Honest opinions on creatine

[equinox10]

I've been lifting very regularly for about two years now and I've made some great gains. This whole time I've resisted creatine because of safety concerns, price, effectiveness etc. Over the last few months I've been reading more about creatine and I'm convinced it's safe, and I may start using it.

My question is, in all of your honest opinions, do you think it is worth the money? Have any of you really progressed while using it? I'm sure it's not completely necessary, but is it worth it? Thanks for any and all help.

-Justin G.

[paco_36832]

I've never used it, but from eveything I've read, it looks like one of the better supplements to throw your money at.

[Relentless]

It works. It's safe.

It's also not for everyone though; research shows it is for some reason ineffectual in a certain percentage of the populace.

I recommend plain old creatine monohydrate rather than the fancier versions. It's usually cheaper and it works.

[Stray]

Creatine has to be one of the more established ,safer supps out there.

Prolabs usually has pure creatine pretty cheap.

Whatever you get...stick to the pure stuff..as soon as companies start adding extra stuff to it the jack up the price.

[LAM]

It does work, it is safe when used properly and is one of the most cost efficient supplements to use...

[PowerManDL]

I'd say it depends on how you lift. The ATP-sparing effect doesn't really do a whole lot for anything but the phosphagen pathway, which basically means you'll notice a difference in endurance and *possibly* in force output in the heaviest, shortest-duration sets. I'd really have to dig through some notes to be sure, but AFAIK it doesn't do anything for glycolytic metabolism.

The extra available ATP can influence recovery in a positive fashion, as well.

The cell-volumizing effect can be a benefit; by hydrating the muscle fibers, it can enhance metabolic activity and efficiency, which can indirectly assist other types of lifting, as well as recovery times.

Then there's the speculative effects on satellite cell activation and the blunting of neural trauma in cases of head injury, which I'll go ahead and tell you I know virtually nothing about besides a few reports.

[LAM]

don't forget that creatine also buffers lactic acid...

[duque21]

Idont think there is a better supp' than creatine to be honest. It has done so much for me. I love it for its recovery qualities and endurance enhancing qualities also. Get a brand that is crea-pure, like prolab, champion, or anything that has a "crea-pure" lable on it

[munkyhead97]

It is by far the best supp ever created

[eclips1]

I don't know much about it, but I did try it for about 3 weeks a few months ago. I was stuck in a plataue for a while and it definetly got me through it and then some. Wether it was the creatine or mental I don't know(probably both). It made my body swell a lot though, to the point were I got a little scared and stopped taking it. I just started back on it yesterday though. I'm not loading it this time though. everybody tells me its not neccessary and that might have been why my body swelled so much.

[zwarrior99]

search

[therat]

works great for myself.Notice some gains when using creatine and losing the gains when I got off it for a month.
Back on it again and feeling great!!!!

[WestyHeadbanger]

Creatine works.

"Then there's the speculative effects on satellite cell activation and the blunting of neural trauma in cases of head injury, which I'll go ahead and tell you I know virtually nothing about besides a few reports."

hahahah what the phuck is this guy talking about???

[zillamonster]

I have never cared much for creatine. It always bloats me and upsets my stomach. But it works for others.

Zilla

[TurboStu]

Honestly, never used it, never will. Really what it is doing is simply drawing more water into your muscle. It gives you the appearance of looking bigger, and I would make the arguement then that is is psychological any other "gains from it", that and I liek the all natural approach to things.

[Maki Riddington]

Originally posted by WestyHeadbanger
Creatine works.

"Then there's the speculative effects on satellite cell activation and the blunting of neural trauma in cases of head injury, which I'll go ahead and tell you I know virtually nothing about besides a few reports."

hahahah what the phuck is this guy talking about???

*** This might help.

Tarnopolsky, M. & Martin, J. (1999). Creatine monohydrate increases strength in patients with neuromuscular disease. Neurology 52 pp 854-857

[munkyhead97]

When I started lifting this year which was about 2 months ago I started with one of my friends that didn't believe in supps and laughed at me for spending my money, (By the way he was lifting quite a bit more than me in everything) and he said when you pass me up I will consider it well that day was last night. He was in awe I have increased in gains so much more than him it is unbelievable. He was asking me questions about my supps last night. I take 7g of creatine and 40g of protein after I workout and just 5g of creatine on off days. So the stuff really does work man.

[duque21]

You will hear stories like "Munkyhead97" all the time. I am a Exercise Science major and for the past week we have been studying how your body uses creatine. My professor tells every one that supp's suck, but he swears that creatine is the best supp' ever. If you look at how your body utilizes energy. It is the first arobic tool your body will use to facilitate ATP stores

[Ti1301]

Creatine only gets a bad name from people who misuse it.
They begin to use it exclusively as a muscle mass gaining pill when it is not.
Your body already makes creatine.
Creatine is to supplement your other things like whey or whatever else you use. It's primary function is muscle recovery and help protein synthesis by hydrating the cells.
In No way is it a Muscle building product, people have this misconception and end up using it daily and over dosing.
I;ve seen people here taking in 10g a day regardless of whether it's a work out day or not.
I dunno about them, but my bottle specifies 5 g post workout.
I take is in moderation so I don't become dependant on it and gain water weight. I use it so that my gains are permanent, not false.
There are periods where I stop workign out and I my muscle stays intact and shapely. People who rely on creatine go to flabby muscles cause of all the water weight.
Just use it the way it was intended to be used not as a muscle gain pill as most people think it is.

[trooth]

Good thread.. :) I use it and have incorporated it into my workouts. I follow a similar pattern as munkyhead, except I use only 5G / day everyday... after my workouts.

[fatsoPanda]

I like it. I can notice a difference in strength and endurance while on it. I'd stick to the plain stuff too, i've tried the rest and the pure stuff just seems to yield better results, plus it's cheaper.

[Puttn]

if i could only use one suppliment i would buy creatine

[BennettBoy]

Originally posted by Puttn
if i could only use one suppliment i would buy creatine

Not me.....I'd purchase whey protein or MRP's.

Protein = muscle......muscle = protein.

Creatine MAY add 5 lbs. during the time which you cycle it....but you will lose most that after coming off of it.

[Majestic]

Not to sound like a vain prick, but since we're all sharing experiences:

I used Creatine over a year ago. I did the loading phase, and then used it every day.

At first, I was really, *really* jazzed. My bis & tris seemed to be holding more water, my forearms were holding more water, hell, even my ass started filling out my pants more.

Being a man with a small rear, I was more than pleased. And I think the ladies were too. But.....

.....it kept going. And my face started bloating. And that was pretty much the straw that broke the camel's back. I'm not walking around with a puffy face. I already have an "oval-ish" face, even when I'm lean. This ***** had to stop. And so I quit it.

Sure enough, about 10 days later, my weight was back to normal. Too bad, so sad.


Tell ya what, though. I'm thinking of using it again, only this time, I'll skip that *ridiculous* loading phase, and I'll only use it after training sessions, which would be about 3 times a week.
Later,

- Maj

[LAM]

Majestic...why type of creatine did you use in the past ?

[Blood&Iron]

Uh oh. That creatine is dangerous stuff...

Nutritional Supplements: Which ones are proven effective by Elaine Mansfield
I imagine you’re hungry for more information about new supplements with rave reviews such as creatine or DHEA. New claims are made every day and small short-term studies often give contradictory results. Even when short-term benefits are found, there may not be adequate long-term studies to prove that no damage is being done as a result.


The Steel Tip: Ripoffs by Ken Leistner
And while creatine does seem to put weight on, almost all of the football players on the professional level who used it in 1995-96, stopped when they realized that they were being limited by horrible muscular cramping due to electrolyte dysfunction and fluid shifts


Both of the above were taken from Cyberpump(Once my source of inspiration, now a source of laughter to me. I just saw the top quote today while looking for some other info and figured this was an appropriate place to share this idiotic crap.)

Creatine is safe, effective, and the subject of an unparalleled amount of research for a dietary supplement.

[Majestic]

Originally posted by LAM
Majestic...why type of creatine did you use in the past ?

It was EAS's Phosphagen HP, or whatever.

[Ti1301]

Not to sound like a vain prick, but since we're all sharing experiences:

I used Creatine over a year ago. I did the loading phase, and then used it every day.

At first, I was really, *really* jazzed. My bis & tris seemed to be holding more water, my forearms were holding more water, hell, even my ass started filling out my pants more.

Being a man with a small rear, I was more than pleased. And I think the ladies were too. But.....

.....it kept going. And my face started bloating. And that was pretty much the straw that broke the camel's back. I'm not walking around with a puffy face. I already have an "oval-ish" face, even when I'm lean. This ***** had to stop. And so I quit it.

Sure enough, about 10 days later, my weight was back to normal. Too bad, so sad.


Tell ya what, though. I'm thinking of using it again, only this time, I'll skip that *ridiculous* loading phase, and I'll only use it after training sessions, which would be about 3 times a week.
Later,

This sad, but funny at the same time. It also reiterates my point. Creatine does not need to be loaded adn it's te people who abuse it that give it the bad name.
Personally I kinda need the puffy cheeks cause I 'm skinny and people keep saying I have a skeleton face. So far people have noticed the puffier cheeks and say I look better now than b4.