Well, I was always used to using just plain monohydrate but I tried some Hardcore recently. Over three weeks and I can say that my strength gains have increased substantially. Is it this stuff?...who knows, but I feel like the product is working. I don't even use it the way it's instructed, as I feel I get a lot of creatine from my regular protein intake from red meat everyday. I didn't load, either....just two scoops as part of my post workout drink, followed up by about 35 grams of whey.
I used to be pretty anti supplements, and I firmly believe that if you're covering your nutritional goals through solid meals, then you're not going to see a lot of benefit to supps (whey, those things). But creatine has reams of information out there on it and its effectiveness.
The question is price. Is it worth it to you?...my 6.6 jug is going to last me two months at the rate I use it (2 scoops a day postworkout, 4 times a week, don't take it on non training days). It cost me about 50 bux for the jug, so 25 bux a month. Previously, I used to pick up some monohydrate and Gatorade...the Gatorade cost around 20 bux a month and the creatine was usually around 10 bux a month.
I'm paying for the convenience and, what I feel, the effect. I've noticed big gains in strength over the last three weeks, with some lifts being personal bests. Of course I don't think that the 'only' reason are the supps, but it's a part of the equation for sure.
I doubt I could get more out of a couple extra steaks or lean ground beef were I to spend my Celltech money on 'real' food. Buy bulk, like anything else. And stick to what's shown to work; seems like a smart option, if you want to supplement at all.
