You see… I sat down to write up my results from the creatine challenge and realized that there was one catastrophic disconnect in reporting results.I did not take any baseline measurements or statistics to compare against when I started the challenge! Wow, do I feel dumb.

Anyways, so my conclusions based upon sheer speculation and hearsay as I don’t have any actual data lol:There is no doubt in my mind that creatine works. I enjoyed certain aspects of it like increased energy in my workouts, nice “pumps” and a feeling that I looked a little “fuller” I guess is how it is described. I did not enjoy the dehydration, cramping and constant restroom breaks. While my weight remained mostly unchanged, i do think that i experienced a positive change in body composition. I think that creatine is definitely a viable option for those wanting that little bit extra. It is also reasonably cheap.

The thing of creatine I bought is still half full and so I think that I might dive into it for another 8 weeks after a couple of weeks off!

Maybe next time around, I will actually do my job and take some measurements.

P.S. Dinner tomorrow night is going to be awesome. I forsee another recipe entry to Crockpot Cookin’ for Saturdays post!

Damage Control Master Formula

Some of you may remember that I  have been trying Mark Sisson’s Damage Control Master Formula. It has been a little over a month now and I can tell you… this is some potent stuff.

The first week or so I took it, I would actually feel a little jittery or almost “strange” after I took it. I think that is because it is so strong! I was coming from taking a normal multi-vitamin and I could definitely tell a difference right off the bat. I was not expecting there to be that noticeable of a difference.

What I noticed most about the DCMF is not so much when I took it, but more when I did not take it. It has been a very busy month for me and I admittedly missed taking it a couple days. There was a very noticeable lack of energy on these days and even increased soreness from my workouts. The wife also said that I was crabbier.

Pros:

1. There is no doubt in my mind that this is some potent good stuff.
2. This is some potent good stuff!
3. It is made and manufactured by a source I trust.
4. I learned recently that the formula is updated yearly to reflect new science. That is pretty cool. No worries of my multi-vitamin becoming a dinosaur or missing out on anything beneficial.

Cons:

1. It really is expensive. After trying it, I can understand why though. It really is potent stuff which makes me think that the ingredients are probably more expensive.
2. It is a lot of pills to swallow. Each packet contains 6 pills and you are supposed to consume 2 packets per day. It really is a lot of pills to choke down.

All in all, the DCMF gets a resounding vote of approval from me. It is very expensive but I believe it to be worth it. If you can’t afford it at this time (believe me, I understand), I would highly recommend checking out some off Mark’s other products. He has a number of less expensive vitamin blends like the Damage Control Advanced Health Formula and the Damage Control Basic Assurance (which is about the same price as your average multi-vitamin).

The Damage Control Master Formula and Mark’s other products (I am a big fan of his “Vital Omegas” too) are available from his nutrition store Primal Nutrition.

Sorry for the quality. It is a cell phone pic.

Preface: I can’t believe there haven’t been more comments on yesterdays jerky post! Go check it out if you haven’t yet.

Can creatine be part of a healthy primal lifestyle?

Recently, Mark’s Daily Apple had a post on how supplements can fit into the primal way of living. The  discussion briefly led to the mention of creatine and whether or not creatine usage could fit into the PB. This intrigued me enough that I looked into it further and was not able to come up with a satisfactory answer as to the views on creatine. So I am going to come up with my own answer by guinea pigging it for you!

The primal lifestyle is more about health than anything. It is all about your body finding its healthy natural equilibrium. Looking great is just a great added benefit. Mark Sisson expresses his view on supplementation and science as anything that can further benefit our health is totally a go. But lets be honest, a lot of us (myself included) sometimes succumb to the gods of vanity and may want to add a few extra pounds of muscle. I won’t lie. If this can be done without detriment to health then why not!

Enter creatine. Most sources will agree that creatine does do its job and that it is very safe in low dosages. But what do I know about creatine? Absolutely nothing! Which is why I asked Mark McManus over at Muclehackto help set me up with a program to get the most out of my creatine trial. Mark M is a huge supporter of high fat diets and has managed to build himself a phenominal physique (he also has some great low carb alternatives for people on his site). Mark M also is a big proponent of creatine so I figured he would be a great place to start. If you haven’t, you should really go check out his site.

My planned trial program:

Creatine: I purchased “AST Micronized Creatine” from Amazon.com. It is the creatine recommended by Mark M on his site.

Dosage:

I will be doing a “loading stage” of 20mg per day starting today and continuing for 5 days (5mg 4 times per day)

I will then begin a “maintenance stage” where I will take 5mg per day after my workout for 6-8 weeks.

After 6-8 weeks, you should take several weeks off for your body’s to renew. Mark M recommends 2 weeks as he says it is enough to clear the receptors. I have also seen some people recommend longer. I will decide at this point whether or not I will be doing another creatine “cycle”.

I will update periodically (and sporadically I am sure) on how the challenge is going and at the end do a full review along with revealing whether or not i will do another run in the creatine cycle.

What are my expectations?

Not a lot. We shall see. I am certainly not expecting some miracle supplement nor am I expecting to be “huge” or “Jacked” in 6-8 weeks lol. Mark M does tell me that I should notice some weight gain from increased muscle and water in as little as 14 days though.

Do you have any experience with creatine? What are your thoughts? Stay tuned for tomorrow when we will get a good rant out of our system!

Damage Control Master Formula

It is no secret that I have oodles of respect for Mark Sisson. Surprisingly for the man that helped me find my health and fitness, I have never tried one of his products! For the next 30 days I will be trying Mark’s multivitamin, the “Damage Control Master Formula” and his “Vital Omegas”. I have heard good things about both.

I currently supplement with a multivitamin and a fish oil that I find pretty decent. I will be replacing this supplementation with Mark’s and seeing if I notice any changes/differences/improvements.

It is important to note that while I respect Mark to the fullest and talk the man up like there is no tomorrow, I do not have any direct affiliation with him or his company, Primal Nutrition. I also do not stand to gain any monetary comensation by reviewing this product. I assure you, the reader, that I will fairly and unbiasly review this product.

We will start honestly with my pre-observed pro’s and con’s:

Pro’s

1. This looks like a pretty comprehensive product. Covering all the bases that you may need for nutrition.

2. This appears to be a high quality product.

3. This product has an excellent reputation around the web and the blogosphere.

4. This product is not only backed, but created by a man I trust and respect.

5. The individual serving packing seems like it is going to be really handy for taking to work or out and about.

Con’s

1. So far, this is the only con. Price! The Damage Control Master Formula costs a whopping $129 for a 30 day supply. I am a cheap cheap man… except for when it comes to nutrition of course where there is no compromise so we will give it a whirl. I am not saying this product will not be worth the price, but at this point, having not tried it… it seems like a lot of dough.

We will revisit the Damage Control Master Formula again in 30 days for the full review!

For more info or to purchase these and others of Mark’s products, vist his store website Primal Nutrition.

Have you tried or do you currently take the Damage Control Master Formula? Please post a comment!