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Fitness Weekly Discussion
What have you been doing lately for your own fitness? Try out any new programs or exercises? Have any questions for others about your training? Want to vent about poor behavior in the gym? Started a new diet or have a new recipe you want to share? Anything else health and wellness related?
After several months of flexibility focused yoga 3-4x/week, I can finally properly touch my toes without bending my knees! Just barely... I can only hold on to the tips of my toes with my finger tips. But even still, at the start of the year I could barely reach halfway down my shins, and I haven't been able to touch my toes since I was in my teens! :P
And in related news, I finally decided to take my diet way more seriously, and start tracking my calories/macros/micros more accurately too. So I did a bunch of research on the best apps, and after doing that and trying a few, I finally settled on Cronometer. It's one of the only free apps with a free barcode scanner, and that I can also access on my desktop as well. It's pretty cool, and after only one day of using it, I can already see how lacking in protein (and calcium+potassium) I very likely am... especially considering how often I'm working out now (Yoga 3-4/week, HIIT Cardio 3x/week, and now strength training 2-3x week). So I decide to order myself some whey protein powder, since premade protein drinks are way too f'n expensive to drink regularly.
However, I'm still undecided on ordering any creatine. I used to take it regularly back when I worked out a lot in my teens, but I never particularly cared for it, TBH. It always made my muscles feel ridiculously swollen, which is probably why so many "gym bros" love it. According to Dr. Mike (who despite being super-super-bro-ish I actually respect the scientific advice of), apparently that's because it draws water out of extracellular cavities and into the muscle cells, which has a whole bunch of other benefits besides just the "swole" effect. But I dunno... I'm still hesitant to use it for some reason, even taking Dr Mike's advice about how to properly manage taking it.
Does anyone else here have any experience using creatine themselves? What are your thoughts on it.