Creatine

[Emmortal]

For as much as people knock it Creatine has always worked well for me. I typically jump up about 8-10 pounds whenever I use it.

I also probably have more type II muscle then the average person, so this might have something to do with it.

It's great for loading water, that's about it.

[Topskin69]

It's great for loading water, that's about it.

Steroids more or less do the same. Granted they also increase protein synthesis and other things, but the primary effect of a lot of them is water retention.

I look at creatine as a mild form of D-Bol, at least for me. Sometimes...usually after a workout, I look really full and great, other times a bit bloated...it varies throughout the day.

To answer another question...I train the same. I am just a bit stronger while taking it then when I am not. I always keep a log book of everything, so when I am taking it I am more inclined to try and keep beating the log book, either via an extra rep, or extra weight on a particular set.

[LatsMcGee]

Yeah, but how much does it cost to eat 5 grams of creatine from red meat?

5 grms of creatine = 2lbs of red meat a day I believe. 

[Sherief Shalaby]

it works great with me!!..

supplement are very expensive in egypt so last time i was in dubai this year i bought one jar of creatine monohydrate and they gave me another one for free .. there was an offer on a certain brand because the expiry date was may 2011!!.. the price of one jar (1 kilo) was about USD 40 so i took 2 at only USD 40!!..

supplement in dubai are relatively cheap and are found everywhere!!..

[Mr Nobody]

Creatine and Vanadyl Sulphate works good for natties, has a roid effect.

[phreak]

I've been taking it for 2 months now @ 5 g per day, and haven't noticed a goddamn thing. I'm going to 20 g daily for as long as my supply lasts, but am expecting sweet FA. Not worth the money, I should have bought a side of beef instead.

[JasonH]

I've been taking it for 2 months now @ 5 g per day, and haven't noticed a goddamn thing. I'm going to 20 g daily for as long as my supply lasts, but am expecting sweet FA. Not worth the money, I should have bought a side of beef instead.

I'm the same - creatine doesn't have the slightest bit of an effect on me - I used the ethyl ester stuff for about three months straight a few years back - not only does it taste foul, it's also more expensive than the monohydrate and I had absolutely zero results from it.

Same with glutamine - I don't know why people rave about that stuff - it's a non-essential amino acid, it's produced by the body naturally and in large quantities so why anyone would want to pay money to supplement with it further is beyond me.

And yet stuff like NO-Explode does work with me - yet I've heard people on here slating it. 

The best advice I could give is simply experiment with stuff to see if it works for you and don't pay attention to what anyone else says about their progress - we're all different.

[dj181]

Allright fellas, this topic has me inspired, so I'm gonna go out and get some creatine monohydrate today and give it a go :> In fact, I will post before and after pics of my left arm during this 2 to 4 week experiment As it stands, may left arm now measures 39cm, which is about 15 and 1/3 inches. I fully expect to gain 3 to 4 cm on my arm over this 2 to 4 week period, 3 to 4 cm is about 1 and a half inches.

[Fatpanda]

there is no need to load creatine - its a myth. studies disproved long ago.

take 5g with carb and protein source 30-45 mins before the workout with another 5g with carb and protein source after the workout.

you WILL get results, in fact you will have a better pump both visually and physically from the first workout.

trick is to time it correctly to coincide with insulin levels, blood flow and workouts.

[ChristopherA]

Steroids more or less do the same. Granted they also increase protein synthesis and other things, but the primary effect of a lot of them is water retention.

I look at creatine as a mild form of D-Bol, at least for me. Sometimes...usually after a workout, I look really full and great, other times a bit bloated...it varies throughout the day.

To answer another question...I train the same. I am just a bit stronger while taking it then when I am not. I always keep a log book of everything, so when I am taking it I am more inclined to try and keep beating the log book, either via an extra rep, or extra weight on a particular set.

No

[MCWAY]

there is no need to load creatine - its a myth. studies disproved long ago.

take 5g with carb and protein source 30-45 mins before the workout with another 5g with carb and protein source after the workout.

you WILL get results, in fact you will have a better pump both visually and physically from the first workout.

trick is to time it correctly to coincide with insulin levels, blood flow and workouts.

Those astronomical gains (which usually occur with those using creatine for the first time) tend to come from loading. The first time I did it, using Phosphagen HP back in 1996,  I gained 7 lbs in one week.

[The Showstoppa]

Those astronomical gains (which usually occur with those using creatine for the first time) tend to come from loading. The first time I did it, using Phosphagen HP back in 1996,  I gained 7 lbs in one week.

Same here, not 7lbs in a week, but serious gains in a short time......there is no NEED to load, but your gains come much quicker.....or at least they did for me back in the day....haven't taken it in a long time.

[MCWAY]

Same here, not 7lbs in a week, but serious gains in a short time......there is no NEED to load, but your gains come much quicker.....or at least they did for me back in the day....haven't taken it in a long time.

I remember it well. I went from 215 to 222 the first week; the second week from 222 to 224; by mid-third week, I was up to 227.

Most people I know are like that and like you. The first time they loaded with creatine, they gained 5 lbs (or more) the first week.

[Croatch]

It's great for loading water, that's about it.

More water in the muscle cell, greater strength/size...no?

[dj181]

I'm rather certain that I will gain rougly 5kg (10 pounds) while adding about 3cm (over 1 inch) to my arms within 2 weeks or so But only time will tell.

[Hulkotron]

there is no need to load creatine - its a myth. studies disproved long ago.

This is correct.  The "loading" business is just a trick to get you to use up all your creatine and buy more.

[Fatpanda]

loading creatine would make you hold more water.

but it won't make you increase muscle mass.

think about it - its sucked into whatever organ has blood in it and that also uses creatine for energy ( heres a hint - every major organ and muscle).

loading for a week will circulate the creatine around the entire body - forcing water etc all over the body.

when you only take it around the workouts - the creatine is forced into the muscle, giving you extra energy, extra nutrients, stretching the area with increased water, and helping a host of biochemical processes within the muscle, i.e. satellite cell activity, igf, etc etc

i'm telling the truth here guys - the studies have proved this long ago.

[dj181]

Allright, if it's true that loading isn't necessary then what about non-training days? Fuck man! I just bought me a huge 1300 grams container of creatine monohydrate for about 25 USD, so it's not like I'm gonna lose lots of cash by loading it for 5 to 7 days LOL

[Natural Man]

monohydrate = water bloat/retention in the muscles and under the skin depending of your gentics. Gives more energy (10%)than usual and increased well being. Can give cramps to some -gave me raging hard ons for some reasons- Keeps joints well hydrated. As soon as you stop it tho, all the water goes out the body and you feel like shit and you figure you didnt gain that much muscle mass ...

[Hulkotron]

There are some reports of creatine accelerating hair loss as well.

[EL Mariachi]

nowdays you can buy creatine without the loading-phase and without bloat!
shockwave gave me excellent pumps some strenght too.

[lesaucer]

to the twink thinking he will add 1inch on his 15inches pythons, to the retard who think creatine give him raging hard ons, and to the bro claiming that it accelerate hair loss..... LOLOLOLOL gotta love getbig

[EL Mariachi]

There are some reports of creatine accelerating hair loss as well.

you're a ugly ginger, it shouldnt matter

[Hulkotron]

As far as I know there are no evidence of this? Do you have any info?

There are tons of reports if you just google it.  I doubt there are any studies on PubMed or anything if that's what you're looking for.

[NaturalWonder83]

it def makes you break out
thats why i stay away from it