Creatine

[Born Hunter 17,812]

 

Just to point out, creatine is not some unnatural drug. It naturally forms part of your diet in red meat and is produced by the body! It's a supplement that's been used for years and probably the most researched/studied one there is. The fact that it is already found in your diet means that responses to supplementing will be different on an individual basis, some will benefit, some won't, largely depending on how much is already in your diet. The role it plays is as a very short term energy supply, keeping your muscle's creatine supplies stocked theoretically enables you to push strength/power based training a little further, therefore aiding progression.

 

I'm not saying your lad is ready for that, I'm not advising you on that, just what creatine is. A sports and health professional should be the only one to do that. What I will say though is that getting the right calorie balance and nutrient balance will be the greatest concern of any athlete before supplementation.

and your genetics play a big part, how big you will go. i done weights for 3 years, and deff got stronger from the 1st day i ever started, but could never go more than 18lb above my natural weight 12st 7lb , and thats eating well plenty of good food

 

 

In my opinion genetics are probably the single biggest factor in all of this. We are born into a handicapped race genetically and you can only optimise all the other factors to achieve YOUR best, and frankly that still probably wont put you anywhere near THE best. I think a lot of folks get insecure about that fact, the fact we are not all equal, and that either pushes them to quit or to take chances they probably wouldn't if they were more comfortable and accepting with what they are. That's just my opinion.

[TeDuke 276]

 

 

To be honest unless he puts on several more inches he may end up on the flank esp if he got the stamina, nothing worse than a wiry bugger at 7 nicking and spoiling ball, I'd make sure the eating, rest and training is right and see how it goes for a few seasons.

Yes Paulnix I think he will end up a 6 - he should make 6'2 or 6'3 and got a good frame so could carry 15 stone but even in local rugby thats not a big second row.

and yes he is over the ball a lot and slows ball down and doesn't mind the nitty gritty side of it.

6 or 7 would be a good place to start but I wouldn't rule out playing in the centres if hes got abit of speed, the lads hell come up against in the backs should be more of a level playing field

[TeDuke 276]

 

 

To be honest unless he puts on several more inches he may end up on the flank esp if he got the stamina, nothing worse than a wiry bugger at 7 nicking and spoiling ball, I'd make sure the eating, rest and training is right and see how it goes for a few seasons.

Yes Paulnix I think he will end up a 6 - he should make 6'2 or 6'3 and got a good frame so could carry 15 stone but even in local rugby thats not a big second row.

and yes he is over the ball a lot and slows ball down and doesn't mind the nitty gritty side of it.

6 or 7 would be a good place to start but I wouldn't rule out playing in the centres if hes got abit of speed, the lads hell come up against in the backs it should be more of a level playing field

[spindolero 1,111]

 

 

 

To be honest unless he puts on several more inches he may end up on the flank esp if he got the stamina, nothing worse than a wiry bugger at 7 nicking and spoiling ball, I'd make sure the eating, rest and training is right and see how it goes for a few seasons.

Yes Paulnix I think he will end up a 6 - he should make 6'2 or 6'3 and got a good frame so could carry 15 stone but even in local rugby thats not a big second row.

and yes he is over the ball a lot and slows ball down and doesn't mind the nitty gritty side of it.

6 or 7 would be a good place to start but I wouldn't rule out playing in the centres if hes got abit of speed, the lads hell come up against in the backs it should be more of a level playing field

Hes very one paced for a threequarter and gets drawn naturally to the ball so hes definitely a forward.

[J_Edwards 70]

I took creatine when I was 16, and going though a bodybuilding phase. Without going into deep research, I remember that it used to pump-up your muscle cells, making you feel bigger, and you got bad cramps if you didn't drink enough water. Supposedly it increased your muscular endurance, allowing you to squeeze-out those couple more reps, increasing muscle growth.

 

I also used to take it in cycles, taking loads of it for a week, then small amounts for three weeks, and then two weeks off. It was just a white powder that you mixed into your protein shakes.

 

I didn't have any problems with it, and although my phase lasted around 18 months, even five years later I can still feel the strength that I built up. I would always recommend more of a focus on healthy food and a balanced diet though, rather than over-reliance on supplements. The clue is in the name; "supplement". They're there to supplement your diet, i.e add to it and make it more effective.

[trigger2 3,146]

 

 

Just to point out, creatine is not some unnatural drug. It naturally forms part of your diet in red meat and is produced by the body! It's a supplement that's been used for years and probably the most researched/studied one there is. The fact that it is already found in your diet means that responses to supplementing will be different on an individual basis, some will benefit, some won't, largely depending on how much is already in your diet. The role it plays is as a very short term energy supply, keeping your muscle's creatine supplies stocked theoretically enables you to push strength/power based training a little further, therefore aiding progression.

 

I'm not saying your lad is ready for that, I'm not advising you on that, just what creatine is. A sports and health professional should be the only one to do that. What I will say though is that getting the right calorie balance and nutrient balance will be the greatest concern of any athlete before supplementation.

i was led to believe that creatine baisically just helps the muscle hold more water so it gives the impression of a bigger muscle, so it dont improve actuall muscle size. not sure how right that that info is.

 

 

What people call 'muscle gain' is usually a combination of water weight, glycogen (glyco something at least) and finally actual muscle protein. I can't remember the physiological reason but yes creatine increases water retention which makes your muscles look more 'swollen' or 'massive'. But that's not why performance athletes value it, they value it for it's actual role in the body, which is to supply energy to muscles during short term explosive exercise. By ensuring your muscle's creatine stores are filled you will be able to perform explosive work for longer, therefore pushing you body that little bit further to encourage that adaptation/growth desired. That's the basic theory anyway.

 

Because it increases water retention, some people claim it to be some sort of miracle supplement "gaining a stone in a week" etc. I think real performance/muscle mass improvements are a little less fantastical. The same can be said of all dietary supplements.

 

after reading this i know the lad i was talking to knows his onions when it comes to this sort of stuff. he put it in simple terms for me and you have confirmed it.

[TeDuke 276]

 

 

 

 

To be honest unless he puts on several more inches he may end up on the flank esp if he got the stamina, nothing worse than a wiry bugger at 7 nicking and spoiling ball, I'd make sure the eating, rest and training is right and see how it goes for a few seasons.

Yes Paulnix I think he will end up a 6 - he should make 6'2 or 6'3 and got a good frame so could carry 15 stone but even in local rugby thats not a big second row.

and yes he is over the ball a lot and slows ball down and doesn't mind the nitty gritty side of it.

6 or 7 would be a good place to start but I wouldn't rule out playing in the centres if hes got abit of speed, the lads hell come up against in the backs it should be more of a level playing field

Hes very one paced for a threequarter and gets drawn naturally to the ball so hes definitely a forward.

Tbh I think your lad will be fine as he is, he's going to be playing at this age group for atleast 2 yrs, giving him time to grow into his body and the position, to me it's no biggie if my opposite number was bigger or heavier than me it stands out more when you outplay them,body position/technique and a rugby brain will always come out on top, he may get bashed about abit but who doesn't when we play rugby

[Gaz_1989 9,539]

I personally don't see any harm in a 16 year old taking creatine or protein supplements.

 

As said above its harmless if taken sensibly and is present in food anyway. Once you start telling a teenager they can't do something because it's harmful (when they've probably researched it themselves and know it isn't) you are not going to do yourself any favours.

 

Same goes for the parents who dont let their kids as much as sniff alcohol, they are the kids who will be drinking behind sheds after school because "it's cool" or down the park at weekends.

[C556 351]

At his age he should grow like a weed providing he's eating enough and doing strength work. Tell him to eat more!

[TAXI DRIVER 549]

I`ve used creatine monohydrate loads over the years.As said above you must drink plenty of water to see/feel the benefits.It does give you a boost on the rugby field and in the gym.Make sure the lad is eating well and training hard.Creatine should be used in cycles of say a month on/month off etc.If he`s lean naturally it will help him put some weight on.Lads with a high bodyfat can look fatter when using creatine as the fat cells can hold more water.It would do him no harm to add a few protein shakes to his diet each day also.

Edited May 16, 2016 by TAXI DRIVER

[spindolero 1,111]

I`ve used creatine monohydrate loads over the years.As said above you must drink plenty of water to see/feel the benefits.It does give you a boost on the rugby field and in the gym.Make sure the lad is eating well and training hard.Creatine should be used in cycles of say a month on/month off etc.If he`s lean naturally it will help him put some weight on.Lads with a high bodyfat can look fatter when using creatine as the fat cells can hold more water.It would do him no harm to add a few protein shakes to his diet each day also.

yes hes on shakes

[Waz 4,274]

 

Just to point out, creatine is not some unnatural drug. It naturally forms part of your diet in red meat and is produced by the body! It's a supplement that's been used for years and probably the most researched/studied one there is. The fact that it is already found in your diet means that responses to supplementing will be different on an individual basis, some will benefit, some won't, largely depending on how much is already in your diet. The role it plays is as a very short term energy supply, keeping your muscle's creatine supplies stocked theoretically enables you to push strength/power based training a little further, therefore aiding progression.

 

I'm not saying your lad is ready for that, I'm not advising you on that, just what creatine is. A sports and health professional should be the only one to do that. What I will say though is that getting the right calorie balance and nutrient balance will be the greatest concern of any athlete before supplementation.

and your genetics play a big part, how big you will go. i done weights for 3 years, and deff got stronger from the 1st day i ever started, but could never go more than 18lb above my natural weight 12st 7lb , and thats eating well plenty of good food

 

 

How tall though?

[DogFox123 1,379]

 

 

 

 

Just to point out, creatine is not some unnatural drug. It naturally forms part of your diet in red meat and is produced by the body! It's a supplement that's been used for years and probably the most researched/studied one there is. The fact that it is already found in your diet means that responses to supplementing will be different on an individual basis, some will benefit, some won't, largely depending on how much is already in your diet. The role it plays is as a very short term energy supply, keeping your muscle's creatine supplies stocked theoretically enables you to push strength/power based training a little further, therefore aiding progression.

 

I'm not saying your lad is ready for that, I'm not advising you on that, just what creatine is. A sports and health professional should be the only one to do that. What I will say though is that getting the right calorie balance and nutrient balance will be the greatest concern of any athlete before supplementation.

i was led to believe that creatine baisically just helps the muscle hold more water so it gives the impression of a bigger muscle, so it dont improve actuall muscle size. not sure how right that that info is.

What people call 'muscle gain' is usually a combination of water weight, glycogen (glyco something at least) and finally actual muscle protein. I can't remember the physiological reason but yes creatine increases water retention which makes your muscles look more 'swollen' or 'massive'. But that's not why performance athletes value it, they value it for it's actual role in the body, which is to supply energy to muscles during short term explosive exercise. By ensuring your muscle's creatine stores are filled you will be able to perform explosive work for longer, therefore pushing you body that little bit further to encourage that adaptation/growth desired. That's the basic theory anyway.

 

Because it increases water retention, some people claim it to be some sort of miracle supplement "gaining a stone in a week" etc. I think real performance/muscle mass improvements are a little less fantastical. The same can be said of all dietary supplements.

Beetroot juice of all things can enable people to train for upto 16% longer, definitely a super food. Edited May 17, 2016 by DogFox123

[Wales1234 5,546]

I was playing top level rugby at 16 and we wasn't allowed to take anything but protein shakes they reckon we wouldn't get the worth out of it till 18 a good diet and weight program should be enough to pack the muscle on just playing against bigger lads he will get more physical naturally ! Probably better off taking it when he's between youth and seniors when he will really need the boost some many lads are heroes in youth rugby but really can't cut it when step up to seniors the youth side I was part of we crowned best team in Wales in my 3rd year and only a handful have survived in senior rugby

[gnasher16 30,469]

My 16 year old is wanting to get bigger for rugby and has been advised to do Creatine.

Not comfortable with it myself, heard it put stress on kidneys and also maybe the long term effects aren't fully known yet?

What are people's thoughts/advice?

Just out of curiosity....who advised him to take Creatine if you dont mind me asking ?.....and is that all they advised him ?

 

You could do a lot worse than sign him up at his local gym by the sound of it.

Edited May 17, 2016 by gnasher16