Thread: creatine

yes

creatine is okay while cutting but the only problem you may run into is that the water retention may blur your cuts a bit. In my opinion and from my experience with it I feel it works works escpecially well during the first few weeks of a cut to keep your energy levels up in the gym while you start decreasing calories and/or carbs. Then as I get closer to the end of the cut I drop it to get rid of water.

thanx. i usually use creatine for 8 weeks ,then take a month off. after the month off, do i need to do a loading phase (5 teaspoons a day for 5 days) or just go straight to 2 teaspoons a day?

I never do a traditional loading phase. In my opinion and the opinion of many it is just a waste of creatine. I always just start out with 10g (2 tsp) a day for 3-4 days and then continue with 5g a day for the rest of the time that I am taking it.

when u take 5 g. a day, when do u take it, after the workout?

Most of the water retention from creatine is intramuscular (volumization or cellular hydration) not subcutaneous, unless you're competing (some will cut it a few weeks prior to a show) I do not see why you would stop using it.

wouldn't you not want to be taking a lot if you were gonna compete soon because it could make you look bloated? other than that i can't see why you'd stop either

yea, I said "some will cut it a few weeks prior to a show".

Most of the water retention from creatine is intramuscular (volumization or cellular hydration) not subcutaneous, unless you're competing (some will cut it a few weeks prior to a show) I do not see why you would stop using it.

The reason I stop using it at the end of a cut is because a) it gives me a gut bloat that I don't like and b) It blurs my abs....

(also, how do you know that I don't compete )

Originally posted by P-funk
(also, how do you know that I don't compete )

we don't...do you?

No, I have not competed as of yet. I was going to do a show a couple years ago but it was my last year of college and with my finals and that BS I didn't have time to get my self in proper shape. But I hope to compete in a show soon . That is why I liek to experiment with different things (diet, training, creatine on a cut, etc..) I want to see how my body responds to different situatioins so that I can plan perfectly, instead of just doing one of my normal cut diets..

Originally posted by P-funk
The reason I stop using it at the end of a cut is because a) it gives me a gut bloat that I don't like and b) It blurs my abs....

(also, how do you know that I don't compete )

how common is it to bloat when using creatine anyways? is it something that happens to most people?

I have talked to people that experienced no bloat...Creatine affects everyone differently. Some seen no results from supplementing with it, others will see greater results. When I first used creatine I was 16yrs old. I gained an imediate 10lbs which is common. No for some reason when I take it I only end up gaining maybe 4-5lbs, I am 23 now??? I don;t know why that is, I can;t explain it. I still feel the benefits of more energy and some strength but it affects me differently now than it did almost 10yrs ago.