Chevy350TPI

I have no idea who that is, Jim.

Tired of typing the workout thread for now.

Back to creatine for a moment ... Regarding the negative health effects ... Studies have shown that 20g of creatine consumed for five consective days had zero effect on plasma creatine levels, blood pressure, renal function, or creatine kinase efficiency/activity. Furthermore, long-term creatine use has had no effect on a healthy individuals tubular reabsorption, glomerular filtration rate, and membrane permeability. Naturally, as aforementioned, problems can, and may very well would, arise should an individual with renal problems consume large amounts of monohydrate. Another interesting note regarding creatine is that if you do supplement with it, you should cut caffeine out of your diet. Caffeine has been shown to negate any ergogenic effects that creatine supplementation can give you. All in all, there are about 11 or 12 popular studies that have shown that supplementing with creatine monohydrate has no benefit. These studies do not give any reasons as to why this may be, nor have they been able to repeat the same study and achieve the same results. Maybe I will get into how nutrition + fitness training effect weight loss later on.

On to protein ... Typical Joe/Jane who goes to the gym probably does not require any sort of protein supplement in order to meet their goals of being fit and healthy. Their diet is probably adequate and they are getting enough protein in their diet as it is. Carbohydrates are by far the most important nutrient we need to worry about, but more on that later on. Athletes, however, may require supplementary protein. Aerobic endurance athletes generally require slightly more than 0.8g/kg of body weight and can go as high as approximately 1.5g/kg because they will eventually use protein as a fuel some time later on in their endurance event (Lemon, 1998). Consuming huge amounts of protein as a sedentary individual can lead to negative results. As an athlete, the excess protein is broken down and the nitrogen is excreted as urea. The ketoacids which remain are used directly as energy or, via gluconeogeneis, converted to carbohydrate or fat (body fat). If you have kidney problems, do not consume enough fluids, or have low calcium levels, it is not wise to consume above 4g/kg

Further on the creatine topic ... Fox (2006) states that the renewal of ATP is so critically important that an athlete may decide to supplement with creatine monohydrate or another form of the product. Athletes supplementing with creatine monohydrate have shown increased intramuscular phosphocreatine levels ... 15%-40%. Furthermore, Fox states that this increase in PCr can improve muscle mass and lead to an increase in strength and subsequently performance. In the near future we will see athletes who have been abusing (consuming 20g+ per day of monohydrate for extended periods of time, for example) come up in studies where this has ultimately led to liver and/or kidney damage. Moderation is key. 2-5g per day (well within the recommended dosage) should not be a problem for the vast majority of individuals. As always, we recommend visiting your physician or nutritionist to ensure you do not fit into a special population unable (or shouldn't) to supplement with the product. Earnest, Snell, Rodriguez, Almada, & Mitchell (1995), Greenhaff, et al. (1997), Kreider, et al. (1998), and Maganaris & Maughn (1998) all found that supplementing with creatine monohydrate significantly boosts performance and intracellular concentrations of creatine phosphate. With their articles being published in the Journal of Applied Physiology and The Medical Journal of Sports Exercise, for example, their studies are not taken lightly and have been subject to (failing) scrutiny. A typical individual will consume roughly a single gram of creatine per day. The body will synthesize creatine if roughly one gram is not ingested. Twenty grams per day has shown to increase total muscle creatine by approximately 20% (Birch, Nobel, & Greenhaff 1994). An increase of this magnitude can increase performance while exercising by 5% to 7% (Greenhaff, et al. 1997). Twenty grams of creatine is equivalent to roughly ten pounds of uncooked steak. Not all individuals will benefit from creatine. Some people are just non-responders. Of note should be that carbohydrate intake can dramatically increase muscle creatine uptake by more than 50% (Greenhaff & Casey 1997). Hultman and associates (1996), as well as Kreider and colleagues (1998), have demonstrated that the paralleled weight gain may or may not come from changes in hydration status.

To take care of the creatine issue right now ... The phosphagen system provides ATP. In the muscle, ATP is found near the myosin filament heads so it is readily available for the sliding filament theory cross-bridge step. Powerful and quick movement demands are taken care of by the phosphagen system. When you exercise, you do not deplete ATP in proportion to the requirement for that ATP - ATP hydrolysis produces ADP, inorganic phosphate and H+. These products react with creatine phosphate (CP) to re-form ATP. With a higher concentration of CP in the muscle (creatine supplementation), ATP can be provided more immediately versus having a lower concentration (Volek & Kraemer, 1996 and Volek, Kraemer, Bush, Boetes, Incledon, Clark, & Lynch, 1997). I have much more to add on the topic but it's time for work. I will add more later.

Creatine isn't a waste - it does more than simply "give u water mass in ur muscles." ... essentially that is just a side effect. Protein/weight gain supplements are safe in moderation and under controlled use. Don't bullshit anyone. I do not know what school you are going to and learning this information, but it's a dog shit school. Take an English class while you are at it. It is people like you know run your mouth plastering false information all over the place that ruin the industry. I should honestly ban you for spewing such nonsense on this message board. I'm completing a PhD in Kinesiology/Exercise Science and teach nutrition, health and wellness, exercise physiology, human anatomy and physiology, biophysical foundations of human movement, theories of strength training, and resistance training for health and performance ... as well as supervise two graduate students completing their thesis on various topics. I hold my CPT and CSCS through the NSCA as well as ADV-PTS, SCS, PFS, OAS, and NWS through Can-Fit-Pro, where I am also a Pro-Certified Trainer. I'll take care of this later on.

And unfortunately 98% of it is incorrect or meaningless to individuals training for things other than bodybuilding.

I'll have a ton of nutrition/training info for you later on.

Supplements are all bullshit. Creatine and protein powder have been the only two scholarly documented products with results. Don't bother wasting your money at this point. Later on you can add in something to give you a bit of a boost. If you really want a supplement for weight loss, try a fat burner - see what's in the majority of them and buy it separate (hint: 200 capsules should be around 10 bucks). You don't even need that right off the bat ... just hit the cardio and heavy weights. Most supplements are just a very expensive mental boost. Learning how to mentally prepare yourself for lifting is free. Shed the weight with lots of cardio and some weight training, then focus on packing the muscle on. Post up a copy of your routine as well. Carbs are your fuel. Yes you'll need protein in order to repair tissue damage, but carbs are key. I'll even post two lectures where I specifically cover how and when the body uses fats, protein, and carbohydrates later on. I can literally go all day on this (I teach and train) but I myself need to get to the gym this morning. I'll be back later with plenty of information for you.

It appears as though either driver will do what you want. I'd recommend listening to as many drivers as possible to get an idea of what is out there - also, try poking around the manufacturer forums here and check out some installs and reviews.

As far as I know ... Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec = 18 The rest = 19 Used to be 20 and 21 with a select few at 18 until the 70's.

Time to reheat something in the fridge and wait for the wife to come home and cook dinner. This is my first day off in far too long.

Me too.

Sexy. Awesome. Very nice. etc. Looks great! I really like the way you finished them.

Sounds like a dog shit class to me - required to grad? It's safer to park in the student parking lot than the faculty/staff lots - anyone can get their PhD and having one means you drive worse than usual, I think.

Other opportunities should (will) come up - my PhD will be complete by then. If these guys can offer me tenure then I may consider staying. I would also really like to start up some sort of elite athlete training facility here before I leave and take the business with me. Hopefully it will be back to BC - I can't stand Alberta to be honest. I'm tired of paying $200/month for power ... in BC I paid $95 for two months (hydro) ... car insurance in BC is $1000/year, in AB it would be $12,000/year. Forget that. Besides, there are cows here and it smells - that is bad enough.

One and Fuel are two of my favorites x2 + Enter Sandman, Whiskey In The Jar, Wherever I May Roam, Sad But True, etc.

I know how that goes. She wants to keep what we have or get something used for the next few years because she doesn't want it parked in the middle of a 10,000 vehicle student parking lot ... and I agree. January or April 2010 will involve a significant move (house + job) so we'll have to see how things play out. We'll see what happens.

Ah, there you go ... tons of space

So what's happening in MN in June? Little get together? One of these years I'll be able to make one of them - probably something in CA/AZ or the north-west. I know I have been saying it for a while, but it will happen and it will be done right. I don't think I will be able to take any time off this summer at all ... which really sucks.

Call it a "program check" ... sounds a little less frightening

Going to be a long night at work I think.

Unfortunately, I hear ya

Journey - Don't Stop Believing