Creatine and Weigh-Ins for Competition

[Glen Sonnabend]

Ive been on maintenance (5g/day) for a couple months, and I have a NAGA coming up in just over a week. I am going to weigh in the day before the tournament (April 4), and I want to know when I should eliminate creatine from my supplementation in order to make weight. I am within 7lbs (overestimated) of my weight, and 5 days out I will be using the weight cutting methods recommended by John Berardi in the Grapplers Guide to Sports Nutrition. The only problem is that JB does not mention cutting out creatine in the pre weigh-in rituals, and I know that it retains water.

I heard that when you stop taking creatine, you lose some of the water but still benefit from some of the effects for a couple of days afterwards. Any truth to this, and if so, when should I cease supplementing with it in order to lose whatever water I am holding due to it while still keeping some of it in my system?

Also, because I will be weighing in the morning of the day before the tournament, should I creatine load (5g 4x per day) post weigh-in?

Thanks!

 

[joshetc]

Ive been on maintenance (5g/day) for a couple months, and I have a NAGA coming up in just over a week. I am going to weigh in the day before the tournament (April 4), and I want to know when I should eliminate creatine from my supplementation in order to make weight. I am within 7lbs (overestimated) of my weight, and 5 days out I will be using the weight cutting methods recommended by John Berardi in the Grapplers Guide to Sports Nutrition. The only problem is that JB does not mention cutting out creatine in the pre weigh-in rituals, and I know that it retains water.

I heard that when you stop taking creatine, you lose some of the water but still benefit from some of the effects for a couple of days afterwards. Any truth to this, and if so, when should I cease supplementing with it in order to lose whatever water I am holding due to it while still keeping some of it in my system?

Also, because I will be weighing in the morning of the day before the tournament, should I creatine load (5g 4x per day) post weigh-in?

Thanks!

Stop taking creatine when you stop drinking water for cutting. Start taking creatine again after you have sufficiently rehydrated yourself.

 

[Ziltoid]

Hey good luck Sonnabend!

 

[Glen Sonnabend]

Ill probably cut it out 3 days before weigh-ins, maybe 2 depending on how much I weight that morning. Hopefully that will be enough.

Thanks, Zill.

 

[Freestyler]

Ill probably cut it out 3 days before weigh-ins, maybe 2 depending on how much I weight that morning. Hopefully that will be enough.

Thanks, Zill.

I have yet to compete, my boxing match got cancelled due to snow but what i reccomend to alot of guys is always do practice cuts months before just to see. You realize where it gets hard and where you need to focus on what you take in. Also, everyone is different so what one person reccomends may not always suit you. I tried couple differnt ones and found just a small diet 2 weeks out worked perfect. I was within 3-5 lbs 3 days out and on the first day drank to gallons, second day only one, and day before just a dixie cup here and there. Had to sweat two lbs out that took maybe a 1/2 hour. Good luck man and hope the cut and competition goes well.

 

[Glen Sonnabend]

Yeah I should have practiced before=(

This will be the first comp I actually cut for. The last one I didn't want to deal with the hassle or stress of making weight so I went in as I was (205) instead of bothering to cut just 5 lbs, and ended up being the smallest guy in my division. It worked out alright, but Im gonna be stepping up to a higher level of competition now and I want to make sure I have it stacked in my favor this time. Thanks for the replies, so far!

 

[lwbrawler]

good luck

 

[ozzie]

There was a discussion on this recently and someone said it's ideal to stop taking it 7 days before the weigh ins. 3 days might be fine, but 7 is a safer bet.

 

[Nodecaf]

There was a discussion on this recently and someone said it's ideal to stop taking it 7 days before the weigh ins. 3 days might be fine, but 7 is a safer bet.

Yeah I made a thread a couple of days ago. Mixed responses. But that guy with weightlift-av makes a lot of sense.

 

[ozzie]

Yeah I made a thread a couple of days ago. Mixed responses. But that guy with weightlift-av makes a lot of sense.

Ah yes thanks. If you are interested Sonnabend: http://www.sherdog.net/forums/showthread.php?t=753637