Experience with Creatine
alyssamiller77
Posts: 891 Member
Hey folks, a question for those that take creatine supplements (or at least have tried them). I've been trying to explain why after months of holding pretty steady at 161 pounds, over the last two weeks I've suddenly gained about 5 pounds. The only change I can think of is that I been trying out some samples of pre-workout supplements I got from GNC. All of them contain Creatine. From my research on-line it seems that it is not uncommon to put on some weight like that early on when starting creatine supplements. But it is the internet so I want more info. How many of you experienced similar weight gains when adding creatine? How much did you gain and how quickly did it level off. From what I've read, the increased retention of water in muscle cells appears to be the cause, but I'd like to hear from others with more experience than me with creatine supplements.
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5 pounds is about all you're going to get0
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Good ole creatine. There is no denying that the extra water weight that goes in the muscles helps you with your pumps. It does help you with your lifts in a way and lets you pump harder but I can say the same thing about other things and I don't have to get bloated. Creatine is fine if it gives you whatever edge you want lifting weights. You stop taking it and you lose all that pumped look in your muscles cause the water will leave your body in a few days.0
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Yeah that seems to be kind of what I've been reading too. Initial gain from the extra water retention in muscle cells but goes away quickly after you stop supplementing. I was reading some other clinical benefits of creatine supplements (effects on cholesterol and chronic heart disease) that seem intriguing, so I may stick with it for a while and see how things go.0
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Just up your water intake, and things should balance out.0
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Yeah that seems to be kind of what I've been reading too. Initial gain from the extra water retention in muscle cells but goes away quickly after you stop supplementing. I was reading some other clinical benefits of creatine supplements (effects on cholesterol and chronic heart disease) that seem intriguing, so I may stick with it for a while and see how things go.
My advice to you is to try it and see how it works for you. You can always spend that money on more protein lol.0 -
People misunderstand what creatine is actually for, it's not a mass gainer and it's not there to help your gain lean mass, at least not directly
The retention of water is actually a side effect of creatine not the purpose of taking it.
Creatine allows you to produce slightly more energy/force via the ATP energy system, enabling you to perhaps get an extra rep at the end of the set. This article is a good start
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/layne13.htm0 -
Yeah that's consistent with the information I've been finding about it. It helps get you that extra rep or two that can make all the difference when trying to build.0
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I am not aware of any pre-workout supplements that have enough creatine in them to cause a 5lb weight gain, most likely coming from something else.
I'm new here so don't want to sound like an expert, however I have tried just about all of them and never gained wieght. On the flip side if you are getting 5-10 grams of Monohydrate and your calorie intake is at least at maintenance you would pry see a little gain.
Hendrix7 hit it on the head for the reason to take creatine, most preworkouts do not have enough creatine in them to make this difference.0 -
creatine puts about 2lbs on me. and helps me push out an extra rep and a half0
