Protein+ Creatine + Caffeine

I am here to talk about Vitamins, supplements and such.

First of all: I don't take vitamins. I do own some Calcium/Vitamin D pills and some zinc pills. I have taken a couple, but I am not really into taking pills and stuff like that. I just figure, if you need that stuff, get it from food. Good whole food.

Plus I know that if you have too many vitamins, your body can only tolerate high concentrations of maybe 2 or 3 vitamins at a time, and everything else you just pee out, so its a waste.

So I don't take Vitamins.

I do take protein. I like protein shakes. I also really like this Gatorade stuff. Heres why I take protein:
It helps with muscle.

I have heard from various people and sources that it can make you gain weight, but that is more like if you are eating protein with a high-calorie regimen? Is that the word I am looking for? But anyways, if you are a girl and want protein, take it with as little calories as you can. I know that the average scoop of protein of about 15-25gs is about 120-180 calories. Which is perfectly fine.

Okay, but when do you take it? Most people take protein AFTER a workout. Within 30 minutes. But it is also suggested to take some before you workout. When I first started I always took it before. Then I started doing just after. But now I will do something like eat jerky before and then drink something afterwords. I always take the drink because it also loads me up on calories fast-- which I have usually burned off way too many, so I need some to function.

But WHY do you take protein. Well, after a workout, you have a prime opportunity to consume protein to promote muscle growth. Protein helps repair body tissues, which makes your muscles larger. Protein also can help with energy as well.

But you shouldn't JUST protein only at that time of the day, when you workout. You should have it in every meal, because whether you are working out or not, protein is required for you body. I have lots of yogurt, nuts and soy (I hate soy but I tolerate it anyways if its flavoured) that has lots of protein in it. Actually, the best kind of protein I have heard is in eggs and milk. Chocolate milk has a lot of protein too. Eggs do too.

Wait. Random thing: I don't like eggs. Well, I do. They are tasty. But I only eat egg whites now. Why? The yolk.. is VERY HIGH VERRY extremely high in cholestorol. In fact-- over the amount you should really consume in one day. But the egg itself is high in protein and low in calorie, which is good. Which is why I only suggest the egg white, because the egg white has 0 Cholestorol.

Anyways, I am done talking about Protein. Now I want to talk about Creatine.

I still don't fully understand creatine. But basically it is a supplement used to body build. It lets you do more reps, helps restore muscle, helps hydrate muscle and such, but it is more intense then protein. It does NOT build muscle, like protein, it just helps with the processes of building muscle. Building muscle comes from lifting weights and such. Obviously.

I am not on Creatine right now, but I have considered it. But again--- this is only for body building, really. But it doesn't always work for everyone, you have to know how and when to take it. I know that if you take it too much your body finds it useless and does nothing with it. You have to go through cycled amounts and such.

I don't want to bodybuild, but I would like to build more muscle faster. I might try it once in a month this summer, but I am not sure yet.

Anyways, so thats all I am saying about Creatine. Google it if you want to know more.

Caffeine. Caffeine is something I have been confused about. People always say "Don't take caffeine before you work out" and I know caffeine can dehydrate you. But caffeine does improve my energy level while I am working out... so this is a toughie.

From what I have read, in general Caffeine is good for your energy levels and such. So maybe its not a bad idea if I have caffeine before I workout. I just need to drink more water if it is dehydrating me.

By "caffeine" I don't mean like shots of caffeine, I just mean like a cup of coffee or something.