Is Creatine worth the weight gain?

[Poser]

From a strength perspective over the years, I have observed that I hit a ceiling on a my bench press right around 235# where the only way I'm getting past that is supplementing with creatine. My strength levels can fluctuate dramatically through the year depending on how much conditioning, skiing, backpacking etc I'm doing with my bench press at times being no more than bodyweight (usually around 205#) for reps to as high being north of 260# for sets of 3s or 5s. Having cycled on and off creatine many times before settling in to the mega doses for more of a focus on the cognitive benefits, I have absolutely observed that pattern of hitting a wall while not being on creatine vs. being able to run up my strength quite a bit for weeks on end beyond that wall while supplementing creatine.

 

[merkedmallard]

Just started taking creatine due to this thread. Is the 5g of creatine you are adding to your water dissolving well?

I'm usually rushed in the morning and shaking the water bottle a few times still leaves a bit off powder undissolved, which I slog down anyway.

 

[Poser]

Just started taking creatine due to this thread. Is the 5g of creatine you are adding to your water dissolving well?

I'm usually rushed in the morning and shaking the water bottle a few times still leaves a bit off powder undissolved, which I slog down anyway.

Its difficult to get it fully dissolved in water without using a mechanical blender. But, it doesn't really matter, so long as you consume it all.

 

[brca005]

Just started taking creatine due to this thread. Is the 5g of creatine you are adding to your water dissolving well?

I'm usually rushed in the morning and shaking the water bottle a few times still leaves a bit off powder undissolved, which I slog down anyway.

Just dry scoop it, throw a scoop in, take a sip of water and down the hatch it goes, it's called efficiency and nothing left over in the shaker. I do it, mainly because I hate seeing the undissolved powder left over. It's really not as terrible as it sounds once you get used to it.

 

[Trimbandit]

Yep, strait powder then a swig of water. Works every time.

For anyone not taking creatine I question "why?"

The only downside I can see is you will gain 2-5 lbs of water weight in the first month.

I know some folks get an upset stomach, that's a legitimate concern.

Are you concerned about something you heard decades ago? Worried it isn't safe? Worried it isn't natural or it will stop your creatine production?

 

[Dos Perros]

For anyone not taking creatine I question "why?"

Gives me anxiety.

 

[BBob]

still leaves a bit off powder undissolved

It's notorious for its limited solubility, a lot of it just gets suspended in the mix. You can do things to make it better but I just add mine to the post exercise recovery drink. Shake well, drink and not worry about it.

 

[Trimbandit]

Gives me anxiety.

That's a fair reason not to take it.
I don't know if you have experimented with other types of creatine. Monohydrate is the most common and cheapest by far. But there are a half a dozen or so more.

 

[P Carter]

Yep, strait powder then a swig of water. Works every time.

For anyone not taking creatine I question "why?"

The only downside I can see is you will gain 2-5 lbs of water weight in the first month.

I know some folks get an upset stomach, that's a legitimate concern.

Are you concerned about something you heard decades ago? Worried it isn't safe? Worried it isn't natural or it will stop your creatine production?

Because it's expensive, ultra-processed, adds complication, not strictly necessary, potentially detracts attention from what really matters, at most creates marginal (5%? 10%?) gains, does have demonstrated potential side effects (naseau, etc.). And even though it's very well studied, in many instances, even when people are 100% sure things are healthy and really good, it turns out they're wrong. Plus, as a general rule, when strangers on the internet start pushin stuff, it's usually good to hit the pause button. And, finally, at the end of the day, the biggest benefit comes from subtracting and simplifying rather than adding and complicating. At a minimum, I think one ought to nail down the big things, then see if marginal gains are even necessary or desirable at that point.

I'm interested, and I very well might give it a try. But to pretend that not taking creatine is dumb is, well, I dunno. Not seeing the full picture.

 

[Dos Perros]

That's a fair reason not to take it.
I don't know if you have experimented with other types of creatine. Monohydrate is the most common and cheapest by far. But there are a half a dozen or so more.

Just the the common stuff. Recommended to me by a competitive bodybuilder. It wasn't expensive. Amazon.

I mostly liked it, and I noticed I needed less sleep, but then I'd wake up in the middle of the night and think about stuff and get anxious and I spent too much worrying about stuff so I stopped.

 

[pattimusprime22]

Just dry scoop it, throw a scoop in, take a sip of water and down the hatch it goes, it's called efficiency and nothing left over in the shaker. I do it, mainly because I hate seeing the undissolved powder left over. It's really not as terrible as it sounds once you get used to it.

This is what I do

 

[pattimusprime22]

Because it's expensive, ultra-processed, adds complication, not strictly necessary, potentially detracts attention from what really matters, at most creates marginal (5%? 10%?) gains, does have demonstrated potential side effects (naseau, etc.). And even though it's very well studied, in many instances, even when people are 100% sure things are healthy and really good, it turns out they're wrong. Plus, as a general rule, when strangers on the internet start pushin stuff, it's usually good to hit the pause button. And, finally, at the end of the day, the biggest benefit comes from subtracting and simplifying rather than adding and complicating. At a minimum, I think one ought to nail down the big things, then see if marginal gains are even necessary or desirable at that point.

I'm interested, and I very well might give it a try. But to pretend that not taking creatine is dumb is, well, I dunno. Not seeing the full picture.

It doesn't bother me if someone chooses not to take creatine if they don't want or need the marginal gains and would rather not take supplements.

What bothers me is when people are taking beet root powder, beta alanine, taurine, citrullin, whatever horny goat weed, and choose not to take creatine.

 

[Trimbandit]

Because it's expensive, ultra-processed, adds complication, not strictly necessary, potentially detracts attention from what really matters, at most creates marginal (5%? 10%?) gains, does have demonstrated potential side effects (naseau, etc.). And even though it's very well studied, in many instances, even when people are 100% sure things are healthy and really good, it turns out they're wrong. Plus, as a general rule, when strangers on the internet start pushin stuff, it's usually good to hit the pause button. And, finally, at the end of the day, the biggest benefit comes from subtracting and simplifying rather than adding and complicating. At a minimum, I think one ought to nail down the big things, then see if marginal gains are even necessary or desirable at that point.

I'm interested, and I very well might give it a try. But to pretend that not taking creatine is dumb is, well, I dunno. Not seeing the full picture.

Hey P Carter
I have nothing to gain or lose if you take it.
I speak from a place of thinking it was bad or dangerous before really researching and trying it myself. Once I understood it better, it's a no brainer to me. So many benefits and potential benefits and so little negative.
This is why I ask why you wouldn't do it. As it's likely some of the same reasons I had avoided it for so long. I started taking it in my late 30s.

I know some types are expensive. I get a tub of monohydrate powder from Costco when it's on sale for $9 and it lasts 1.5 months. That's $72 per year.