Is creatine loading necessary?

[seizer]

I was just wondering this because i am starting it soon, but the guy at the local supp store said it's just a marketing gimmick. Is this true? I've read around on the net, but have found mixed answers. What do you guys think? Does it make a difference to load up or just maintain all the way through?

 

[Griz1]

Some say yes, some say no. I don't think that it would hurt to load for 5 days anyway...or not.

Never heard anything definitive.

 

[anthrax]

Latest version I've hearded : it is useless

 

[wtlftr]

creatine is a gimmic. You can only store 10 secs of use. The rest is just used for a pump. NSCA will not even recommend it. They are a professional journal

 

[anthrax]

creatine is a gimmic. You can only store 10 secs of use. The rest is just used for a pump. NSCA will not even recommend it. They are a professional journal

?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

So all the people who report results from creatine intake are wrong ?

 

[wtlftr]

just reporting facts. It is known you can only store 10 secs of use. Check it out. Do some research. I have taken it in all doses. No prominant results.

 

[ashley2212]

?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

So all the people who report results from creatine intake are wrong ?

What happens is this ---> Creatine makes you retain water in your muscles... because you are more hydrated, you have slightly more strength to lift. Therefore, some people coming off of a creatine cycle notice slighty more strength and muscle because they lifted heavier. Also, the experience of being on a supplement forces you to work harder toward that goal (generally speaking) - for instance, you think "Awesome, I'm taking creatine which means I'm gonna put some more muscle mass on and I can lift heavier, let's go!" I mean, you don't want to waste your money, right?

My theory is this ---> Creatine = Motivation = Results... That works for some. But you could also have Motivation = Results just as easily. In essence, there's nothing WRONG with using creatine if it gives you the motivation you need to lift heavy. Is it actually the CREATINE that's building your muscles? IMO, No.

As far as the loading phase, it is completely unnecessary. It's just a ploy for the companies to make more money. On the back of shampoo bottles the directions say, "Lather, Rinse, Repeat." Is it necessary to shampoo twice? No. It's just a ploy to make more money.

Anyone disagree?

 

[swordfish151]

What happens is this ---> Creatine makes you retain water in your muscles... because you are more hydrated, you have slightly more strength to lift. Therefore, some people coming off of a creatine cycle notice slighty more strength and muscle because they lifted heavier. Also, the experience of being on a supplement forces you to work harder toward that goal (generally speaking) - for instance, you think "Awesome, I'm taking creatine which means I'm gonna put some more muscle mass on and I can lift heavier, let's go!" I mean, you don't want to waste your money, right?

My theory is this ---> Creatine = Motivation = Results... That works for some. But you could also have Motivation = Results just as easily. In essence, there's nothing WRONG with using creatine if it gives you the motivation you need to lift heavy. Is it actually the CREATINE that's building your muscles? IMO, No.

As far as the loading phase, it is completely unnecessary. It's just a ploy for the companies to make more money. On the back of shampoo bottles the directions say, "Lather, Rinse, Repeat." Is it necessary to shampoo twice? No. It's just a ploy to make more money.

Anyone disagree?

Nope, i believe you hit it right on the nail...no point to a loading phase at all..

 

[anthrax]

What happens is this ---> Creatine makes you retain water in your muscles... because you are more hydrated, you have slightly more strength to lift. Therefore, some people coming off of a creatine cycle notice slighty more strength and muscle because they lifted heavier. Also, the experience of being on a supplement forces you to work harder toward that goal (generally speaking) - for instance, you think "Awesome, I'm taking creatine which means I'm gonna put some more muscle mass on and I can lift heavier, let's go!" I mean, you don't want to waste your money, right?

My theory is this ---> Creatine = Motivation = Results... That works for some. But you could also have Motivation = Results just as easily. In essence, there's nothing WRONG with using creatine if it gives you the motivation you need to lift heavy. Is it actually the CREATINE that's building your muscles? IMO, No.

Anyone disagree?

Ashley2212,

I agree that 90% of the supplements effects is dur to the placebo effect

However, there have been numerous randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trials involving creatine monohydrate and it looks like for creatine respondents there are real gains

Of course some of the short term gain is just intramuscular water but there is also some true LBM gain

Anyway creatine is not Methandrostenolone ....