[Vickie]

Hello, hello,

Man I almost like missing a couple of days to see all of the great responses to quearies. Dr. Dave has it going on and I hope to see many more responses. I appreciate the confidence and compatibility with my philosophies but the questions are really directed to the moderator. I am proud to be a part of this great site and glad to learn and contribute from every piece of information that is shared. leegee38 also provided some real life experience that as we all know is invaluable.

Hue, You started by asking specifically about gaining size and strength. You have read from the previous expert witness that these facts are true. Whether it help your golf game, which you didn't ask about, is more a factor of the other aspects of your game, mainly where was your strength before. I have found as leegee38 has referenced that extreme strength and power pale in comparison to alignment technical ability. But it never hurts to look good in your golf clothes.

With that said, uhhmmm, I agree with the good doctor that you only want to supplement after you have a natural foundation; for best results from the supplement and for your money, creatine is not cheap. Remember, all of the great data comes from physique freaks (ie:bodybuilders) and remember our poor maligned batting friends that were criticized before the steroid exposures. That means that you have people that have a lot of support in making sure their nutrition, health supplements, rest and training schedule create the most receptive biological terrain for the supplementation of this product that is in your body and in your foods. Most people who are trying to grow train quite heavily and rest appropriately. We know that the best way to build lean muscle and not fat is to eat frequent, small meals that are balanced and please please include whole food carbohydrates, including rice and potatoes. Calories are another word for energy and also a significant resource for the water your body needs in increasing amounts with the effects of creatine. Sr. Dave mentioned this when he talked about a very frequent side effect for 'novice' supplementers who don't get enough water from their water sources including food. The muscles will demand and take the water up leaving the stomach and intestines starving; yes constipation is also a side effect in natural bodybuilding on the lower, less experienced levels. I love red meat and eat it atleast twice a week in appropriate quantities for my size and training, around five ounces per serving. Based on your body composition you should adjust the portion size.

Leegee38 is also making some great points. Once you are saturated with your creatine supplement you can receive a post workout (or any major muscle use pump) muscle pumpfeeling that can restrict you motion. For this reason I recommend to my 'range of motion' atheletes that they use creatine for the months between their seasons of competition. A special challenge for recreational golfers because season is base on permitable weather. Depending on your local, we Georgians will take off after Christmas for a while, this would be a time to use the supplement to boost your physical gains. If you train correctly, most of the gains (after the 5th week) can be permanent. If you don't, then you'll loose 80 percent of the gains within about 6 six weeks after discontinuing your intake.

There are many new products on the market, some don't require a creatine load. That means you don't have to take in appx 30mg (in 5-6 doses) for a week and then cut back to 10 during your training cycle.

Did I say cycle? I love cycling everything. I cycle my training exercises within a cycle and cycle my training focus every 12-16 weeks. I also wouldn't use a performance enhancing supplement more than 12 weeks before I took a 2-6 week break. This allows you to review your goals, your results, and also the interraction with the rest of your health regime. The concept of cell-volumizing (pumping up the muscle with water) can be misleading. Again, if you're getting everything else right you may not need to cycle. But what we know about creatine is that when you resume you can get great results, again, and with the cycling experience you may come to it with more success.

Let me please agree again with Dr. Dave. I don't think teenagers should use these supplements. I realize that this is the period when many of these kids are scouted for college and beyond. There needs to be a pure period of developing personal body confidence. Adults should have some discernment about their health that could easily escape even the most exceptional teenager. I do think teenage atheletes should eat well, take supplements to support the enormous physical requirements of competition, and rest . . .alot. I have a 17 year old and he has no problem with the rest part.

Finally let me say that I have seen great physical gains in size and strength with creatine. The people who don't get the results don't have the foundation in place. I use a very holistic approach with the clientel I have developed but I have to tell you . . . the stuff can work with the right protocol.

Keep us posted and pm me if you have questions about the various products, powders, liquids and capsules. Not every company packages the ingredients listed on the package.

Vik