our way. Sometimes, we just focus too much on the negative and can't see the positive that's right there too. Before I got my latest phrase, I used to say: The sun still shines above the clouds. Nice thought, but now I find that "I" gotta "By-Pass The Adversity." It takes action (mind, body & spirit) on my part. Nobody else is gonna do it for me. Keep your dreams in sight. Make your Decision now! Go for it! If I can do it day by day, so can you! And together, we can thank Bill at the end (which is a new beginning). Hope this helps. Take the time you need to re-group, and then just do it!
Day 54 - Friday April 13/01 - Good work-out. Knee stood up - was OK. Cut back to 2.5 mg Creatine Monohydrate. Felt great! Not as lethargic.
Day 55 - Saturday April 14/01 - CREATINE MONOHYDRATE WARNING!!! Thank-you Patrick Gilmer for responding to my last Guest Book entry with an invitation to a Body-for-LIFE convention in Orlando from May 31st-June 03rd. It was from your links that I was able to visit Porter Freeman's page on finallyfit.net and then find info on Nutritional Supplements, more specifically Creatine Monohydrate. You see, for a few days, my head felt tension, my abs seemed a little tender (thought it was from the work-out reps) and I felt very lethargic, especially during the evening. And in the mornings, I was dying of thirst, my mouth very dry. I learned from these links that I was very close to poisoning my system. I learned that creatine produces creatinine which is a toxic waste product which can actually shut down both kidneys! (Good thing I had volunteered to canvass for the Kidney Foundation - maybe they'd have been nice to me). You see, I had been taking 5 grams with my morning shake and 5 grams in another shake after my workouts. I had been doing this for 4 weeks! The body can only absorb about 2.5 grams I learned. So, I stopped for the week-end and will resume at 2.5 grams. I don't agree with all this loading talk! Please everyone, stick to 2.5 grams before you hurt yourself as I almost did. It sneaks up on you! Nobody else gave me this valuable life-saving information! Thank-you.
Day 55... I read a comment from Thomas L. Jacocks in Clinton, LA on the Body-for-LIFE site this morning: "I have a question about the challenge: I plan to start the challenge on Monday. I'm going to try my best to work with what time I have available to me. I work rotating shift work, every time I come off of nights, I'll be going back to days and vice versa. My concern is with the eating habits, when I come off of nights trying to adjust back to days, should I continue to eat for 24 hours? I don't think I'm going to have enough time to eat all my meals."
To which I sent:
This is for Thomas, and all those who like me have to contend with shift work... One of the biggest obstacles for me before I started was my rotating shift work. I'm 2 weeks days, then 2 weeks nights at GM in Oshawa. I knew I had to pre-plan big time to compensate for this upheaval. So, here's what I did. (Since one complete pattern for me would be 2 weeks days, 2 weeks nights, I did it for the entire 4 weeks, then just am repeating it 3 times)... I made complete meal plans and workout plans. I got 2 binders, put all the info in one and then only took the first week for my smaller binder for the gym. In it was a photocopy of the Eating-for-LIFE method for the entire first week (page 184), a photocopy of The Training-for-LIFE Experience x 2 (page 185) for the 2 x I'd use the upper body workout in the first week, a photocopy of The 20-Minute Aerobic Solution x 3 (page 179) and The Training-for-LIFE Experience x 1 (page 181) for my lower body workout the first week. I also photocopied all the exercises I would use in these plans so I could refer to them right in the gym to make sure I was doing them correctly. The day before I started, I went to the gym to get starting weights for my level 5 intensity (able to do 12 reps fairly easily) of all the exercises I would be doing the first week. Also in your binder, put a page of encouragements that other people can sign to keep you going when you feel like giving up! One other key: Space your meals every 2-2 1/2 hours. On night shifts, I start my morning shake a lot later than when I'm on day shift, because most of my meals are needed later in the day and part of the night. There's always a good space between nights to days because Sunday's are our free days and you just equalize out the time spacing. But, I found it very important to have all my meals totally pre-planned (not only for the week, but for the entire rotating 4 weeks) so I could whip off several chicken breasts and sweet potatoes all at once according to my plan. I even got to the point where I was making grocery lists for the entire weeks plan. The pre-planning idea really helps us overcome our handicap of rotating shifts. This was the only way I knew I could beat this disadvantage, turn it to our advantage, and make it work for us - was to be even more prepared and planned than the guy or gal who has those nice regular hours to work with. Once you plan, & organize this, your focus will be great, there will be no turning back. The program is YOURS! The perfect gift from Bill. Go for it! Hope this helps!
Then I sent an e-mail to Patrick Gilmer: Patrick, I want to thank-you and Porter Freeman for inadvertently saving my life! You sent an e-mail to me after I repsonded to Kevin Antcliff who was feeling down and needed uplifting. It was because of your e-mail, I got the links to visit Porter Freeman's page on finallyfit.net and then find info on Nutritional Supplements, more specifically Creatine Monohydrate. You see fore a few days, my head felt major tension and confusion, my abs seemed a little tender (thought it was from the workout reps) and I felt very, very lethargic, especially during the evening. And in the mornings, I was dying of thirst, my mouth very dry. I learned from these links that I was very close to poisoning my system. I learned that creatine produces creatinine which is a toxic waste product which can actually shut down both kidneys! It could've killed me. You see, I had been taking 5 grams with my morning shake and 5 grams in another shake after my workouts. I had been doing this for 4 weeks! The body can only absorb about 2.5 grams I learned. I don't agree with all this loading talk! Please tell everyone, to stick to 2.5 grams before they hurt themselves as I almost did. It sneaks up on you! If it wasn't for your response and Porter's links, I wouldn't have had this valuable life-saving information! Thank-you. I have stopped taking creatine for the week-end and will resume at 2.5 grams on Monday. Right now I'm flushing my system big time. Already, I'm slowly regaining some lost energy and I had to switch my free day to today, so I can still complete Day 55 tomorrow. Thank-you very much for that e-mail. I've already received a lot of BFLer's e-mails thanking me for the CREATINE MONOHYDRATE WARNING I |
