Creatine Question

[Aimster]

I started taking creatine 3 weeks ago and it says for me to go off of it for 3 days. When I go back on it do I go back to the loading phase?

Also I take this product called Muscle Milk after my workouts. Supposedy it has some kind of creatine building blocks in it. Should I stop this during my 3 days I'm off?

Thanks.

 

[TheNinja]

3 days off isn't enough.

Good cycle right here:
5 days - take 5g (about a teaspoon) 3 or 4 times a day
30-35 days - take 3g - 2 times a day
take 30 days off


Just be careful. I got such good gains from creatine that when I finally went off for 3-4 months I lost that "pumped" feel and lost some strength gains, took me 2+ months to get back to where I was with creatine.

 

[AndrewR]

What's the best way to take it? I've mixed it with varying results, typically bad. Putting in water is nasty, but I've not found anything it actually dissolves into. I'm using a ProLab brand.

 

[l Xes l]

Loading cycle is believed to be a marketting gimick... but it makes sense since u want to try to saturate your muscle w/ creatine...
you guys are prolly taking Creatine Monohydrate which doesnt dissolve well... there are new synthesized creatines such as CEE or Kre-Cre for better absorption..
but at the end.. creatine is just creatine...
it's up to u if u want to cycle your creatine usage... some may use for 3 months and get off it for 1 month... or some people dont get off it at all....
there's hasn't been any long-time research on prolonged creatine usage... some may say u should cycle it so ur body's creatine production doesn't get messed up..
i personally would cycle creatine.. use it for 2-3months and get off it 1-2months.... and so on...
if u have creatine monohydrate... take 5g pre workout and 5g post workout.. and take 5-10g through out the day on non-workout days...
and you can mix creatine w/ anything.. i like to put it in my protein shake so it can mask up the taste... some drink w/ grape juice to spike up insulin for better creatine intake and absorption...

 

[edro]

I have been lifting for 2 years now, with great results, and I am thinking about trying creatine for a cycle. I am mainly worried about the effects after I go off of it. I don't want to feel weak after I stop it.

One of the articles on BB.com says to do the loading phase (18-25g/day) for 5 days, then maintenence usage (2-3g/day) for the next 3 weeks.

I am still gathering opinions as well though.

I appreciate your input krnxpride83 and TheNinja.

Here is Jeremy Likness' article "All about Creatine"

 

[JRock]

Creatine always made me feel bloated as all hell... I got go size and strength gains but once I stopped I got weaker and "deflated"

 

[Special K]

You don't need to cycle it. Just take 5g per day.

For more information, go to:

wannabebig forums

 

[iamme]

n00b question: generally speaking, how does creatine help you gain muscle?

 

[The Green Bean]

Originally posted by: iamme
n00b question: generally speaking, how does creatine help you gain muscle?

Wondering the same thing

 

[iamme]

Originally posted by: hatim

Originally posted by: iamme
n00b question: generally speaking, how does creatine help you gain muscle?

Wondering the same thing

http://www.answers.com/creatine&r=67

Others suggest that, since creatine may allow athletes to train harder and recover faster, the enhanced training stimulus may promote greater muscle hypertrophy in the long term. Ultimately, the increase in muscle mass is probably attributable to a combination of all these factors: greater water retention inside the muscle cells, increase in protein synthesis and/or decrease in protein breakdown and greater training stimulus.

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: hatim

Originally posted by: iamme
n00b question: generally speaking, how does creatine help you gain muscle?

Wondering the same thing

Bascially the creatine, along with water, is stored in the muscle cell and is used as energy during a high intensity workout. More energy = more weight moved = greater results in the long run, at least in theory.

I honestly don't see that much of a benefit from using it, but when it's so cheap, why not?

 

[Chunkee]

it is the immediate source of anerobic energy for muscle contraction...benefiters include weight trainers, sprinters, and scullers for the start. It also helps with the DOMs (delayed onset muscle soreness)

Listen to your body. Make sure you hydrate well. Take it with grape juice. Helps get it across and into the cells with the insulin.

jC

 

[Gravity]

The latest research suggests that you take 1g of creatine, several times per day. Most athletes can't absorb more thn 5 g per day with 3g being the norm. AT the cellular level, the devices that transport the creatine across the cell membrane get stupid after about 90 days and refuse to transport it after that.

The research I've read suggests that you will simply pass most of the product without any benefit from that point on. When you go off, your body needs about 90 days to replenish the transport chemicals and you can begin again.

So, I recommend 3-5 grams per day, but take it in very small doses of 3/4 - 1 gram each dose.

 

[HBalzer]

I take creatine 5 days a week if your drinking the plain powder i think apple juice covers the nasty flavor. i buy the fruit punch kind from BJ's wholesale club it is not bad. Just make sure you drink tons of water or you'll damage your kidneys.

 

[iamme]

next question: good place to buy supplements? online? B&M? GNC?

 

[mrrman]

Originally posted by: HBalzer
I take creatine 5 days a week if your drinking the plain powder i think apple juice covers the nasty flavor. i buy the fruit punch kind from BJ's wholesale club it is not bad. Just make sure you drink tons of water or you'll damage your kidneys.

Interesting...I was wondering about this to...so you could say this is a dangerous side affect if you dont drink alot of water. Ive heard so much about creatine but was worried to try it. Thanks

 

[HBalzer]

Originally posted by: mrrman

Originally posted by: HBalzer
I take creatine 5 days a week if your drinking the plain powder i think apple juice covers the nasty flavor. i buy the fruit punch kind from BJ's wholesale club it is not bad. Just make sure you drink tons of water or you'll damage your kidneys.

Interesting...I was wondering about this to...so you could say this is a dangerous side affect if you dont drink alot of water. Ive heard so much about creatine but was worried to try it. Thanks

Just don't over do it and you should be okay. Some guys take way more than the recommended dose.

 

[AndrewR]

Just an incidental to the discussion about creatine. I started taking it in earnest this week (been lifting again actively for the past couple weeks), and I noticed a HUGE difference in combination with a good diet and proper rest. Seriously, I jumped up my single arm curls by a significant margin, saw an increase in my squat and deadlift, and have noticed significantly less soreness. I also have been able to work harder and heavier than before.

I've been lifting on and off for the last 12 years so I know how my body reacts at this point, and the difference has been very noticeable. Basically, my normal gain/increase has been increased by about 30-50% at this point. I obviously know that won't continue, but the creatine is certainly helping.

I'm also taking amino acids and whey protein. The combination is a doing a number on my bowels though. :Q

 

[Nutdotnet]

Originally posted by: iamme
next question: good place to buy supplements? online? B&M? GNC?

Online
Online
Online

Costco sometimes has some great deals on protein powder and protein/energy bars.

GNC is a giant ripoff

www.bodybuilding.com has great service. There's a number of excellent online stores out there.

 

[Nutdotnet]

Originally posted by: edro
I have been lifting for 2 years now, with great results, and I am thinking about trying creatine for a cycle. I am mainly worried about the effects after I go off of it. I don't want to feel weak after I stop it.

One of the articles on BB.com says to do the loading phase (18-25g/day) for 5 days, then maintenence usage (2-3g/day) for the next 3 weeks.

I am still gathering opinions as well though.

I appreciate your input krnxpride83 and TheNinja.

Here is Jeremy Likness' article "All about Creatine"

Loading is a bunch of marketing crap. Just start taking it as you normally would.

 

[Nutdotnet]

Originally posted by: AndrewR
What's the best way to take it? I've mixed it with varying results, typically bad. Putting in water is nasty, but I've not found anything it actually dissolves into. I'm using a ProLab brand.

Best WAY would also be the least expensive.

Creatine + Dextrose (or Dextrose AND Malto-Dextrin).

I go 5g Creatine + 25g Dextrose + 25g Malto-Dextrin + one scoop of Whey + water right after working out. It tastes OK, but really, I'm not drinking it because I like the taste.

The Dextrose and MD can be found at your local home-brew store.

 

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: Nutdotnet

Originally posted by: AndrewR
What's the best way to take it? I've mixed it with varying results, typically bad. Putting in water is nasty, but I've not found anything it actually dissolves into. I'm using a ProLab brand.

Best WAY would also be the least expensive.

Creatine + Dextrose (or Dextrose AND Malto-Dextrin).

I go 5g Creatine + 25g Dextrose + 25g Malto-Dextrin + one scoop of Whey + water right after working out. It tastes OK, but really, I'm not drinking it because I like the taste.

The Dextrose and MD can be found at your local home-brew store.

After reading that people take it with whey, I added it to my mix, and it's fine. My wife just about gags when she sees it, but it tastes fine to me. Thanks for the info though!