Creatine Concerns

[afc_recovering]

So last night after my workout I took my first bit of creatine. I mixed 5mL (1 teaspoon) with some Gatorade mix and drank it and I couldn't even taste the creatine. After all I've read about creatine I knew enough that I had to drink like a fish after.

So for a solid 2 hours I downed water like a madman, probably about 6-7 litres and I must've pissed 10 times. So finally I get to bed around 12 after getting up every 10 minutes.

Fast forward to this morning. I wake up at about 5:15 with mad stomach pains. I thought I was just hungry and made myself some eggs, but that just made it alot worse. I finally clued in that it's the creatine and I've began another cycle of doing my best impression of a fish. So I guess my questions are:

1. Do you really have to drink like 20L water a day when on creatine?
2. Is there a chance this just happened because it was my first time taking it?
3. Anyone else have experiences like this and how'd you solve it?
4. Do you think perhaps creatine just isn't for me?

Thanks guys I'll be sitting up, drinking like a fish and pissing like a racehorse while everyone else in the world is sleeping...

 

[[S]alvatore]

No, 20 litres of water a day is ridiculous, if you're using creatine or not. Try to get at least 6-7 litres per day.

 

[Sean O]

Honestly, creatine isn't really worth it. I used it for quite a while because I heard all this praise for it, but then when I ran out of it I decided to wait like 2 weeks to see if there was a difference... and there wasn't. At least, not enough of a difference to affect my lifts. Waste of money, IMO.

 

[The_flying_dutchman]

I was also thinking about starting on some creatine but wasn't sure if it was worth the money. For those who've used it, does it actually help you during your lifting sessions? energy levels?

The only thing that kinda shyed me away from it was that each serving has like 79 grams of sugar :nervous: ? I know they say that spiking insulin levels helps with absorbtion but that level of sugar is just rediculous.

 

[Francisco d'Anconia]

Do you guys actually know what a creatine suppliment is supposed to do for your body? It sounds as if you think it is supposed to be some type of miracle drug and it's not.

I'm not saying that it doesn't work, but understand what it does and how it is to be used. I've seen too often people taking it in a way that negates all effects of it.

Also, do your homework on what creatine actually is (nutriant naturally found in the body) and it should not contain any additive such as sugar.

 

[deadaim89]

This is the most rediculous thread yet. You should shoot for a gallon of water daily even when not on creatine. Creatine IS extremley effective and has gotten lots of flac for its performance enhancing abilities. However due to the fact it has little to no side effects it has yet to be banned in sports. That being said theyre are diffrent types of people generally speaking two, responders and non responders. If you dont respond to creatine, try a different type CEE or something else, if that doesnt work then o well. As the the level of sugar found in some creatines, you are suppose to drink straight creatine in a high dextrose and carb drinnk like grape juice. By mixing sugar in with the creatine already, it allows the ability to simply mix with water, and still allow optimum benifits.

 

[Francisco d'Anconia]

Micronized creatine is easily soluble (even in water) and does contain any additives.

 

[WC2]

Honestly, creatine isn't really worth it. I used it for quite a while because I heard all this praise for it, but then when I ran out of it I decided to wait like 2 weeks to see if there was a difference... and there wasn't. At least, not enough of a difference to affect my lifts. Waste of money, IMO.

Please do your research before posting bud. Like said, creatine isn't a miracle drug, but is WELL worth the money in most cases. Creatine is cheap first of all. Second of all, it is scientifically proven to improve strength while on it.

Now you will get a good amount of those who will say, "Oh creatine just gives you water gains and once you're off it you're back to your normal self." Wrong. Creatine increases puts more water into your muscles, thus making them stronger, thus giving you better lifts. What do better lifts mean? Muscles breakdown. What does muscle breakdown mean? Muscle growth.

So even if you are losing waterweight when coming off of creatine, you aren't losing the actual muscle you've gained.

 

[swaptrex]

while cycling creatine try to drink 1-2 gallons per day, anything else is unneccessary.

 

[rowing_mike]

WC2, I suggest you properly research the topic before you argue it to that extent. Creatine does not increase strength. Effectively, it decreases the recovery peroid between workouts. Also, as the muscles absorb extra water, they will look bigger. Both of these effects will be slowly lost when creatine is no longer taken.
You do not need 20 litres of water. As you would without creatine, drink when you are thirsty. Only now you may feel thirstly slightly more often (barely noticable after the loading period). As for the stomach pains, you are taking too much creatine each serving. You may like to decrease the amount per serving, and have more servings. Alternativly, since you are using creatine monohydrate, you may like to use creatine ethyl ester. This is absorbed more quickly, so will not cause cramps. It is also slightly more expensive.

 

[Sean O]

Geez, what's with all this conflicting information in this thread?

Okay... What I was taught was that creatine phosphate is the compound used by the body to produce ATP quickly, i.e. during very high intensity activity, such as sprinting or heavy weight training. Essentially, the reaction is CP + ADP --> C + ATP. However, one can deplete his creatine phosphate stores rather quickly during intense exercise, and after that the body will have to resort to anaerobic glycolosis (not sure if I got that term exactly right).

The idea is that by taking creatine as a supplement, you increase the size of the creatine stores in your body, which therefore allows you to perform at a higher intensity for longer during your workouts. This in effect, will cause greater muscle breakdown, which, provided that you don't overtain, will lead to greater strength and size gain. The increased water retention will also lead to bigger muscles. Also, I was told that taking creatine as a supplement causes your body to temporarily stop producing as much of its own naturally, but this returns to normal once you go off of creatine. I didn't hear anything about decreased recovery time between workouts, but I have no reason to believe that that information is false.

Anyway, all I was saying before was that I used creatine for a while, and after I went off of it I didn't notice any difference whatsoever, in size, lifting ability, OR recovery time. Maybe my body just produces lots of creatine naturally, so my natural creatine store size is about the same as my supplemented creatine store size? Either way, I found it to do nothing for me, therefore I feel that it is a waste of money. But that's just me .

 

[WC2]

The idea is that by taking creatine as a supplement, you increase the size of the creatine stores in your body, which therefore allows you to perform at a higher intensity for longer during your workouts. This in effect, will cause greater muscle breakdown, which, provided that you don't overtain, will lead to greater strength and size gain. The increased water retention will also lead to bigger muscles. Also, I was told that taking creatine as a supplement causes your body to temporarily stop producing as much of its own naturally, but this returns to normal once you go off of creatine. I didn't hear anything about decreased recovery time between workouts, but I have no reason to believe that that information is false.

Thank you Sean, basically what I just said. Creatine DOES drive more power to your muscles in a sense. Of course it doesn't make the actual muscle fibers bigger.. we're not talking about steroids. It drives more energy to your muscles, so you can work out longer at higher intensitys. It helps recovery time too. Please, don't tell me to do my research I've taken more supplements than I can fit into my resume. Creatine DOES effectively increase your strength while you're on it. Do you think people just take creatine to recover faster? No, people take creatine because it drives more water to your muscles, thus increasing your muscle's ability to lift for longer periods of time.

 

[deadaim89]

Who are you people and where are you getting your stupid info. You will be able to lift more weight on creatine because it increase ATP energy in your muscles. The increase in muscle mass is a side effect caused by water being pulled into your muscles, this does not increase strength. However the increase in ATP energy does.

 

[Sean O]

^^ Read my second post. It addresses and explains all of those things.

 

[afc_recovering]

Wow a lot of conflicting information here. Anyways I've done my research and continued taking creatine and I haven't experienced any cramps whatsoever since that first case. I think it may have been mostly in my head.

Anyways just like to clarify that when I said 20 litres I didn't realistically mean that, I was exaggerating. My question was do you have to drink ridiculous amounts of water and I've found out on my own that you don't, just drink a little more than usual.

Thanks

 

[Francisco d'Anconia]

So there wasn't really an issue and all of this was for nothing? My ex use to do that. :cuss: