Here's a question for those who know: Do supplements pop you on piss tests? I don't use any now but I was thinking about taking some creatine or something of the like but I don't want to pop positive for something stupid. Also, any suggestions on how to trim up the gut? I work out like a champ but I can't seem to escape the beer belly. Any help would be appreciated.
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Supplements and Getting Fit
- Thread starter goplay234
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kevin
Registered User
dont know about supplements with piss tests. if i was you, id just wait till after (how soon are you doing the test) just so some screwball doesnt diagnose you with diabetes cause there was lots of sugar in your urine. as far as supplements go, besides protein supplements theyre pretty worthless unless youre injecting roids. eat, eat, eat......it's all about calories. if you are hard up for taking supps, creatine is being studied more and more, and most experts believe it's not the magic everyone thought it was. most of the weight you gain = water weight, and only minimal strength gains. and it hampers your endurance. no2 is a pretty good one now, if taken with wey protein and glutamine, but you sweat like crazy. just my $.02, i know some people swear and die by creatine. as far as abs. they're about 90% diet, 10% exercise, oh and another 50% genetics (dont know how that math works out, but you get the point). if youre trying to put size on (as i suspect since youre looking for creatine) you need to worry about eating a crapload and dont worry about your abs till later. that's just how it works. you cant really concentrate on putting mass on and losing it at the same time. but in terms of exercises, nothing is magic, just make sure you do some movements where you hyperextend the abdominals, since this is the greatest stimulation for them. sit perpendicular to a bench so that you can bend backwards (like your head is touching the floor) and do situps this way. dont put too much emphasis on leg raises and knee lifts and what not, cause they work your hip flexors more than your abs. good luck.
You pretty much just need to get to runnin' to get rid of the gut. You can not run and do ab workouts, but what you'll have is a gut over top of rock, solid abs, thus you won't see the abs, but the gut. Do you run a lot now? Also, try to eat less carbs. What I do is eat carbs, but no carbs after 6:00 at night.. I can't just not eat carbs at all... impossible... unless you're some gay vegetarian. The occasional beer drinking will kill you, but you gotta at least do that so toughen up with the food. Also, make sure you're eating right after you workout (your main meal) and just a little before. Your body will metabolize like a champ after you're done. If you want some good exercises to do for abs, I would simply do crunches to hit the middle part of your abs, but for the sides (obliques), use the machine in the gym where you twist from side to side. If you do about three sets of those every time you go to the gym, you'll be nice and cut up around the outside of your abs (left and right side of belly). You may already know this stuff, but that's all I've thought of so far.... it's what I do... and it works pretty well.
Um, vegetarians eating no carbs at all? Actually, vegetarians make up the bulk of their diets with carbs (you know, VEGGIES, fruits, grains, pastas and breads). =)
As for creatine, I've posted a long description of what it does and the way it works, so I'll spare you the long post and just reiterate that creatine aids in recovery by allowing your cells to recover ATP more effectively (so the size increases are from being able to handle a higher workload, not from creatine itself). And you gain a lot of weight from water because it shuttles water into your muscle cells, so if you do take it you need to drink a lot more water to compensate.
If you decide to take the NO2, which seems promising, don't buy it at GNC 'cause you'll get ripped off. Get a cheaper brand online (NOX2 and Nitrix) for less than half the price. I like www.dpsnutrition.net personally. And I don't think anything you'll take will make you pop on a test...maybe ephedrine, but that's in Allegra (plus it's now outlawed in the US). I've taken supplements and never popped on a test.
For losing the beer gut, I would say that the first step would be to seriously lower the beer intake. Why...because it's really high in calories, alcohol promotes fat storage, it depresses your CNS and because you probably drink most of your beer later at night when you're down for the evening, which means you're not burning the calories off. Also, you'll get advice from everyone on what works best for them, but you'll have to figure out what works for your body and do it. It will most likely be a combination of weights, cardio and diet, since that is what most studies point to as the most effective. You might try to do your cardio in the morning on an empty stomach for at least 2-3 days per week because your glycogen stores and blood sugar will be low, so your body will burn a higher percentage of fat calories than if you'd eaten prior to the workout. Also, try to eat at least 4-6 times per day (smaller meals...same total daily calories) to keep your metabolism cranking on high.
Basically, if you want ripped abs you can do ab workouts until you're blue in the face and your abs will be strong, but your gut will still be fat. In order to have good abs, you've got to lose the bodyfat. You can have a 6-pack without doing any ab work as long as your bodyfat is low enough (anatomically everyone has a 6-pack, it's the way the muscles are shaped). It's not easy, but it's well worth the effort! Good luck.
JR
BTW, don't take any supplements unless you know what they do and if they're safe for YOU. I can tolerate stimulants well
, but it doesn't mean you can. If you take a fat-burner with stimulants make sure you don't have high BP, or a heart problem first!
So much for sparing you the long post
As for creatine, I've posted a long description of what it does and the way it works, so I'll spare you the long post and just reiterate that creatine aids in recovery by allowing your cells to recover ATP more effectively (so the size increases are from being able to handle a higher workload, not from creatine itself). And you gain a lot of weight from water because it shuttles water into your muscle cells, so if you do take it you need to drink a lot more water to compensate.
If you decide to take the NO2, which seems promising, don't buy it at GNC 'cause you'll get ripped off. Get a cheaper brand online (NOX2 and Nitrix) for less than half the price. I like www.dpsnutrition.net personally. And I don't think anything you'll take will make you pop on a test...maybe ephedrine, but that's in Allegra (plus it's now outlawed in the US). I've taken supplements and never popped on a test.
For losing the beer gut, I would say that the first step would be to seriously lower the beer intake. Why...because it's really high in calories, alcohol promotes fat storage, it depresses your CNS and because you probably drink most of your beer later at night when you're down for the evening, which means you're not burning the calories off. Also, you'll get advice from everyone on what works best for them, but you'll have to figure out what works for your body and do it. It will most likely be a combination of weights, cardio and diet, since that is what most studies point to as the most effective. You might try to do your cardio in the morning on an empty stomach for at least 2-3 days per week because your glycogen stores and blood sugar will be low, so your body will burn a higher percentage of fat calories than if you'd eaten prior to the workout. Also, try to eat at least 4-6 times per day (smaller meals...same total daily calories) to keep your metabolism cranking on high.
Basically, if you want ripped abs you can do ab workouts until you're blue in the face and your abs will be strong, but your gut will still be fat. In order to have good abs, you've got to lose the bodyfat. You can have a 6-pack without doing any ab work as long as your bodyfat is low enough (anatomically everyone has a 6-pack, it's the way the muscles are shaped). It's not easy, but it's well worth the effort! Good luck.
JR
BTW, don't take any supplements unless you know what they do and if they're safe for YOU. I can tolerate stimulants well
So much for sparing you the long post
I guess you're right about vegetarians Jaerose. I didn't really think of that. I was thinking more in terms of the word itself. I WOULD NOT use creatine!!! It will blow you up like a waterbag and make you LOOK big when you use it, but as soon as you stop, you deflate, and it doesn't make you stronger at all. Instead of carrying around muscle when you're running, you're carrying around a bunch of water, which makes it harder on bones and joints... it's like carrying around dead weight with the little muscle you have. I would try NO2 if you want to try something. It doesn't seem to make you gain as much weight, but definitely gets you ripped... not so much bulky but constantly ripped / "pumped."
I've used creatine and had good results because I was eating and lifting to get bigger. When I was playing collegiate baseball I put on a legitimate 15-20 lbs. of muscle with that strategy (from 175 lbs. at 6.5% bf to 197 lbs. at about 8% bf) in order to try and add more power to my game, but now I'm trying to go the other way. I just don't like carrying that muscle on my 5'9 frame, so I'm shooting for the leaner/triathlete body type. It won't ever happen 'cause I have a big bone structure and my legs are pretty big, but you just keep improving, right? I was taking it to try and spare muscle while losing weight (I want to get back down to about 180-185 lbs.), but between creatine and my rigorous workout regimen I wasn't getting enough water and would cramp when I ran (never happened to me before with creatine) so I don't take it now.
I am thinking of trying the NO2 products just for the muscle sparing and nutrient shuttling properties. I also think it would be good to take in addition to a fat-burner/thermogenic supplement (if you're taking those), even though they say not too, because the thermogenics typically are vasoconstrictors and the NO2 has the opposite effect, so it would probably help prevent resulting high blood pressure and any similar side effects/risks from those supplements.
Yeah, extra weight is killer in running. Honestly, because of tonsil problems earlier in the year I couldn't do anything and I blew up...so after my tonsillectomy I finally was cleared to exercise again and I've lost about 25-30 lbs. (yes, picture eric cartman =) and running is much, much easier on my body.
JR
I am thinking of trying the NO2 products just for the muscle sparing and nutrient shuttling properties. I also think it would be good to take in addition to a fat-burner/thermogenic supplement (if you're taking those), even though they say not too, because the thermogenics typically are vasoconstrictors and the NO2 has the opposite effect, so it would probably help prevent resulting high blood pressure and any similar side effects/risks from those supplements.
Yeah, extra weight is killer in running. Honestly, because of tonsil problems earlier in the year I couldn't do anything and I blew up...so after my tonsillectomy I finally was cleared to exercise again and I've lost about 25-30 lbs. (yes, picture eric cartman =) and running is much, much easier on my body.
JR
kevin
Registered User
i took creatine when i first started working out and did several times after, and my gains were noticeable. however, this more than likely came from the intensity of lifting (as you said) when i was taking it. i think it's more of a psychological boost than anything. and the water weight is simply not sustainable. eventually, that weight is reduced, because water is 75% of a muscle cell and that's that. it aint gonna jump up to 90% and stay there. in terms of getting strong- lift fast and heavy, there's no substitute (except roids). it partly depends on what youre going for, but if this guy is trying to put on mass, taking a fat burner is completely counterproductive, as is eating less carbs. calories is the name of the game, and the majority of calories come from carb foods. the important thing is eating the right carbs (low glycemic index, avoid high glycemic) not avoiding them all together. eat whole wheat bread and stop snorting pixy sticks. and yes, eating the 6 small meals a day is a very good thing. while what works for each person in terms of exercise varies, the eating thing is straight across the board...human physiology is human physiology.
jaerose: gnc reminds me of starbucks
jaerose: gnc reminds me of starbucks
It just seem to me that asking about losing the beer belly is the OPPOSITE of gaining mass. He wants to lose it. Oh, just to be very picky I'll say that actually the majority of calories actually come from fat: 9cal/gram for fat as compared to 4cal/gram for carbs and protein. Yes, I know you were saying that to gain mass most of your calories will probably come from carbs unless you want to be cartman, too, but I couldn't resist. Also, I think the best diet for gaining muscle and losing fat is either the zone (40% carbs, 30% protein and 30% fat), or the iso-caloric diet (I had good results on that one) consisting of 33% fat, carbs and protein. Protein consumption is important for both, though, because to build muscle you need to stay in a positive nitrogen balanced state (enough protein), but to burn fat protein is a secret weapon because you burn more calories digesting protein than you do with fat, or carbs. Ok, I'll shut up now.
JR
Kevin, I hate you!
JR
Kevin, I hate you!
I've never used it. I know it has a huge amount of sugar in it (dextrose, or some other kind) that's supposed to help deliver the creatine, but honestly I've had good results just taking creatine monohydrate with water. It just depends on what you want to do. Look at the ingredients and see if you could buy separately in bulk and replicate the supplement without killing your wallet. Also, look for reviews of the product by 3rd party objective people. I'd go to Will Brink's site where people will honestly tell you what it did for them. www.aboutsupplements.com is the site, but there's a forum on there, too. Check it.
JR
JR
Hi guys! I worked at a supplement store all through college, so I thought I might add my thoughts here. First of all, no supplements really show up in a urine test except for any type of andro. That will show up as an anabolic steriod, so stay away from those. Most of the ones that are legal and are sold at supplement stores are only one or two molecules away from being an anabolic steroid. On cell-tech, I think cell-tech is kind of a rip off. All muscle-tech products are way over priced. A company called Sports Nutrition International makes a creatine that is extremely similar to cell-tech in that it has the creatine transport system, but it is a lot cheaper. It is called Extreme Pro Pump. Generally those type of creatine do produce better results than a basic monohydrate. But you can still get results from a monohydraet as long as you take it with apple, grape or orange juice. The sugar in those will help spike your insulin briefly so that youy body can absorb as much of teh creatine as possible. Also it is best to take if after working out when your muscles are most depleted. Drink tons of water if you are doing a lot of runnnig, which you should be if you aer trying to get rid of a gut, because creatine can cause cramping if you are too dehydrated. Good luck!
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