Creatine experiences
Author
Discussion

Hugo Stiglitz

Original Poster:

39,865 posts

229 months

Tuesday 7th February 2023
quotequote all
Pros, cons and is it worthwhile and at what doses?

Is it safe for your kidneys etc????? That's key.

mcelliott

9,660 posts

199 months

Tuesday 7th February 2023
quotequote all
Hugo Stiglitz said:
Pros, cons and is it worthwhile and at what doses?

Is it safe for your kidneys etc????? That's key.
Perfectly safe, the most studied supplement ever, health benefits beyond muscle building, must be taken everyday though, see it as the last few percent, quality sleep and nutrition will give way bigger bang for buck.

Louis Balfour

28,176 posts

240 months

Tuesday 7th February 2023
quotequote all
Hugo Stiglitz said:
Pros, cons and is it worthwhile and at what doses?

Is it safe for your kidneys etc????? That's key.
I used it for a while a few years ago and put on masses of water weight, and not in an attractive way.

popeyewhite

23,008 posts

138 months

Wednesday 8th February 2023
quotequote all
mcelliott said:
quality sleep and nutrition will give way bigger bang for buck.
This.
Also creatine only really works as it should with lower rep sets when strength training.

Wildfire

9,890 posts

270 months

Wednesday 8th February 2023
quotequote all
I found it did help with outright strength training, you do take on water weight so you look bigger but can look bloated.

The worst thing is coming off it as I pretty much lost a load of energy and felt terrible for a good couple of weeks.

Fozziebear

1,840 posts

158 months

Thursday 9th February 2023
quotequote all
Tried it years ago, took a teaspoon amount in water 4 times a day and got some great growth results, mainly water though. tried it again last year and didn't see a lot of improvements, I found I get the historic results from using anadrol 50mg pre training, mass growth, water bulk, but size stays longer. Im not endorsing it before anyone says im a crazy juicer.

popeyewhite

23,008 posts

138 months

Thursday 9th February 2023
quotequote all
Wildfire said:
... felt terrible for a good couple of weeks.
Unlikely down to ceasing C, all that will happen is you'll lose a kilo in water from your cells. C only provides a small amount of explosive energy, not the day to day walk the dog sort of energy. Maybe you caught a bug or something, quite common at the end of a training cycle?

Louis Balfour

28,176 posts

240 months

Thursday 9th February 2023
quotequote all
popeyewhite said:
Wildfire said:
... felt terrible for a good couple of weeks.
Unlikely down to ceasing C, all that will happen is you'll lose a kilo in water from your cells. C only provides a small amount of explosive energy, not the day to day walk the dog sort of energy. Maybe you caught a bug or something, quite common at the end of a training cycle?
I was rowing quite a lot when I took it. I lost quite a lot of performance immediately I stopped. But I also stopped looking like Mr. Blobby.


bazza white

3,691 posts

146 months

Thursday 9th February 2023
quotequote all
Gives me gout so I avoid now. Also when you come off it you pee all the time whilst your body gets rid of excess water.

Jamescrs

5,548 posts

83 months

Thursday 9th February 2023
quotequote all
I've been a regular user for over 12 months now, think the scoop size gives about 5 grams per day and I throw it in with protein shake.

Works well for me, I do regular strength training, im in the gym 5 days a week on average.

I dont feel I have gained any water bloatedness others claim, no side effects. It's not the be all and end all in weight training but it does assist.

I would say if you can find a pure creatine Monohydrate at a decent price go for it, I've noticed prices have been steadily rising for months now and some supplement suppliers are adding flavourings etc to try and be different but it's all unnecessary and just marketing ro push the prices even higher.

Sheets Tabuer

20,500 posts

233 months

Thursday 9th February 2023
quotequote all
Used it for years and I'm talking many, many years, 5mg in water every morning and I can push out more reps.

Only issue is now my joints and tendons seem to be failing... bugger. obviously not down to creatine, I'm getting old.

Arnold Cunningham

4,413 posts

271 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Anyone have any experience of creatine for brain function?
I am reading that it may have some positive benefits.

Brainpox

4,203 posts

169 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Arnold Cunningham said:
Anyone have any experience of creatine for brain function?
I am reading that it may have some positive benefits.
I started taking creatine for gym but noticed improvements to brain function immediately. On my 12 hour shifts at work I would be very slow mentally by the last hour. Once I started taking creatine I found that although still physically tired, my brain was firing on all cylinders.

RSTurboPaul

12,382 posts

276 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Brainpox said:
I started taking creatine for gym but noticed improvements to brain function immediately. On my 12 hour shifts at work I would be very slow mentally by the last hour. Once I started taking creatine I found that although still physically tired, my brain was firing on all cylinders.
I think I will need to dig out the unused pack from the back of the cupboard and give it a punt, given I am slow mentally by the first hour, never mind the last hour... hehe

egomeister

7,279 posts

281 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Brainpox said:
Arnold Cunningham said:
Anyone have any experience of creatine for brain function?
I am reading that it may have some positive benefits.
I started taking creatine for gym but noticed improvements to brain function immediately. On my 12 hour shifts at work I would be very slow mentally by the last hour. Once I started taking creatine I found that although still physically tired, my brain was firing on all cylinders.
This aligns with my experience. I started taking it about a week ago to support exercise, but within 48hrs I felt more alert/better concentration/mood etc. I need to see how it goes to be sure its the cause, and maybe come off it again to observe that effect but the initial feeling is positive

Arnold Cunningham

4,413 posts

271 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Cool. I'm going to try it. And go to the gym more.

DaveGrohl

973 posts

115 months

Arnold Cunningham said:
Anyone have any experience of creatine for brain function?
I am reading that it may have some positive benefits.
You need to be taking more than 5g, with 15g being a min starting point I believe.
Heard this lots of times from different experts lately.
Not really interested in taking it myself personally though.

Blue_star

280 posts

34 months

For me lack of negative effects is exaggerated.

I was taking Together with protein powder increased my uric acid and had arthritis flare up.

In instructions you should cut caffeine and alcohol so be cautious in case you have health dispositions.

Gnits

996 posts

219 months

Have tried it and had no issues, not noted any particular extra benefits as my new training regime started at about the same time.
Stopped it for 6 weeks due to travelling and definitely noted a more 'fluffy' kind of head, not sure how one defines it in measureable terms.
Back on it now and that has cleared up so will definitely be carrying on. Perhaps there is an extra few % to be gained during exercise and probably a few extra % more brain focus but there seems to be no down side so will continue.

As an aside for lifting weight and seeing a difference the amount of protein required was WAY more than I was pushing into my face. Only gave it a passing glance before but after having a more serious look I was only getting about a quarter or third of what seems to be the suggested amount. Now that really does make a difference.

biggbn

28,293 posts

238 months

I ended up pouring my creatine into my protein powder(s), themselves a mix of vanilla and chocolate flavour so way too sweet, so I now have no idea how much I am actually taking. Will have to order some more so I can keep a gauge on it. Was watching Mitchell Hooper talking about creatine the other day but have not finished it yet, interesting talk of macrodosing etc.. Only side effect it has had for me is making me pee more...yet it promotes muscles to hold water, so strange?