Creatine Safety and Effects...

[Legion Kreinak]

Creatine... first off, how shall I load it? I'd like to hear Corn's take on this.

Second, is it safe? Like... I have no kidney problems so I think I should be fine, yes?

And finally, after you stop taking it, don't you lose all the size and strength you previously had gained?

 

[gettinlarger]

Creatine... first off, how shall I load it? I'd like to hear Corn's take on this.

Second, is it safe? Like... I have no kidney problems so I think I should be fine, yes?

And finally, after you stop taking it, don't you lose all the size and strength you previously had gained?

1) loading is like 4 days, 4 times a day.

2) yes its completely safe, to my knowledge.

3) i don't believe so. but, creatine does not make you grow. it simply gives you more energy. i think. I dunno.

 

[head2toe]

creatine works better for some than others, depends a lot on your diet. also if your skinny it seems to work better prolly because the gain is not covered up by fat...me personally first used it before it was known (10 yrs ago) and put on about 15 quality pounds and was amazed, now it still works great but i staay away cause somehow i get kidney pain when i use even though blood tests show no probs, but it also has other chemicals in it so i stay safe...you can use for years and be ok just dont expect total transformation

 

[jeremys]

the loading phase is just a marketing scheme so you end up buying more in the end. make SURE you drink a LOT of water. i'm talking over a gallon a day. the creatine itself does not make you grow or gain strength, but what it does do is make your cells hold water. this water gives more leverage, so you have a tiny bit more strength in the gym. when you hold water, it may also help you grow a little because your muscle cells are very well-hydrated.

i gained about 20 pounds when taking it, and gained 10 more pounds the following 2 weeks. maybe 1/3 was fat but i got a lot bigger. also, since i stayed well-hydrated, i didnt lose as much water weight as i thought i would. my gains, lean mass and fat, were from eating everything in site and training hard, NOT from the creatine. it may have helped a little, but food is the best bet.

my aunt's class in college did a study with creatine and rats. after a few weeks, the rat's spinal cords were damn near unbreakable. just an interesting tidbit i threw in there.

the only downside is that because of the water, you'll lose most of your cuts and look flat

 

[Thaibox]

jeremys is right about the water intake. I drink about a gallon and a half a day normally. When on creatine I up it over two gallons. Maybe a little extreme.

For many years, a lot of people have been trying to knock down creatine with "scientific studies" showing kidney damage from creatine intake. For every one of these reports, I could find you a dozen well supported laboratory d-b studies that prove otherwise.

Some people don't get shit from creatine. I was lucky and felt a great pump and a significant strength gain when I first took it. I have to take a long time off between creatine cycles though because my body remembers it too well and the effects are significantly less.

Loading has logic, but I don't think its necessary. If you're taking 10-20g a day you should be fine.

When you stop will will lose a little water. But, if you have all the other variables in you training knocked, you will defeinately keep some lean mass with this stuff.

 

[RusPA81]

I personally do not cycle with creatine. I tend to get weaker, at least as far as endurance is concerned. I get tired sooner in my workout.

 

[JDarty6173]

Personally I've never experienced any strength gain or more than maybe a couple pounds water weight gain from creatine... I'm just one of those unlucky folks who it doesnt work for ::SIGH::