Creatine - anyone take it?

[BoxOfCats]

Does anyone take creatine supplements? I’ve been hitting the gym harder than usual in the last few months and a friend recommended taking creatine supplements. If you take them have you noticed much difference? How has it benefited you?

I just said that I started taking it in Jan, same time as when I started strength training. Since i've never strength trained before, I can't really tell what diffference creatine is making, except for a few lbs of extra weight (through water/muscle growth - muscles need water) and a dry mouth ensuring I drink more water.

I’ve been taking it about four months, agree with others take it earlier in the day. I strength train a lot and has massive benefits for me, I don’t get sore muscles at all, I can up my weights quite quickly and it gives your muscle/definition a fuller look. It will make you put on a few pounds of water weight which was annoying for me at first because I was a bit obsessed with the number on the scale but have come to focus on how I look instead and my body looks leaner now

I put it in hot food and stir. Would
this negatively affect it working?

@Freshair87 I'm trying to get to where you are now! I started 'losing weight' in 2020 and been maintaining since then, but now trying to be stronger and leaner. Years of scales watching is tough to break though! I measured myself but still, seeing things get bigger isn't the most reassuring, even though it is what i'm working for...

I do, the powder. Recover faster, stronger. Cognitive benefits I'm less brain foggy and less tired even though I'm sleep deprived by my three year old.

I would add that it can have a laxative effect on some people so adjust to it gradually. I dont find it gets me but my husband has had to dash to the loo a few times when starting it 😂

@NutellaEllaElla it’s definitely not easy, I was similar, losing weight over quite a while it’s so hard to break the mindset of just going by the number on the scale, but especially as women our weight will so easily fluctuate. But eventually the more consistent I got with lifting weights alongside taking creatine my body started changing quicker and with more muscle you’ll look smaller, the muscle growth has helped with some of the looser skin I have too!

Exactly the same happened to me a few months ago when I replied on a similar thread. It seems powder is fine but you can’t recommend the gummies! Weird!

Deffo this. I replied to say it had happened to me and they hid the reply too!

Can it be used for a pulled scapula muscle from over a year ago that still feels like I have whiplash? Desperate.

Apparently heat doesn’t affect it.

It definitely seemed to make me faster but I was hoping that my muscles would look more defined as I I read somewhere that it helps muscles to hold more water or something and therefore look bigger. It didn't do that at all I gained about 3lbs in water but felt I looked more bloated if anything. I took it for 3 months and then decided not to bother carrying on.

It’s not a miracle cure! You’d be better seeing a physio and doing some rehab if you haven’t already.

To the disbelief of my y11s, yes I take it. They tried explaining their tub saying that it's this powder that helps their muscles grow stong and they looked somewhat stunned when I said "oh yeah, I put it in my breakfast smoothie"

In the last couple of years I have noticed that the back and shoulders of my clothes have got more snug and at the same time my strength has increased in the weights I can lift. I tend to do a heavier gym session and a lighter circuits/ functional strength class per week. Progress is quicker than it was pre-creatine, and if it benefits my brain, all the better!

I use a pre workout powder which contains creatine. Definitely feel it helps with my strength training, hiit workouts and recovery afterwards.

Oh interesting, thank you all for your replies. I’ve bought some and will give it a try!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002k4kr?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

Heat does affect it, mine comes with a warning not to put in hot food/drinks.

if can be used in hot stuff if consumed fairly immediatly, which limits how much it degrades, but cold is better for consistent absorption.

I’ve the opposite, my weight has gone up a couple of pounds, as is expected, as it draws water into the muscles, but my body is leaner, I’ve become smaller if that makes sense, or neater, denser.

Just a word of caution, if you have endometriosis you shouldn't take it, there are medical papers on why. I have endo so cannot take it however my female physio takes it and swears by it.

I have started but not sure it has had much effect. Taking the powder type tablets from Holland and barrat. I thought creatine could be taken any point in the day. I think my muscle recover has got better

Reminds me of very dry Refresher sweets

Is it a given you’ll put on weight?

Interesting recent article about taking creatine in The Telegraph: https://archive.ph/UTaZN

Our powerlifting DS recommended it to both of us (aging parents!) to help retain muscle mass. Also reminds us that you need to drink more water as it’s hard on the kidneys.

I don’t take it because I keep forgetting to (I think that counts as ironic) but DP takes it daily, swears by it and says women need it more.

we just get it from Amazon. It’s a powder that you add to water (squash in my case when I do remember) it’s white with blue writing and about £9.