Weight Training Blog

I’ve always been one to train at night – usually after 7pm – but I’m starting to realize the benefits of training in the morning before going to work or doing anything else.

I have found that by going to the gym earlier I am more alert and awake throughout the day, not to mention it’s out of the way, and there are less people in the gym to get in my way.

This may seem like old news to some, but for those who have a full work schedule such as me, getting myself into a routine of waking up early enough to get into the gym before work seems like a good investment.

This post isn’t intended to cover the exact chemical composition of creatine, the history of creatine, and any other technical aspects of creatine. Instead it’s to give the reader a better since of just what creatine is on the surface, and what benefits it may bring your way if you take it.

Creatine is naturally occurring in the body, and helps aid in delivering energy to muscles. It’s no wonder why creatine has been put in the lime late over the last decade or so – it’s responsible for delivering energy to your muscles, and more energy means more strength, power, and endurance.

The benefit of creatine isn’t the substance itself. The benefit of creatine comes from what it allows your muscles to do. Users who take creatine and don’t work out will not see any significant gains in strength, but instead just a bloated look due to increased water retention. Users who supplement with creatine and workout as well will find themselves being able to workout for longer periods of time and using more resistance than when they were not supplementing with creatine.

Creatine allows the user to go above and beyond what they were previously able to do, thus pushing their muscles beyond their breaking point. If you’re stuck at a 200 pound bench press, creatine might help you push up 205, 210, or maybe even 215. But when using creatine, be careful! Those who are new to lifting may find the urge to jump from 200 to 230 pounds and find themselves getting crushed and injured from pushing themselves too far. Experienced lifters know their breaking points, and know when enough is enough… usually.

I have seen much debate as to how much creatine should be ingested in order for optimal performance. Some recommend a loading phase in which you take 5 gram dosages about 4 to 5 times a day for a week, others have said to simply take one serving per day. Personally, I am a fan of the loading phase idea as it will allow you to reach your saturation point much quicker than simply taking one dose per day for the next month or two.

It’s important to remember though, you must drink extra amounts of water when supplementing with creatine as your body will need it. Trust me… you’ll feel thirsty a lot more when taking creatine, so make sure you stay hydrated!

You don’t want to find yourself going to the gym without any motivation or any sense of direction. You’ll quickly find yourself making up excuses as to why you shouldn’t be going to the gym. In order to combat this issue, you should try to find someone who is trying to get the same results as you are and workout with them.

Try not to pick a best buddy from work or from the bar – again, you’ll start to find yourself horsing around rather than working out most of the time. instead pick someone who you know but aren’t extremely close with. When possible, lift with someone who is stronger and more experienced than you are. Doing so will force yourself to go the extra mile, and may provoke some friendly competition in the gym.

I’ve found through trial and error that the best way in order to push myself to the next level is to lift with someone who is more experienced and stronger than I am. Plus, it’s always good to have someone to spot you this way you can push your body to the limits without the worry of the weight getting stuck on yourself.