Creatine: Pros and Cons?

[Pokoritel]

Hey guys i need some help. I went to other bodybuilding forums and damn it i cant trust anyone else but this place. I have been training for 4 years now, I am at the age of 20. I want to start using creatine, everyone is telling me all this shit how its gonna hurt me and help me. I want to here it from everyone here. What do you think of creatine, and i want to know the pros and cons of using it? This is the only place i can trust for answers. I cant go the gnc and ask cause i know they will bullshit me and make me buy the whole damn store. Thanks Guys.

[gsb239]

I'm the same age as you and first started taking creatine when I was 17. I think its a great supplement, your first time around you will notice some real strength and size gains if you're eating correctly. There's also some research that suggests that creatine helps athletes lose bodyfat in addition to supporting lean mass, which is great for bodybuilders.

The only problem which may come from creatine use (which I can think of) is the buildup of creatinine (creatine's waste product) in your system. I don't think there's any symptoms for this as its usually revealed through urine samples, but Im not a medical doctor. I'm pretty sure that toxic (dangerous) levels of creatinine buildup are rare in individuals. There shouldn't be any complications with this as long as you're drinking enough water throughout the day (atleast 3-4 litres). Cycling creatine for atleast 6-8 weeks on and 3-4 weeks off not only reduces buildup of creatnine, but also ensures optimal efficiency of creatine supplementation, it also saves money in the long run. Cycling however, isn't neccessary.

Overall, it's an awesome supplement for size and strength. I've never had any complications with it. Take as much as is reccommended on the label.

[Pokoritel]

Thank You

[Guate Tio]

you should try it, i have taken creatine and it just makes me really thirsty! jiji, just try it and see how your body reacts to it, and decide;)

[LurkingBeast]

Creatine is Great! I'm 18yrs old and have been taking it for the last year. I never notice much physical differences in my body while taking it other than the fact that it gives me a ton more energy when I go to the gym to work out. Which in time will allow you to have better work outs resulting in getting bigger faster! I actually am going to start taking it when I get up and go to bed, just to ensure the amount in my body.

[hjayss]

I think it depends on the person some people do not respond to it. I only had one problem but I like it you just piss more, but because you drink so much water. I like how it helps you lose body fat.

[IMBACK]

The animal max protein has creatine in it. Should this be cycled as well?

[NickSP]

It's main purpose is to give you a little more energy for the gym. People always come up with BS that it only puts water weight on and you "lose all your gains" when you get off, but obviously they don't even know what the hell it's used for. Creatine monohydrate is the cheapest form, and pretty much all the proven science/studies behind creatine were done with mono, so I always suggest buying a straight up mono supp when someone first gets into it (look for the word micronized on the bottle). Start with maybe 3-4 g before and after lifting, and you can work your way up to 5g pre/post. You don't have to go through loading phases, and you don't have to cycle. We don't know why, but some people seem to not really respond to it (I believe it's about 15%). You can look into some of the other types (kre-alkalyn and ethyl ester (CEE) seem to be pretty popular, CEE is one of the kinds found in Pump) supposedly some of the other types not only help with people who are non-responders to mono, but also reduce traditional problems such as big gains in water weight and cramping. Just make sure you're drinking a lot of water when you go on.

[Wasteland]

For what it's worth, creatine is naturally found in beef and in fish. If you eat either, you're getting creatine already--just maybe not enough.