bulk up over the summer...Which would give me better results?

Thanks!
Boston08

 

[metallicarocker]

Protein repairs muscle while adding more. Creatine sort of gives u more energy while your working out. so yeah protein helps u bulk up more.

 

[Hoss]

protein is essential in order to gain weight, but if you're getting enough protein through your diet then maybe you should look into creatine. the amount of protein you should get in a day is about 1g per lb of body weight.. that's a pretty general ratio, more of less depending on your goals & dedication..

 

[R.Lewis]

Ive heard so many diffrent figures about that. Some ppl say you need 1g of protien per kg weight, some say 0.6, or 2. I just eat as much as i can.

I dont think it would harm you to take both creatine and protien. Protien is natural so you can take it anytime.

In my personal opinion I got on better with protien and no longer bother with creatine.

On ur goals it says ur trying to loose weight, so why do u want to use muscle growth sups?

 

[R.Lewis]

Boston 8

I would use any old whey protien. Just get whatever is cheap, cos u'll only grow so fast anyway. When you stop growing the move on the better quality protiens but they are a lot more expensive. U can start off on the best ones, but you may be waisting your money.

 

[ManLondon]

I have a very related question please.

I am a 28 years and live in London, UK. I am 5' 8'' and weigh 62 Kg or 136 lbs.
I used to work out, aerobics and sports in my teens and early twenties. So, though I do not have big biceps but I think, strength-wise, I am not too bad for my weight / height.

I would like to gain muscles esp. the upper part.

I am a vegetarian but can take dairy and eggs. My diet at the moment is not very protein rich.

I have just started regular weight training in the gym.

The question I have is, can anybody please recommend a brand name of suppliments that I can take (Sorry manofkent, I am totally confused so would like to have a brand name from the experts). I do not mind, whichever are better for muscle size - weather they are proteins, Creatine or a mix as long as they have better chance of helping me gain muscle size.

Thanks a lot guys. This forum really rocks!

 

[Hoss]

i would reccomend protein & creatine, since you're a vegetarian. people's main source of creatine is in red meat, so you're body would benefit highly from a low dose of ~3g a day. as for protein, you need about 100-125g a day for your weight. if you can do that w/o protein powder that'd be great, but most people need powder to make their quota.. i like MetRx, Optimum Nutrition, Biotest, Cytosport, and IDS. but those are just personal favorites.. and it's better to take your protein and creatine seperate (if they're both shakes)

 

[evolution]

I think since you're a vegetarian, in some ways you'll have a much better diet than most, especially since you do dairy and eggs. This means with all the veggies and fruits you'll be eating...add some eggs, cottage cheese, fat free milk, and nuts to your diet.

I like the proteins already mentioned plus Micell Edge, BioPure, and VPX.

 

[R.Lewis]

Yeah as a veggy, you should take 1 capsule of creatine every2 days anyway, but if ur trying to bulk up the take more. The only thing about taking both is that u will get massive!!! and if ur not using the protien u'll get flabby. Its prob best to start on a cheap designer protien for those in the uk holland and barrat r doing a special offer on designer protine 900g reduced from £21 to £10. thats the cheapest u'll get anywhere, finishes on 12th of May.

Then when uve used one of two tubs of that, move on to pure whey protine (the good stuff) then try all diff types of creitne down the line.

Its best to try everything cos every1s body works diffrently and you need to understand yourself how taking on all this extra fule affects you.

Every one wants to rush in and get massive, but in truth, you cant get massive untill ur huge, and u cant get huge untill your big. So in the 1st few months of training its not really gonna make much diffrence what stuff u use.

And for anyone that dont know. Creatine one month on one month off... Its really important cos it sits in ur kidneys.

 

[R.Lewis]

Just noticed that i spelt Protein wrong all through that last post. Sorry.

 

[Hoss]

The only thing about taking both is that u will get massive!!!.

I hate that assumption. Just because you workout and take protein and/or creatine, does NOT mean you will get huge automatically. People try and try to get huge, it is just as hard if not harder than losing weight.

And for anyone that dont know. Creatine one month on one month off... Its really important cos it sits in ur kidneys.

Creatine does not "sit in" your kidneys. The main reason people cycle creatine (16weeks on, 8 off) is because the body will stop natrually producing creatine after injesting it from a supplement for too long.

 

[ManLondon]

Thank you very much guys for all your expert suggestions and time. Really Appreciate!!!

Thanks mreik, evolution, manofkent.

i would reccomend protein & creatine, since you're a vegetarian. people's main source of creatine is in red meat,

Thanks Mreik, I have been vegetarian all my life, does that mean I may have a deficiency for Creatine stuff?

..add some eggs, cottage cheese, fat free milk, and nuts to your diet.

I have started to add extra nuts, eggs and milk into my diet. Thanks.

Then when uve used one of two tubs of that, move on to pure whey protine (the good stuff) then try all diff types of creitne down the line.

I have checked the holland and barrett website () and could not find anything called "Designer Proteins". Though they are doing Whey Proteins. I have bought 900g of pack for a tenner (50% sale). also bought Creatine Capsules. Did I do the right thing?

Not sure what you mean by try diff type of Creatine. Holland & Barrent do only Creatine capsules, power and "BF Creatine Power". Do you mean I should try Capsules and power alternatively? Or something else?

.. i like MetRx, Optimum Nutrition, Biotest, Cytosport, and IDS. but those are just personal favorites..

Here is the problem, I tried looking for these products before as well. I know Fil mentioned Cytosport in another thread and looked it up the internet.

(a) I am struggling to find any of these in UK. ()

(b) I can order them on the internet from US and possibly get them shipped from US but here is the thing. which one? Because when I look on the internet each of these companies do lots of things which I can't tell one from another. e.g. (I am sorry, it has made me realise how crap my knowledge is about these suppliments. May be I need a book or mag)
e.g. MetRx, do these kinds of powders "White Box, Protein Plus, Whey, Total Nutrition Drink".

Really, I am so confused.

Every one wants to rush in and get massive, but in truth, you cant get massive untill ur huge, and u cant get huge untill your big. So in the 1st few months of training its not really gonna make much diffrence what stuff u use.

I probably am bit too eager to have muscles. may be it is my "hunger" life-state. But really, I am not expecting overnight results. And there must be a techinique and things that if followed may ensure that I get to that stage sooner than later. That is all what I am trying to do and suggestions from you experts will only help me.

I hate that assumption. Just because you workout and take protein and/or creatine, does NOT mean you will get huge automatically. People try and try to get huge, it is just as hard if not harder than losing weight.

Thats what I have heard people saying.

Cheers

 

[Hoss]

looking on the website you provided i found this... and then click on the "whey protein - precision engineered" link, i looked at the ingredients and nutritional value, everything looks okay. and then at least you woulndt have to ship from the U.S. and £9.99 isn't that bad of a price for 41-42 servings. but if you would still prefer another known brand, i use Optimum Nutrition's 100% Any Whey (flavorless)..

 

[ManLondon]

I hate that assumption. Just because you workout and take protein and/or creatine, does NOT mean you will get huge automatically. People try and try to get huge, it is just as hard if not harder than losing weight.



Creatine does not "sit in" your kidneys. The main reason people cycle creatine (16weeks on, 8 off) is because the body will stop natrually producing creatine after injesting it from a supplement for too long.

mreik,

Then how do you get massive? Some tips would be really apprecaited, please.

 

[ManLondon]

looking on the website you provided i found this... and then click on the "whey protein - precision engineered" link, i looked at the ingredients and nutritional value, everything looks okay. and then at least you woulndt have to ship from the U.S. and £9.99 isn't that bad of a price for 41-42 servings. but if you would still prefer another known brand, i use Optimum Nutrition's 100% Any Whey (flavorless)..

Thanks mreik, That is exactly what I have placed and order for. I could not find "Designer Proteins" that manofkend mentioned earlier.

Also I ordered Creatine 700g capsules

 

[ManLondon]

Thanks mreik, That is exactly what I have placed and order for. I could not find "Designer Proteins" that manofkend mentioned earlier.

Also I ordered Creatine 700g capsules

Sorry manofkent, I meant to spell your name right. Apologies

 

[R.Lewis]

Posted by Mreik

I hate that assumption. Just because you workout and take protein and/or creatine, does NOT mean you will get huge automatically. People try and try to get huge, it is just as hard if not harder than losing weight.

Errr. Yeah it does. If you take the right amount of protien/creatine and do the right exersise, have the right life style then yeah u will get massive. maybe some ppl not so fast but its gonna happen. And as for loosing weight, thats down to the individual. Some ppl find it hard, but thats mainly cos of will power or lack of infomation. ppl dont know that there eating badly and they dont know its wrong.

On many types of creatine it tells you to do 4weeks each way.

If your gonna start bulking up then you want to take protein. Creatine works by pumping ur muscles with water&blood, helping you work out and making them pumped. But when u stop taking it you will loose some size. Take protein and add creatine to ur diet when you feel you need it.

 

[Hoss]

Errr. Yeah it does.

lol okay...

On many types of creatine it tells you to do 4weeks each way.

On many types of supplements they tell it works, when some don't. Bottom line, find out what supplements do, why they do it, and if they do it. Never take the company's word for it.

Creatine works by pumping ur muscles with water&blood, helping you work out and making them pumped.

That's not why it "helps you work out". It donates an extra phosphate molecule to unusable ADP, to be converted back to ATP.

 

[daff1969]

Boston08, Creatine and caffeine are supplements that are proven to work. Even though it may not be considered a supplement as such, carbohydrate has many beneficial effects as well.

The main benefit of creatine is that it enables the regeneration of ATP as mreik has mentioned. Caffeine has been demonstrated to increase strength levels and carbohydrates have a protein sparing effect. Carbohydrates consumed with protein either during or right after a strength training session increases levels of IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1), a powerful stimulator of muscle growth.

If you want to read more information on these supplements, I've posted an article on my website at