Creatine

jdholland5508
jdholland5508 Posts: 162 Member
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Does creatine make you hold onto water more than sodium? Sunday I started my loading phase and now wednesday morning Im up 9 lbs. Is this all water weight most likely? I have been in a deficit all week.

Replies

  • JNick77
    JNick77 Posts: 3,783 Member
    Does creatine make you hold onto water more than sodium? Sunday I started my loading phase and now wednesday morning Im up 9 lbs. Is this all water weight most likely? I have been in a deficit all week.

    It can cause some water retention. You don't really need to pre-load creatine either. I know a lot of the bottles will tell you to but it's not necessary. I currently take 5grams pre-lifting, 5grams during lifting and that's it; I've never done a loading phase.
  • dumarina17
    dumarina17 Posts: 4
    yeah it packs ur muscle with water. its an easy 5 - 10 extra pounds in a month. you will get more defined but that much stronger. Pro bodybuilders take creatine 15 - 20g a day. normal people need 5 - 6g. im starting taking creatine in 4 weeks. cant wait :D
  • JNick77
    JNick77 Posts: 3,783 Member
    yeah it packs ur muscle with water. its an easy 5 - 10 extra pounds in a month. you will get more defined but that much stronger. Pro bodybuilders take creatine 15 - 20g a day. normal people need 5 - 6g. im starting taking creatine in 4 weeks. cant wait :D

    The great thing about Creatine is that it's dirt cheap and probably does more for you than expensive NO Inhibitors drinks.
  • warmachinejt
    warmachinejt Posts: 2,162 Member
    i only take 5-7g a day. I have never read someone either on forums or books i have that says loading is beneficial. And yes it will hold water but not sure to what level. Just make sure you drink about 10 glasses or more a day.
  • Glucocorticoid
    Glucocorticoid Posts: 867 Member
    Does creatine make you hold onto water more than sodium? Sunday I started my loading phase and now wednesday morning Im up 9 lbs. Is this all water weight most likely? I have been in a deficit all week.
    Creatine causes water retention in your muscles yes. But seeing as how your muscles are mostly water, this is a good thing. It will significantly help you with your lifts. Take 5g daily.
  • Mercenary1914
    Mercenary1914 Posts: 1,087 Member
    Does creatine make you hold onto water more than sodium? Sunday I started my loading phase and now wednesday morning Im up 9 lbs. Is this all water weight most likely? I have been in a deficit all week.

    It can cause some water retention. You don't really need to pre-load creatine either. I know a lot of the bottles will tell you to but it's not necessary. I currently take 5grams pre-lifting, 5grams during lifting and that's it; I've never done a loading phase.

    depending on which one...you should be taking the 5g within 15 minuets AFTER lift
  • JNick77
    JNick77 Posts: 3,783 Member
    Does creatine make you hold onto water more than sodium? Sunday I started my loading phase and now wednesday morning Im up 9 lbs. Is this all water weight most likely? I have been in a deficit all week.

    It can cause some water retention. You don't really need to pre-load creatine either. I know a lot of the bottles will tell you to but it's not necessary. I currently take 5grams pre-lifting, 5grams during lifting and that's it; I've never done a loading phase.

    depending on which one...you should be taking the 5g within 15 minuets AFTER lift

    I think there are varying degrees of thought on that. My nutritionist actually has me take 5g prior and 5g during.
  • Mercenary1914
    Mercenary1914 Posts: 1,087 Member
    Does creatine make you hold onto water more than sodium? Sunday I started my loading phase and now wednesday morning Im up 9 lbs. Is this all water weight most likely? I have been in a deficit all week.

    It can cause some water retention. You don't really need to pre-load creatine either. I know a lot of the bottles will tell you to but it's not necessary. I currently take 5grams pre-lifting, 5grams during lifting and that's it; I've never done a loading phase.

    depending on which one...you should be taking the 5g within 15 minuets AFTER lift

    I think there are varying degrees of thought on that. My nutritionist actually has me take 5g prior and 5g during.

    Do what works for you...but you should most defintely supply online resources and/or product instructions...

    I do not know which creatine you are taking...

    Con-Cret = Take before Training
    Axis Labs Creatine = Before and After
    BSN CellMass = After, and can be before
    Muscletech Cell-Tech Hardcore = immediately after
    Optimum Nutrition Creatine Powder (My favorite) = After


    and all of them recommend on empty stomach...con-cret has no recommendation on empty stomach or not


    Maybe you lift Fast (empty stomach)?


    btw...you do not need 10g's

    5 to 7g should be optimal...

    I was once a 10 to 15g creatine taker YEARSS ago
  • Sean_The_IT_Guy
    Sean_The_IT_Guy Posts: 168
    Creatine is Creatine, if it's Creatine. It doesn't matter when you take it, because you're just trying to keep your muscles saturated with it. Take it in the morning and in the evening, or in the morning or after lifting, or whatever. As long as you keep your muscles saturated, it doesn't matter when you take it. Once you are loaded, if you're taking the 20g a day that "serious" lifters are taking, probably 15g of that is coming out in your urine anyway.
  • JNick77
    JNick77 Posts: 3,783 Member
    btw...you do not need 10g's

    5 to 7g should be optimal...

    I was once a 10 to 15g creatine taker YEARSS ago

    I hired this guy for his experience and ability to get results, http://www.mountaindogdiet.com/about.php. He told me to take 5g before and 5g's during and I listened. There's nobody in these forums that are knowledgeable and experienced as John.

    edit: I'm just taking pure monohydrate, nothing special. :)
  • Ariana_75
    Ariana_75 Posts: 224
    I've been taking 5g of Con-crete before workouts off and on for about 4 months and do not find that it makes me retain water. To be honest, I haven't really noticed much of a difference when I am on it or when I am off it as far as muscle gains / strength etc.
  • NikoM5
    NikoM5 Posts: 488 Member
    http://www.abcbodybuilding.com/creatine myths and_facts.htm

    Creatine is only going to help you if your training is of high enough intensity/volume
  • Mercenary1914
    Mercenary1914 Posts: 1,087 Member
    Creatine is Creatine, if it's Creatine. It doesn't matter when you take it, because you're just trying to keep your muscles saturated with it. Take it in the morning and in the evening, or in the morning or after lifting, or whatever. As long as you keep your muscles saturated, it doesn't matter when you take it. Once you are loaded, if you're taking the 20g a day that "serious" lifters are taking, probably 15g of that is coming out in your urine anyway.

    yes and no...yes I agree that as long as your keep your muscles saturated, it doesn't matter when you take it...But in order to keep your muscle saturated at the RIGHT time you would have to take more of it....

    But if you are trying to time the best time to take creatine it would be when your insulin levels are the highest...which happens to be when you wake up...and after lift...Which is why Creatine is best taken when waking up or after lifts...

    I agree with the rest of what you posted
  • Mercenary1914
    Mercenary1914 Posts: 1,087 Member
    btw...you do not need 10g's

    5 to 7g should be optimal...

    I was once a 10 to 15g creatine taker YEARSS ago

    I hired this guy for his experience and ability to get results, http://www.mountaindogdiet.com/about.php. He told me to take 5g before and 5g's during and I listened. There's nobody in these forums that are knowledgeable and experienced as John.

    edit: I'm just taking pure monohydrate, nothing special. :)

    good ol John Meadows....yea..he promotes crea dyl


    Do your thing....

    He is suspect in my book
This discussion has been closed.

Categories