I was hoping somebody could help me:

Iv started trying to bulk (a week ago) having not done anything for a few months.

Iv been taking crating (loading phase) and whey protein. Although i didnt get a scoop with it and don’t have scales so iv been guessing amounts.

The day after my 'back and biceps day' my arms ached more than ever before and I found I couldn’t straighten them.
Iv been stretching them straight for the last couple of days and now they are definitely swollen below the bicep.

Could this just be because I over did it or could it be something else.
I did warm up my biceps but I haven’t done any lifting for a few months.

Could it be related to taking creatine?

whats ur back and bicep routine? maby your overdoing it

maby your pumps stay extremly long

maby you have damaged muscles


creatine wouldent do it

Iv been taking crating (loading phase) and whey protein. Although i didnt get a scoop with it and don’t have scales so iv been guessing amounts.

The day after my 'back and biceps day' my arms ached more than ever before and I found I couldn’t straighten them.
Iv been stretching them straight for the last couple of days and now they are definitely swollen below the bicep.

Could this just be because I over did it or could it be something else.
I did warm up my biceps but I haven’t done any lifting for a few months.

Could it be related to taking creatine?

You overdid it, it sounds like on first exercises in a long time. It shouldn't have a thing to do with creatine. A heaping teaspoon is 5 gms that should be non-loading amount, I never load but a good recomendation for loading would be 20 gms for two weeks. Drink plenty of water say 123 OZ a day or more.

You probably strained some tendon or muscle around the elbow joint, especially since you hadn't done any lifting for a few months. Most likely you didn't warm-up properly.

For a back and bicep day, you should have started with your a warm-up for your back, then performed your working back sets, done an acclimation or possibly a full warm-up for your biceps, and then done your working bicep sets.

Use a utensil to dig around in your creatine and whey tubs. Almost all companies include a scoop, but it often becomes buried and packed under the contents during shipping.

It does sound like you overdid it, but creatine will allow your muscles to be pumped for longer periods so it could be related but i wouldn't see it as a bad thing.

Ok, thanks all.

i did dig for teh scop but didnt find it, i think ive been taking a bit much creatine but il get some scales and weigh it to make sure.

For my back/bicep workout i warmed up using lat pull downs and then did a few back exercises.

I then warmed up my biceps using bumbell arm curls (obviously not properly) and then did 2 heavy sets.

What sould i do to warm up my biceps properly?

thanks again, all.

I found this in the bulking thread. I was doing 2 warm up sets at abot 50% then 80%. ish.

Is this below what i should do ?

'Warm-up on each muscle group as follows:
NOTE: if you are failing on these sets - you are lifting too heavy for warm-up

1 set at 50% for 10-12 reps,
1 set at 70% for 8 reps,
1 set at 90% for 3 reps,

Now go heavy (100%) for 3 sets aiming to fail between 6-8 reps.
if you can lift more then 8 reps it is not heavy enough.
(advanced body builders will aim for failure between 4-6 reps)'