Anybody use or have used creatine?

[RaiderJ]

I've done some reading on creatine and it sounds like adding it in to your diet & lifting regimen can be beneficial, as long as it's not overdone. I'm doing heavy lifting 3-5 times a week and I'm looking to maximize my workout, not to artificially improve my lifting.

Anybody have any personal experience or advice? The websites I read seemed to be less factual than I liked, and more geared towards the bodybuilders.

 

[toekramp]

well if you talk to 'The Boss' in here he isn't a fan cause it 'bloats' him. basically it adds a whole bunch of water weight. I've used it in the past and had excellent results, but a few months after I stopped using it the benefits deminished quickly.

(aka if you want size then this is for you)

 

[RaiderJ]

Originally posted by: toekramp
well if you talk to 'The Boss' in here he isn't a fan cause it 'bloats' him. basically it adds a whole bunch of water weight. I've used it in the past and had excellent results, but a few months after I stopped using it the benefits deminished quickly.

(aka if you want size then this is for you)

Not really looking for size, I've never had a problem with that on my own.

 

[StageLeft]

Yeah it works. Don't take it until you are pretty comfortable with working out, so that you know you have exhausted some of the newbie-gains, plus you will derive better benefits from it.

I take it every once in a blue moon, and it puts on weight and strength, but my gains have always subsided afterwards. that's frustrating, so I know that when not on it my gains are "real". I'm not saying I won't take it again, but because of its temporary nature it's not as nice as it initially sounds.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

it's all about the girth.

 

[Adam8281]

I used it in high school a lot, and it worked. I'm not "bulky," I was a baseball player and I took it for about a year and a half. I had good strength increase and no side effects.

 

[Kipper]

Originally posted by: Adam8281
I used it in high school a lot, and it worked. I'm not "bulky," I was a baseball player and I took it for about a year and a half. I had good strength increase and no side effects.

In the short-term, at least.

There's no longitudinal studies done on the negative effects of creatine (if at all). You would be well-advised, however, to wash it all down with at least a gallon of water/day. Assuming you are taking creatine you're also probably on a high-protein diet, which is known to be harder on the kidneys.

 

[edro]

All the people I have asked at the gym, say it's great to get over a plateau. They all say that once the muscle is added, it doesn't leave once you go off the drug, but you may not see gains for a while after you go off of it. I was thinking about trying it for 4-6 weeks, but I am still making great gains, so until I hit a serious plateau, I will stay all natural.

 

[UbiSunt]

You should only use it if you are going to start hitting the weights really HARD. It will give you that extra energy when you are tired. However if you are not you're probabaly just going to pack on a lot of bulky water weight.

 

[TheNinja]

It works if used properly. It will put on about 10 pounds in 2 weeks....although most of it water weight. Here is the way I used my creatine cycles:

1. Cycle On creatine for 1 1/2 months: make good gains
2. Off creatine for 1 1/2 months: just maintain the gains, don't lose, try to make a little gain if possible
3. Profit = Repeat #1

edit: oh and take creatine (I prefer micronized) with like 4-6 tablespoons of dextrose/maltodextrin after a workout to maximize the effects/intake.

 

[cchen]

It works. Adding some dextrose to the creatine also will help.

 

[PunDogg]

creatine is awesome, i would use it anytime, even if you are doing light and endurance execrises. It can make you add water weight but you can take water pills and such to get ride of it if it bothers you that much. But it with lots of water, and watch the results come in

Dogg

 

[Amused]

I've been cycling on and off of it for a couple years now.

I notice marked benefits and no side effects.

 

[Afrotech]

Originally posted by: PunDogg
creatine is awesome, i would use it anytime, even if you are doing light and endurance execrises. It can make you add water weight but you can take water pills and such to get ride of it if it bothers you that much. But it with lots of water, and watch the results come in

Dogg

yup.. i used to gain 5 lbs water when i took it, but with water pills the water weight was gone.

just drink more water than you ever though possible

 

[Looney]

Go ahead and try it. It's cheap. Personally i'm not a big fan of it, but lots of others are. If you get a little motivation from taking it, then go for it.