creatine stack

[iceman848]

I'm 19, 5'11' 165 lbs. and looking to add 15+ lbs. of muscle this summer (3 months) while I'm out of class and have sufficient time to have a serious workout/eating routine. Last summer I bulked up from 145 to 165 in two months only on Cell Tech and Nitrotech, and when I left for college in the fall and stopped taking the supplements I expected to lose most of the weight I had put on but surprisingly did not. I have also used a tub of NO-Xplode but saw no results beyond the energy surge and very short lived muscle pumps, so I do not plan on using this again. Are there any other benefits from using nitric oxide? I plan on taking some form of GNC brand creatine (instead of paying for brand names) and hitting the protein shakes hard but what other supplements will make my bulk up more effective?

[Darkhorse]

I have also used a tub of NO-Xplode but saw no results beyond the energy surge and very short lived muscle pumps, so I do not plan on using this again. Are there any other benefits from using nitric oxide?

IMO, you're much better off with creatine and protein. Spend whatever's leftover on food. Too many people have a grocery bag full of No2, the latest form of creatine, and a hundred other things and seem to grow at the same rate as everyone else.. The term "supplement" is just that..Supplementing a solid routine and diet. Chances are you'll experience the same effects as Noxplode using most other forms of No2. Plus, it sounds like you have a very limited budget, so "NO" for NO

I plan on taking some form of GNC brand creatine (instead of paying for brand names)

Brand names cost the same if we're talking about regular creatine monohydrate. Check out Pro-lab, Primaforce, or even Optimum Nutrition...Pretty cheap.

[iceman848]

I wouldn't say I have a "very limited budget." As long as what I'm getting is effective, I will gladly pay full price, and as long as I'm not spending hundreds of bucks on "hype" I can afford to get whatever is going to work for me.

[hrdgain81]

If your diet and training are in order, then go to I would suggest picking up some bulk powder creatine monohydrate, or creatine estle ether ... in bulk form they are very cheap. just research how to use them correctly, at what times they should be taken ect.

If you want to stack it, i would use bulk powder citruline malate. It will give you as much of a 'pump' as any NO2 product, and has a positive effect on atp, and muscle endurance. again in bulk form its pretty cheap. this makes for a great stack.

[Eric3237]

Originally Posted by iceman

Last summer I bulked up from 145 to 165 in two months only on Cell Tech and Nitrotech,

I'll start with a different tact. I'm assuming that when you gained weight last summer that Cell Tech and Nitrotech weren't the only things you were consuming. Let's say that maybe actual food and a workout routine had something to do with it. Seeing that you expected to automatically lose the weight upon stopping the supplements it seems like you were giving the supplements a lot more credit then they were due. Which seems to be an epidemic.

There are very, very few supplements which you can take and then guarantee they had a significant contibution to your muscle gain. If someone tells you "I got big on this or that" they are full of shit. They don't know that nor can they prove it. Even when you can NOTICE the immediate effects of a supplement....when you can "FEEL" them you still can't know how significant a contribution they made to your muscle gain unless perhaps that gain is just extraordinary and unexpected, which just doesn't seem to happen. Sorry if this is stepping on anyone's toes.

Now, I am NOT saying that there aren't many beneficial supplements. And there are a few tried and trusted standbys, like creatine, that have mountains of scientific evidence and real-world use to back them up. But at the end of the day it's a leap of faith. I see people gaining weight or putting weight on the bar and going "I'm taking this and I can't believe the results" and all the while I'm sitting back going "I've done that same thing taking nothing...".

So if you don't want to spend money on hype the best thing you can do is educate yourself. You asked experienced people so that's a good first step. You also have to do your own reasearch to help you come to some conclusions. Take all that evidence and make an educated guess as to what will be best. Even if you don't have a limited budget, I assume you know the value of a dollar.

My educated guess is, for now, the same as 0311's. No to NO. Yes to creatine and protein. As for splurging, right now the best I can recommend is BCAA's and Citruline Malate instead of an NO product.

[hrdgain81]

I'm 19, 5'11' 165 lbs. and looking to add 15+ lbs. of muscle this summer (3 months) while I'm out of class and have sufficient time to have a serious workout/eating routine.

Just to give a little bit of a perspective to your goals. World class bodybuilders and strongment would kill to put on 15lbs of muscle in a year.

Now your obviously not in that category, and adding wieght should be easier for an untrained atheleat. But seeing as though you put on 20lbs since you started, things will only get more difficult from here on out. Dont be discouraged, but if you are not making the gains liek before understand how far you have come already.

Stick to the basics and you will grow.

[Eric3237]

Originally Posted by hrdgain

But seeing as though you put on 20lbs since you started, things will only get more difficult from here on out...Stick to the basics and you will grow.

Man that's a good point. It may not be realistic to expect those kinds of gains this time. Time will tell. If things do slow down, don't take it as a need to go out and waste money on a bunch of hyped of crap.

[iceman848]

Yeah I expected adding more weight now will be tougher than it was a year ago, and thanks for all the advice.

[verbatimreturned]

Originally Posted by iceman848

I'm 19, 5'11' 165 lbs. and looking to add 15+ lbs. of muscle this summer (3 months) while I'm out of class and have sufficient time to have a serious workout/eating routine. Last summer I bulked up from 145 to 165 in two months only on Cell Tech and Nitrotech, and when I left for college in the fall and stopped taking the supplements I expected to lose most of the weight I had put on but surprisingly did not. I have also used a tub of NO-Xplode but saw no results beyond the energy surge and very short lived muscle pumps, so I do not plan on using this again. Are there any other benefits from using nitric oxide? I plan on taking some form of GNC brand creatine (instead of paying for brand names) and hitting the protein shakes hard but what other supplements will make my bulk up more effective?

Quality food incorperated into a good diet. Put one together or I'm sure we can help you. When the diet is perfect, then start worrying about all of the supplements and all...creatines, nitric oxide stuff. If your looking for creatine and bulk products http://www.bulknutrition.com/ is good, stuff is generally cheaper than it is in the stores there

[iceman848]

Alright, I have all the diet, training advice I think I need but if anyone is really curious I will be happy to post these (and yes eating and training take almost all the credit for my success last year). With the CEE, BCAA, (I got the pill form of both) and citrulline malate, when would you recommend taking these? I assume take the CEE 30 min before and immediately after workout (as directed) and the BCAA three times daily. When do you recommend taking the BCAA's? I'm not very familiar with the citrulline malate and I got the bulk powder so it does not have any specific instructions. Take it before my workout with the CEE and take around 5 grams?