Posted on: Friday, April 5, 2002

Chang aims to gain weight naturally

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

University of Hawai'i quarterback Tim Chang is going back to basics.

Chang has decided to stop using creatine, a nutritional supplement that serves as an energy reserve in muscle cells, and instead will try to gain weight the old-fashioned way.

"I'm eating four or five meals a day now," said Chang, who is not competing in spring football practice while recovering from wrist surgery. Chang is still listed as the No. 1 quarterback.

The 6-foot-2 Chang, who weighed 170 pounds as a St. Louis School senior in 1999 and 190 as a UH freshman in 2000, wanted to gain weight to absorb the pounding from pass-rushers. Last year, he increased his workouts and began taking creatine. The results were immediate. He weighed 205 pounds when he reported to training camp last August.

But after suffering a torn ligament in his right wrist, an injury that limited his weight training and required surgery in January, Chang began to lose weight. His weight dropped to less than 190.

As his rehabilitation expanded — he does non-throwing conditioning drills — Chang decided to gain weight without taking supplements.

"It's so easy to put on weight," said Chang, who weighed 190 after yesterday's morning workouts. "In college, your responsibilities are school, football, eating and sleeping. When you can concentrate on just those little things, it makes so much more of a difference."

He said he has increased both his meals and workouts. "If I were to stay at 200 and not run at all, all of that weight would look really ugly," he said. "You'd rather maintain good body weight and eat the same, do normal things, but try to keep toned at the same time."

The use of creatine, which is derived from natural ingredients, is allowed for athletes competing in NCAA events. There are no conclusive studies on the long-term benefits or risks of the supplement, although some consumers complained of headaches and cramping. Some critics believe the increase in muscle injuries in major league baseball is linked to creatine.

The NCAA does not allow schools to supply creatine to their athletes, a restriction that is based more on economics — the supplement is viewed as a benefit, similar to an extra meal — than a health concern.

"People have heard of blacking out" from taking creatine, Chang said, "but as long as you take it responsibly, it's fine. Moderation is the key. Too much of anything is going to affect you. It's fine if you take it once a day after you work out."

Chang said he decided to gain weight after being knocked down several times as a freshman. "Football is a contact sport," Chang said. "I'm facing guys who are anywhere from 225 coming at me with 4.5 speed to guys who are 325. I need to put on weight to withstand the hits."