Creatine while cutting?

[rcpratt]

Is there any benefit to taking creatine while cutting?

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Is there any benefit to taking creatine while cutting?

It helps maintain LBM due to increased lifting volume (typically). It will, however, make you retain water so if you rely heavily on the scale for your self-esteem, it's probably not the best idea. Really though, creatine is a supplement. Cutting is almost entirely dependent on your diet. Perfect that and then worry about creatine.

 

[rcpratt]

I've been doing pretty well, down 9 pounds in 3 weeks. Now 6'2'', 203.

So I might stay the same weight or even gain some initially, but eventually it should start trending back downwards, right?

 

[SociallyChallenged]

I've been doing pretty well, down 9 pounds in 3 weeks. Now 6'2'', 203.

So I might stay the same weight or even gain some initially, but eventually it should start trending back downwards, right?

Have you read the fat loss sticky yet (http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=162171)? Nine pounds in three weeks is nearly double the recommended weight, especially since your height and weight seem relatively normal. People can gain no weight up to 10 pounds of water weight from supplementing creatine, depending on your natural creatine levels. You could expect it to trend downward, but you should read the fat loss thread in its entirety before you decide to supplement creatine.

 

[rcpratt]

I have read the sticky. It's actually more like 8 pounds in 3.5 weeks now that I'm looking at my logs carefully, which is a bit more acceptable I would think.

Decided against the creatine for now. While I don't exactly need the scale for motivation/self-esteem, I do like to know exactly what I've accomplished. And the lifting has been going well; don't really feel like I need it. The roommate had recently purchased some so I was considering it.