Is creatine worthless if I go to the sauna?

Question

I go to the gym 6 days a week. Every morning I take a GNC vitapack and 3 Creactic creatine pills. Either early afternoon or late evening I go to the gym. Before going I take MassXXX with 50g of protien. After my workout I sit in the sauna for anywhere from 15 minutes to a half hour and then take 3 more Creactic creatine pills and drink another 50g MassXXX shake. This is what I'm getting at...Will I gain more muscle with the creatine and lose fat in the sauna? Is it pointless to take creatine right now since it sends more water to your muscles if i'm just going to sit in the sauna and sweat it all out? My goal is to gain muscle and lose fat at the same time. Any advice will be appreciated.

Answer 1

I wouldn't say that its pointless, but it is definitely not effective.

I would recommend you take creatine after your workout in your shake, this is because I have read that alot of people can be affected negatively if they take it before and it doesn’t help with their energy at all. Mix about 5grams of it with your whey protein and take it that way. The post workout shake is crucial and people mix in all sorts supplements together. Personally, I take 5g creatine, 50g protein, 30g carbs, and 3g L-Glutamine.

After your workout there is a window of opportunity for your diet. Your muscles and body is drained and so anything you consume is more likely to be absorbed and taken in by the muscles, this is when creatine is most affective and should have your muscles recharged and full of energy before your next workout.

In order to burn fat, you need to do some cardio exercises, not sit in a sauna. Try running, jogging, or even just a fast paced walk are all effective ways to burn excess fat.

Answer 2

Forget all that.  While you're at the gym, try working out (exercise).  Try biking to and from the gym.

Answer 3

First, if your goal is to gain muscle and loose fat, you should be focused on your diet and workout, rather than the use of the sauna.  The sauna is a great way to relax and unwind, just keep drinking lots of water... 15 to 30 mins shouldn't make you dehydrated, but creatine will, if you don't drink enough water.

Keeping with your goal of gaining muscle and loosing fat... here are a couple suggestions:

1.  Add a proten shake to your morning routine of vitapack and creatine pills.  Your body goes through a period of fasting while you sleep, so you need to break that cycle when you awake.

2.  Make sure you eat 6-8 small meals a day... you should have eaten a morning snack, lunch, and afternoon snack before heading to the gym.  

3.  Take your protein and creatine pills before you enjoy the sauna... not after.  After you've finished your sauna, go enjoy a decent dinner.

4.  Creatine makes it into your body's muscles through a spike in insulin levels.  Make sure the pills you are taking provide that environment.

5.  Cut your workouts to 4-5 days a week.  Your body needs time to recover.  Muscles grow during recovery.

6.  Judging by the name of your protein "MassXXX", sounds more like a weight gainer product than simply protein.  Weight gainer products are (or tend to be) high in carbs and fat.  Watch those levels.  You've got to be cranking out some serious weights in order for your body to correctly use all of the carbs and fat in them.