Creatine for kids
Discussion
LeadFarmer said:
Well not really, but my 15 yr old son goes to the gym 3 times a week and has just convinced his mum to buy him some Optimum Nutrition Pre Workout which I've read contains creatine.
Any cause for concern?
Pre workout is very unnecessary for anyone apart from athletes and even then I don’t recall it being part of many pros workout routines. I personally wouldn’t recommend anyone using the stuff especially the young, you don’t need it and getting a young person hooked on the hit is not recommended. Wouldn’t bother with creatine at such a young age either, gains to be had all over the shop without it. Any cause for concern?
Medically it won’t do him any harm if he sticks to the right dose. The caffeine is more of an issue to me than the creatine but not a concern.
Will it benefit him? Not really at his age given his energy/test levels
Worth arguing over? I wouldn’t with my son. Personally I’d let him use it then discuss in a couple of weeks to see if he thinks it has helped him. It won’t, but he won’t want to admit it straight away if he’s like my son
Ps it’s good that he is going to the gym. I’d be all over encouraging that. Maybe chat about diet etc and suggest if the pre workout stuff is no good next time spend the money on something else to help his progress or wear to the gym
Will it benefit him? Not really at his age given his energy/test levels
Worth arguing over? I wouldn’t with my son. Personally I’d let him use it then discuss in a couple of weeks to see if he thinks it has helped him. It won’t, but he won’t want to admit it straight away if he’s like my son
Ps it’s good that he is going to the gym. I’d be all over encouraging that. Maybe chat about diet etc and suggest if the pre workout stuff is no good next time spend the money on something else to help his progress or wear to the gym
Is he a big 15 or a still growing 15?
At his age he should be mostly focusing on cardio and low level weights, but if he’s a lump then could push further.
Anything from the training enhancement isle should only be used once everything else is in order - diet and technique is far more important than anything a powder can give you.
At his age he should be mostly focusing on cardio and low level weights, but if he’s a lump then could push further.
Anything from the training enhancement isle should only be used once everything else is in order - diet and technique is far more important than anything a powder can give you.
Their own website says not recommended for children
https://www.optimumnutrition.com/en-gb/Products/En...
I would say hold back for now.
https://www.optimumnutrition.com/en-gb/Products/En...
I would say hold back for now.
My son's a PT and trains for Body Building competition. He's 22.
Choice of supplements is never (or rarely) singular and is dependant upon what you are looking to achieve; stamina, strength, mass, recovery... Once you've set your goals you can then determine the most appropriate supplements to assist. And the clue's in the name; 'supplement'. Diet comes ahead of everything else. Then training. Then supplements to fill in the gaps.
Advice from my lad is to focus his energies on diet - research what food he needs and measure this down to the gram. If there's any supplement to be had, look at recovery as this will decrease the time needed between workouts.
Creatine can carry risk of damage to the kidneys if not treated with respect. A lot of kids (and adults) take the view that some Creatine and a few lifts will transform their bodies into sculptured adonis like figures. It won't. You may as well just stuff a couple of 20s through the letter box of the supplement shop.
HTH
Choice of supplements is never (or rarely) singular and is dependant upon what you are looking to achieve; stamina, strength, mass, recovery... Once you've set your goals you can then determine the most appropriate supplements to assist. And the clue's in the name; 'supplement'. Diet comes ahead of everything else. Then training. Then supplements to fill in the gaps.
Advice from my lad is to focus his energies on diet - research what food he needs and measure this down to the gram. If there's any supplement to be had, look at recovery as this will decrease the time needed between workouts.
Creatine can carry risk of damage to the kidneys if not treated with respect. A lot of kids (and adults) take the view that some Creatine and a few lifts will transform their bodies into sculptured adonis like figures. It won't. You may as well just stuff a couple of 20s through the letter box of the supplement shop.
HTH
I wouldn't advise Creatine for someone still growing and not an adult, and I use it myself along with protein and pre workout,
I find pre workout helpful because I get up early in the morning (4:45am) and i'm in the gym by 5:15am so its helpful to wake me up and get me ready for a heavy lifting session but that's it really, it's an energy boost.
If he is using Tiktok and watching the gym videos on there, there is a lot of rubbish getting put out about the benefits and effects of pre workout, people claiming it will make you borderline superhuman in some cases, Tiktok has a lot to answer for in terms of skewing peoples perceptions of what is realistic.
As others have said unless he has already optimised the rest of his lifestyle it's not helpful to be taking supplements.
I find pre workout helpful because I get up early in the morning (4:45am) and i'm in the gym by 5:15am so its helpful to wake me up and get me ready for a heavy lifting session but that's it really, it's an energy boost.
If he is using Tiktok and watching the gym videos on there, there is a lot of rubbish getting put out about the benefits and effects of pre workout, people claiming it will make you borderline superhuman in some cases, Tiktok has a lot to answer for in terms of skewing peoples perceptions of what is realistic.
As others have said unless he has already optimised the rest of his lifestyle it's not helpful to be taking supplements.
Type R Tom said:
Their own website says not recommended for children
https://www.optimumnutrition.com/en-gb/Products/En...
I would say hold back for now.
You're right, it does, It even says to keep it out of his reach..https://www.optimumnutrition.com/en-gb/Products/En...
I would say hold back for now.
Not recommended for children or pregnant women. Food supplements are not to be used as a substitute for a varied diet. Do not exceed the recommended daily dose. Keep out of reach of children.
Problem is, he's 6ft tall so he can reach further than his mother who is 5' 3" so where've she hides it, he can reach it
bristolbaron said:
Is he a big 15 or a still growing 15?
At his age he should be mostly focusing on cardio and low level weights, but if he’s a lump then could push further.
He's a lump, a big lump and about 6ft tall, he can pick me up and throw me around and I'm 6' 3" and 20+ stone.At his age he should be mostly focusing on cardio and low level weights, but if he’s a lump then could push further.
I'm pleased he is going to the gym, it's on his way home from school so is convenient too. He goes with some pals from school and it's a good thing. I reckon they have all been talking about supplements and what they need, maybe one of them takes the pre workout stuff and says it's brill, so he wants some himself? He's at an age where he is now body conscious, and being the biggest and strongest in his school will no doubt be boosting his ego and he wants more.
I'll have a chat with him about it all, maybe suggest not buying anymore when it's all gone, and find something else instead thats more suitable. Right now he's highly motivated about gym work, and I don't want to spoil that by being a boring dad
Edited by LeadFarmer on Thursday 24th February 20:34
At that age I’d be wanting to work on proper form, reps and lots of stretching. If you get and keep that flexibility early on then your form and control are so much better as you age.
If he likes the gym videos then Martins Licis does a lot of pre and post workout exercises which are important.
Dave!
If he likes the gym videos then Martins Licis does a lot of pre and post workout exercises which are important.
Dave!
Jamescrs said:
I wouldn't advise Creatine for someone still growing and not an adult, and I use it myself along with protein and pre workout,
I find pre workout helpful because I get up early in the morning (4:45am) and i'm in the gym by 5:15am so its helpful to wake me up and get me ready for a heavy lifting session but that's it really, it's an energy boost.
If he is using Tiktok and watching the gym videos on there, there is a lot of rubbish getting put out about the benefits and effects of pre workout, people claiming it will make you borderline superhuman in some cases, Tiktok has a lot to answer for in terms of skewing peoples perceptions of what is realistic.
As others have said unless he has already optimised the rest of his lifestyle it's not helpful to be taking supplements.
Totally agree with this point and I think it's very important at his age that he gets a good grounding in what healthy exercise and dieting looks like and what is realistically achievable. I find pre workout helpful because I get up early in the morning (4:45am) and i'm in the gym by 5:15am so its helpful to wake me up and get me ready for a heavy lifting session but that's it really, it's an energy boost.
If he is using Tiktok and watching the gym videos on there, there is a lot of rubbish getting put out about the benefits and effects of pre workout, people claiming it will make you borderline superhuman in some cases, Tiktok has a lot to answer for in terms of skewing peoples perceptions of what is realistic.
As others have said unless he has already optimised the rest of his lifestyle it's not helpful to be taking supplements.
R56Cooper said:
Jamescrs said:
I wouldn't advise Creatine for someone still growing and not an adult, and I use it myself along with protein and pre workout,
I find pre workout helpful because I get up early in the morning (4:45am) and i'm in the gym by 5:15am so its helpful to wake me up and get me ready for a heavy lifting session but that's it really, it's an energy boost.
If he is using Tiktok and watching the gym videos on there, there is a lot of rubbish getting put out about the benefits and effects of pre workout, people claiming it will make you borderline superhuman in some cases, Tiktok has a lot to answer for in terms of skewing peoples perceptions of what is realistic.
As others have said unless he has already optimised the rest of his lifestyle it's not helpful to be taking supplements.
Totally agree with this point and I think it's very important at his age that he gets a good grounding in what healthy exercise and dieting looks like and what is realistically achievable. I find pre workout helpful because I get up early in the morning (4:45am) and i'm in the gym by 5:15am so its helpful to wake me up and get me ready for a heavy lifting session but that's it really, it's an energy boost.
If he is using Tiktok and watching the gym videos on there, there is a lot of rubbish getting put out about the benefits and effects of pre workout, people claiming it will make you borderline superhuman in some cases, Tiktok has a lot to answer for in terms of skewing peoples perceptions of what is realistic.
As others have said unless he has already optimised the rest of his lifestyle it's not helpful to be taking supplements.
LeadFarmer said:
Well not really, but my 15 yr old son goes to the gym 3 times a week and has just convinced his mum to buy him some Optimum Nutrition Pre Workout which I've read contains creatine.
Any cause for concern?
None at all, aside from potential water retention. One of our fourteen year old twins is cycling trenbolone / anadrol and seeing good gains. The other wanted to lean out a bit so we've let her get some clen, it's messing with her sleep, but she has lost quite a lot of puppy fat. Any cause for concern?
It's really just a matter of talking to kids and making sure they aren't doing anything stupid.
Louis Balfour said:
None at all, aside from potential water retention. One of our fourteen year old twins is cycling trenbolone / anadrol and seeing good gains. The other wanted to lean out a bit so we've let her get some clen, it's messing with her sleep, but she has lost quite a lot of puppy fat.
It's really just a matter of talking to kids and making sure they aren't doing anything stupid.
I'm hoping the twin stacking tren and a bombs isn't a girl. Those DHT derivatives in particular can lead to a lady developing masculine characteristics... . as you note, powerful combination..It's really just a matter of talking to kids and making sure they aren't doing anything stupid.
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