Creatine effects?

[abracada]

I have just started taking creatine monohydrate, if you have taken it how has it affected you?

I am on day 5, I have seen following so far;

Pro’s

1. Brain always feels fresh and clear, this was an unexpected benefit!

2. Much less rest needed between working out and during exercise.

3. Can sustain exercise for longer.

Con’s

1. Water!! Both loads of water retention and being thirsty all of the time.

2. Less vascular, veins are still showing but not as ripped as previous.

3. Sometimes feel a tad bloated

Your experiences of it?

[F l i c k e r]

Eh, it�s not special.

I never took the time to notice any enhancement to my workouts, I just know when I finish a phase of training, when using creatine, I�m generally strong af.

I retain water on creatine mono, so I don�t use that. I found that the best creatine for me is creatine hydrochloride. I don�t retain water with that. So I don�t necessarily have more size but I also don�t have that puffy exterior.

Definitely drink sufficient water and don�t take too much cause the stuff can damage your kidneys when taken in high doses.

I don�t use the stuff anymore though.I can�t be arsed but creatine hcl is the way to go, IMO. No real cons to speak of other than money spent.

[abracada]

Eh, it�s not special.

I never took the time to notice any enhancement to my workouts, I just know when I finish a phase of training, when using creatine, I�m generally strong af.

I retain water on creatine mono, so I don�t use that. I found that the best creatine for me is creatine hydrochloride. I don�t retain water with that. So I don�t necessarily have more size but I also don�t have that puffy exterior.

Definitely drink sufficient water and don�t take too much cause the stuff can damage your kidneys when taken in high doses.

I don�t use the stuff anymore though.I can�t be arsed but creatine hcl is the way to go, IMO. No real cons to speak of other than money spent.

Heard the same about using creatine hydrochloride.

Also read that some people are non responders or it has little effect while others see massive improvements; genetics!

I am on the loading phase, never knew I could drink so much water...!

[ELPacman]

Ya pretty much everything you said applies. I'm currently on a cycle and will not get back on once this one is finished. I use it to get my strength up which ends up including some weight gain due to the water retention. Once I'm off, the strength remains but the water retention weight/bloated look begins to shed and you are left with a more defined look while retaining the strength to continue the same gains you had while on it, off of it.

[abracada]

Ya pretty much everything you said applies. I'm currently on a cycle and will not get back on once this one is finished. I use it to get my strength up which ends up including some weight gain due to the water retention. Once I'm off, the strength remains but the water retention weight/bloated look begins to shed and you are left with a more defined look while retaining the strength to continue the same gains you had while on it, off of it.

That is my plan, but when you cycle off will your strength drop at all, as creatine is what super charges the muscle fibres?

[F l i c k e r]

That is my plan, but when you cycle off will your strength drop at all, as creatine is what super charges the muscle fibres?

With creatine mono, you'll definitely see a drop off.

Both in size and marginally with strength. Because you won't retain that water any more, or not as much, which will decrease the size but also that lactic acid resistance is gone as well (unless you train to increase that threshold I would imagine)

When I used creatine hcl, there's no size difference per se- I don't retain water but the muscle fibers built are there (at least for me) and my strength remained long after not using it. I was doing a lot of olympic weightlifting with that. Cleans, snatch, and the big 3 in powerlifting.

Now days, I take the slow, deliberate approach to training. So I can build the kind of strength and muscle that doesn't go away after not working out for too long.

That old people kind of ****. I'm not old but I want that kind of matured strength and muscle quality.

[abracada]

With creatine mono, you'll definitely see a drop off.

Both in size and marginally with strength. Because you won't retain that water any more, or not as much, which will decrease the size but also that lactic acid resistance is gone as well (unless you train to increase that threshold I would imagine)

When I used creatine hcl, there's no size difference per se- I don't retain water but the muscle fibers built are there (at least for me) and my strength remained long after not using it. I was doing a lot of olympic weightlifting with that. Cleans, snatch, and the big 3 in powerlifting.

Now days, I take the slow, deliberate approach to training. So I can build the kind of strength and muscle that doesn't go away after not working out for too long.

That old people kind of ****. I'm not old but I want that kind of matured strength and muscle quality.

Day 7 into it, finished the loading phase and feel as strong as anything!

I am now going to go below the 5g daily maintenance as I like the strength and the fresh clean mind but the bloating is a bugger.

Also feeling more hungry than usual.

Perhaps will do 2.5g a day which is a large drop for my current 20g loading a day

[4truth]

Sounds good and without any downside. If I were trying to build bulk, definitely I would use it.

[abracada]

Sounds good and without any downside. If I were trying to build bulk, definitely I would use it.

Some of the downsides I seen so far;

1. Feeling thirsty 24/7, sometimes wake up at night wanting water.

2. Look less shredded, the ripped look goes

[ELPacman]

That is my plan, but when you cycle off will your strength drop at all, as creatine is what super charges the muscle fibres?

Yeah, I mean you are going to lose that boost the creatine gave you when lifting, especially if you are new to using creatine. If you used it long enough, the benefits you have with the increased strength that got you to lift heavier, will have eventually helped with muscle building. The muscle building should retain after the creatine is out of your system. At that time, you will be able to lift similar to what you did with the creatine. You might get fatigued sooner but you will still have the strength.

Before covid hit and gyms shut down I was completely off creatine for more than 6 months yet still lifting EVERYTHING I did prior to dropping creatine from my preworkout. All I would take was a Walmart special (lol) 15 dollar preworkout and it helped a lot. Actually it was the MrHyde one (still using today). I'm also using "ON" Creatine but it'll be finish soon.

I'll stick with just the preworkout after and see how well it goes. Muscle memory is a thing also.