I was wondering if anyone else had any feedback on using creatine select loading from tue on before meals the final week? Mark R. sent me some info which suggested it, also Araham mentioned it. ( thanks Mark and Araham ) Just a little nervous about doing it I guess. I'm going to end up doing it anyway just thought hearing a couple peoples support would help. I guess I'm a little worried about the sodium, and trace amount of suger. Thank you.

I think that I would share your concern regarding the sodium content. Moderate sodium intake should be ok through Wednesday but I try to limit sodium intake as much as possible on Thursday through Friday evening. I guess that it depends on how you plan to manipulate water. Sully would be a good person to check with as last summer he did three shows within four weeks and we helped him (suggested to him) that he try keeping more water in straight through for his last show. I'm pretty sure that he limited water intake for the first show, and did not limit it for the last, I forget what he did for the middle one. I also do not recall what he did as far as sodium went.

At any rate, sodium intake (sodium manipulation) can make a big difference for most folks as they try to manipulate water the final week. Why not switch to regular creatine during the last week? I'm pretty sure that is sodium free.

V.A. Once again thanks alot for responding. Mark said this worked well for him and he came in full and dry. He mentioned somthing about the sodium/pottassium being balenced out and it pulled some water into the muscle. I was just a little worried about using it as far out as tue , with meals, all the way to sat? BOB

Bob

With Mark. The sodium in the CS is offset by the potassium.

The body tries to maint equilibrium between the two. This is why when we cut sodium we add potassium. The body is going to try to maintain the normal ratio of sodiumotassium by dumping the potassium.

Have not used CS the final week as it was not out when I last competed. Plan to this next go round though.

Ray

I had 1 scoop creatine select before each meal from Tuesday on (as recommeded by BI) It surprisingly worked great! i came in very full but still held little to no water. I was skeptical at first but I will do it again for my next 3 shows this year.

I got the same final week strategy from Steven regarding Creatine. He suggested using Beverly creatine only or nothing at all. So I'm assuming that the Creatine Select + Phosphates is okay and will give it a shot.

Just to let you know my show was sat., and I did creatine load with creatine select from tues. on before meals. I definately did not hold any water, I was dry as a bone. I just was a little flat . I should have listened to Mark R. he told me to have a big carb load breakfast about 3 hours before prejudging and I was looking at the Final Week method 2 plan and it said to eat the same as Fri.until 3 hrs prior then start in on the GOO every 30 min. and thats what I did. I came in extremely hard and dry but not full enough. The Goo started kicking in about 4 p.m. (afew hours late) good lesson for next time. But the C.S. did not make me retain any water.