SUPPLEMENT IS CATCHING ON WITH MUSCLED MASSES.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

Tom Meier isn't a bodybuilder. He's not trying to maintain a buff physique to keep a professional baseball contract. And it's not as though he's trying to revive a football career or anything.

Still, he takes creatine.

The legal performance-enhancing supplement was popularized by athletes at all levels and now has reached the masses. Men and women seeking to tone up, build bigger muscles and gain quicker recovery times between workouts are using it in increasing numbers.

Meier, a 25-year-old special-education assistant, took creatine a few years ago in an effort to bulk up after he lost 50 pounds. Now Meier, who's 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, is taking it again.

``One of the main reasons I took it was to get a little more size,'' Meier said, ``a little more of an edge, pretty much. I thought it'd be a quick fix and that's one of the reasons I started taking it. I feel good when I work out because I get an extra boost of energy.''

Meier, who has two brothers who also use creatine, researched it - as he has with every supplement he's tried - before taking it.

``For a regular Joe doing this, unless they have some sort of medical condition, I certainly wouldn't tell them not to take it,'' said Dr. Jeff Stout, the director of sports science for GNC's pro performance line.

``It's one supplement that works. If I'm Joe Blow trying to build muscle, I'm going to take creatine. It's probably one of the safest products to do it.''

Meier's brother, Aaron, 31, recently took creatine for a few months but stopped because he experienced frequent arm cramping and found it difficult to consume enough water - some drink a gallon a day - to prevent dehydration.

However, he achieved the results he wanted.

``The thing is that men are finally starting to fall into the same trap that women have been in for 30 years,'' he said. ``We see commercials and 'Baywatch' and all these men with perfect physiques and six packs, big chests and big arms. Now we're saying, 'That's what we're supposed to be like.'

``At least every guy in the free-weight area (at my gym) has tried or is trying something. At least every guy I talk to has at least tried creatine.''

Chris Fregeau, 31, a personal trainer at L.A. Workout in Woodland Hills, has used creatine for three or four years. He estimated eight of his 12 clients - none of whom are athletes - take creatine.

``I'm not a pusher of creatine,'' Fregeau said. ``I don't say, 'Here, you have to take this.' If they're asking for supplements, typically I tell them basic diet tips. I just give them nutritional background and basic tips.

``I make sure they have extra protein. A lot of people can't take extra protein. People always want results really quick without a lot of hard work.''

Derrick Taylor, boys' basketball coach at Taft High in Woodland Hills, tried creatine for a few months a few years ago but doesn't recommend it to his players because long-term effects - if any - are unknown.

``It's everywhere,'' said Taylor, 37. ``I know quite a few guys my age that are taking it as part of their workouts. The guys I see taking it are dieting and eating right and you see the results, they're incredible. The average Joe is taking it because he's getting results.''

And the average Jane has tried it, too - or at least thought about it.

Astine Petrosyan, 24, is a local pharmacy technician who works out six or seven days a week. For an average of $20-30 a month, she plans to try it.

``Yeah, why not? I just need the money,'' Petrosyan said.

The nonathlete is proving you don't need a multimillion dollar contract to use creatine.

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Photo:

Tom Meier is using creatine to get ``a little more of an edge, pretty much.''

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer