Creatine and Stretch Marks

[Riverhound777]

I have been doing SS 5x5 for over a month now and am starting to make some good gains. I have been taking ON Whey, fish oil, and a multi so far but am running low on whey. While looking on amazon to buy more I thought about buying some creatine. My only concern is that I will grow too fast and get stretch marks. I know some people look at their stretch marks with pride, but I would rather not have any. My roommate has some near his armpit and they look bad.

I've gained about 5 pounds this month (171-176.6 today, I'm 6'0) so I am making gains already. My goal is to get up to 190 or so and then do a cut. Has anyone here taken creatine during a bulk and not gotten stretch marks? From what I've been reading, it sound like it is the norm to get them. Also how fast do they show up? Wonder if I could be forming some already and just not noticing. And advice would be appreciated.

 

[presidentender]

I got the stretch marks you're talking about without using creatine. A friend of mine even got them on his biceps (which was his motivation to quit lifting entirely), completely supplement-free. If you don't get them, creatine probably won't change that.

Also, they probably don't look as bad to anyone else (read: women) as they do to you.

 

[crt1530]

Creatine may cause you to retain a few pounds of water weight when you first start taking it. After that, it has absolutely nothing to do with how much weight you gain. Weight gain is dependent on how much you lift with your fork, not how much you lift in the weight room.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: Riverhound777
I have been doing SS 5x5 for over a month now and am starting to make some good gains. I have been taking ON Whey, fish oil, and a multi so far but am running low on whey. While looking on amazon to buy more I thought about buying some creatine. My only concern is that I will grow too fast and get stretch marks. I know some people look at their stretch marks with pride, but I would rather not have any. My roommate has some near his armpit and they look bad.

I've gained about 5 pounds this month (171-176.6 today, I'm 6'0) so I am making gains already. My goal is to get up to 190 or so and then do a cut. Has anyone here taken creatine during a bulk and not gotten stretch marks? From what I've been reading, it sound like it is the norm to get them. Also how fast do they show up? Wonder if I could be forming some already and just not noticing. And advice would be appreciated.

It you just take 5g a day of creatine mono and don't load, you should be ok. The water will slowly be retained and, like gaining muscle over a period of time, your skin will stretch with it. I didn't get any whatsoever and I loaded (I wouldn't suggest this if you're worried about stretch marks though - just in case). I gained 20 pounds including about 2-3 pounds of creatine-induced water weight while bulking. This was my first time bulking or trying to gain weight, so that may be why I don't have any stretch marks (I had skin to be stretched). Good luck though with the whole process.

 

[scootermaster]

I took a 12 week cycle of CellMass, and didn't get any stretch marks. Of course, I also only gained around 8 pounds. So take that for what it's worth.

 

[Riverhound777]

Thanks for the responses. I think I'll be ok if I just keep an eye on things and use some lotion and Vit E if I do see some. Ordered some Primaforce Creaform Monohydrate (SociallyChallenged recommended in another post) along with some more ON whey from amazon.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: Riverhound777
Thanks for the responses. I think I'll be ok if I just keep an eye on things and use some lotion and Vit E if I do see some. Ordered some Primaforce Creaform Monohydrate (SociallyChallenged recommended in another post) along with some more ON whey from amazon.

Good choice. Try to drink it with some form of carbs/protein. I didn't care for the massive sugar load that is suggested, but it will get into your cells better if you have some sort of insulin response. I just used milk/protein that equated about 30g carbs/50g protein and then I'd eat a banana. The choice is up to you, but good luck with it anyhow. I haven't really heard of stretchmarks being that a problem before.

 

[KoolDrew]

Originally posted by: crt1530
Creatine may cause you to retain a few pounds of water weight when you first start taking it. After that, it has absolutely nothing to do with how much weight you gain. Weight gain is dependent on how much you lift with your fork, not how much you lift in the weight room.

 

[Riverhound777]

I will be taking it with my after workout shake which consists of 1.5cups milk, 1.5 scoop whey, 1 scoop oats, 1 spoonful natty peanut butter, 1 banana all blended.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: Riverhound777
I will be taking it with my after workout shake which consists of 1.5cups milk, 1.5 scoop whey, 1 scoop oats, 1 spoonful natty peanut butter, 1 banana all blended.

You should be fine, although you should know that the PB especially will slow digestion and therefore curb the insulin response a bit.

 

[Riverhound777]

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Originally posted by: Riverhound777
I will be taking it with my after workout shake which consists of 1.5cups milk, 1.5 scoop whey, 1 scoop oats, 1 spoonful natty peanut butter, 1 banana all blended.

You should be fine, although you should know that the PB especially will slow digestion and therefore curb the insulin response a bit.

Damn. But it tastes so good! I'll think about that.

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: KoolDrew

Originally posted by: crt1530
Creatine may cause you to retain a few pounds of water weight when you first start taking it. After that, it has absolutely nothing to do with how much weight you gain. Weight gain is dependent on how much you lift with your fork, not how much you lift in the weight room.

This is the correct answer. It seems the perception of creatine as some sort of steroid just won't die.

 

[jiggahertz]

Try cocoa butter if you're worried about stretch marks.