What are your experiences with creatine?

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  Dec 04, 2011 6:35 AM GMT

  Can any of you tell me about your experiences with creatine and what kind of results you got from it? I recently bought a high quality creatine that would last me about 3 months and I heard that a lot of people have success with it. What kind of results did you guys get from it?

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  Dec 04, 2011 8:39 AM GMT

  My favorite is BSN No Xplode.. nice size and I find Its a lean.. I don't get it often. It gets to be expensive when buying allot of these supplements every month. I always try to get the most out of the money I spend. Right now I'm using GP3 by advanced genetics.. it has creatine, bcaa's and glutamine all in one cap.

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  Dec 04, 2011 3:40 PM GMT

  It works. There's good research evidence to show it works, but also there seem to be a proportion of people who are non-responders. The only way you're going to find out is to try it and see. Three months is a good chunk of trial time. Even if you do a loading phase, it's about a month before you'd know if you're a non-responder. I'd advise recording the crap out of everything (body weight, diet, lifting loads).

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• wellwell
  
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  Dec 04, 2011 3:54 PM GMT

  Works! But if you enjoy combusting flatulent methane, it's GR8 for that too . . . !

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  Dec 04, 2011 4:01 PM GMT

  I have been on it for about 2 months now, and have noticed that I have increased all my weights by about 20-25 pounds. I have put on about 10 pounds, though some of that is just water weight.
  
  Mybiggest advice is to stay away from sodium while on it! Sodium makes you retain water to begin with and so does creatine, so when you combine those two, you retain water at the drop of a hat, at least I do. Over Thanksgiving I ate like crap and was retaining about 15 pounds of extra water, was very uncomfortable.
  
  In the end, it works for some, it doesn't for other. So just try it.

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  Dec 04, 2011 5:06 PM GMT

  Been using it on and off for years. It works for me. But like another poster said, there do seem to be quite a few people who don't benefit from it.

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• daddysw
  
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  Dec 04, 2011 5:09 PM GMT

  i find it works really well . . mix it with a non-acidic juice (red grape is usually advised) . . but its very dehydrating . . make sure you drink lots of water thru' the day . .

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  Dec 04, 2011 5:10 PM GMT

  I saw what seemed like results but only when I was already lifting heavier/more intense than normal, so not sure how much was the creatine.

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  Dec 04, 2011 7:43 PM GMT

  Some moderate results but it made me so nauseous it wasn't worth it.

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• a303guy
  
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  Dec 04, 2011 7:50 PM GMT

  Like a couple other posters have alluded, Creatine works differently for different people. For me, my body freaking loves Creatine. I just blow up on it. Sadly, it seems that everytime I do a cycle (which i understand you no longer really have to do - you can just take it continuously), when I come off it, about 80% of the size I gain dissappears in the course of a couple weeks - an effect of the water retention that seems to come with heavy creatine use.
  The only other effect is that it seems that i tend to have a few more breakouts on my back, shoulders and face when I'm on it.
  I havent done a Creatine cycle in about a year, and I'm itching to do one again because I know I'll put on some size, and gain some strength. Probably around the 1st of the year. If anyone on here can point me to the yes/no facts on cycling Creatine vs maintenance dosing, I would appreciate it.

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• justinlee86
  
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  Dec 04, 2011 8:07 PM GMT

  There is some great research on creatine. It is actually the only proven supplement (besides steroids) to actually enhance muscle recovery and such...
  
  again, new research comes out yearly mainly for and sometimes against. Someone stated that it effects people differently, so try it out for yourself.

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  Dec 04, 2011 8:21 PM GMT

  Creatine is also supposed to improve cognitive ability. Has anyone noticed this effect?

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  Dec 04, 2011 8:24 PM GMT

  DudeInNOVA saidCreatine is also supposed to improve cognitive ability. Has anyone noticed this effect?

  
  
  I don't understand the question.

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  Dec 04, 2011 8:27 PM GMT

  a303guy said Sadly, it seems that everytime I do a cycle (which i understand you no longer really have to do - you can just take it continuously), when I come off it, about 80% of the size I gain dissappears in the course of a couple weeks - an effect of the water retention that seems to come with heavy creatine use.
  .

  
  That's strange. I've never experienced nor heard anything like that. The only thing different when I'm off creatine is getting 5 sets instead of 6 on heavy lifts. (and I still wonder if that's more psychological than anything)

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  Dec 04, 2011 8:40 PM GMT

  MuchMoreThanMuscle saidI enjoy using it. It helps me have more energy in the gym and it helps with having fuller looking muscles.
  
  Sometimes when I creatine-load I have been asked if I was taking steroids. That is how much it can enhance my body. It gives me about seven pounds of gain.

  
  I agree totally with Muchmore... Been using it off an on for years and it not only makes me look bigger in some areas.. but make me look leaner in other areas... but you got to keep working out.
  
  My energy jumps when taking it so my workout all usually intense. My abs look more cut.. and my chest, shoulders and arms more ripped and full.. but again.. you got to keep working out. If for some reason your not going to the gym.. then stop taking it.. you'll only get fat. To be safe.. I always take a break from the stuff.. at least 3 or 4 months.. then I start up again.

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• matthewryan20...
  
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  Dec 04, 2011 8:45 PM GMT

  positive

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• a303guy
  
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  Dec 04, 2011 8:56 PM GMT

  RIGuy60 said

  a303guy said Sadly, it seems that everytime I do a cycle (which i understand you no longer really have to do - you can just take it continuously), when I come off it, about 80% of the size I gain dissappears in the course of a couple weeks - an effect of the water retention that seems to come with heavy creatine use.
  .

  
  That's strange. I've never experienced nor heard anything like that. The only thing different when I'm off creatine is getting 5 sets instead of 6 on heavy lifts. (and I still wonder if that's more psychological than anything)

  
  
  yeah, I beleive its pretty well documented that some of the size gain you get from creatine is actually just water, which then evacuates itself from the muscle when the creatine goes away. given the way my particular body loves creatine, I may have that effect more profoudly than on other people.
  
  I definitely like the strength effect!

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  Dec 04, 2011 9:31 PM GMT

  seems to work pretty well for me.....but my doctor says that the body only uses so much of it.and then you piss out the rest???

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  Dec 04, 2011 9:48 PM GMT

  It def gives me results as far as some weight gain (water) and looking a bit fuller but I don't think it gives me any extra energy really. For that I find that the NO powders work but I don't like using themevery time, moreso just on the days that I need a little kick to go workout.

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  Dec 04, 2011 11:45 PM GMT

  DudeInNOVA saidCreatine is also supposed to improve cognitive ability. Has anyone noticed this effect?

  
  
  That was for vegetarians. I guess it goes for pseudo-vegetarians too. If you want creatine from your food the absolutely best source is fish and then other mammals. We synthesize some ourselves (from glycine, arginine, and methionine) but obviously not optimal amounts.
  
  Mixes with creatine often has caffeine.

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  Dec 05, 2011 12:03 AM GMT

  Go for it

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  Dec 05, 2011 12:26 AM GMT

  pre_mortem said

  DudeInNOVA saidCreatine is also supposed to improve cognitive ability. Has anyone noticed this effect?

  
  
  That was for vegetarians. I guess it goes for pseudo-vegetarians too. If you want creatine from your food the absolutely best source is fish and then other mammals. We synthesize some ourselves (from glycine, arginine, and methionine) but obviously not optimal amounts.
  
  Mixes with creatine often has caffeine.

  
  
  Yes, that's what I read (about the vegetarians), but I was wondering if someone happened to notice it as a nice side effect. It might not be something anyone would notice unless they were looking for it.

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  Dec 05, 2011 12:34 AM GMT

  weight gain--mostly water-- not the look I was after--and it drove my blood pressure sky high.

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  Dec 05, 2011 12:50 AM GMT

  I had a good experience with creatine + protein powder for bulking up when I first started taking it. Was a pretty skinny dude and it definitely helped me put on some muscle when I first started lifting.
  
  Had to stop taking it 'cause my kidneys didn't like it, though. That and the protein powder pushed my creatinine way too high. Don't use anything now, but I got the initial results I wanted and it's not too difficult to maintain the muscle w/o the supplements.

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  Dec 05, 2011 12:54 AM GMT

  I like using creatine post work out. I think it does help with muscle recovery and size. I Xplode pre workout with good results.

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