Creatine Side effects

Matt12579 · 27-Jul-02, 08:07 PM

Hey everybody, I started using creatine today and have had 3 servings so far. Following ironman's advice i bought some grape juice.. So far so good for the most part... After doses 1 &3 my stomach has felt a little upset, but nothing that has concerned me. Ironman you also said to keep hydrated.. I normally drink a gallon of water a day and i am definitely making sure to do that during the next 5 days. Ive noticed that i haven't had to use the bathroom as much today.. Is that the creatine keeping the water in my muscles? Is a gallon of water a day sufficient for hydration when taking creatine.. Also should i avoid caffeine alltogether.. I drank some diet coke at lunch time.. Ive heard some mention that it works against creatine, while ive also heard that theory is a load of crap... any replies would be greatly appreciated...
~Matt

Steve · 27-Jul-02, 10:42 PM

Coffee is a duiretic, so it takes water away. I've also heard it works against Creatine. Well, I'm addicted to coffee, so I'm not gonna stop. I'd rather stop Creatine

, which I won't, too. I think Creatine keeps more water in your muscles than coffee can take away, anyway.

You're probably urinating less because of the Creatine effect. Don't sweat it, just keep on drinking your water.

When is your next workout? You'll feel the difference.

Steve

27-Jul-02, 11:04 PM

Doing good Matt, doing good. Upset stomach is a common side effect of creatine, so if it isn't too bad keep at it. The gallon of water is good. The new recommendation that I have heard is one ounce per pound of bodyweight. So if you are up around 200 pounds, bump it up to around 1 1/2 gals per day. If you can't make it then at least do the gallon per day -- that will work! Keep us posted, can't wait to see what you think of it.

Matt12579 · 27-Jul-02, 11:30 PM

Thanks for the replies guys.. I was amazed how quickly creatine dissolves when put in liquid.. I bought the micronized powder from of creatine monohydrate.. In response to your replies my next workout is monday. I follow a 3-day a week split (M,W,F).. Anything would be an improvement over my workout on Friday. This week i volunteered on thursday for my local habitat for humanity.. Basically, it was just loading and unloading trucks with big buckets of paint, bricks, boards.. Man, i quickly gained an appreciation for the good folks that do that stuff for a living. That was some hard work! I probably should have skipped the friday workout (back and tris) and done it today because my body felt pretty worn.. o well, thought i would share that story..Steve you mentioned that i would feel a difference my next workout. That would be great, but today was only my first day of loading.. My loading phase will last til wednesday, could i actually feel a difference on monday after just two days of loading? Iron, in response to your water comment, i weigh right around 170... i don't think ive ever gotten 170 ounces.. but thats certainly something to shoot for!..

Lee J B · 28-Jul-02, 06:03 AM

Matt , i am going to start using creatine .. so i will be very intrested in what goes on... i am VERY intrested in iron and steve's opinions right now .. for example .. he will feel the difference that quick ? also ive heard after a month of using it you can see the difference ? .. any truth to this? .. and one more thing is ... how do you keep the muscle after the creatine cycle ? .. ie heard if you dont preserve it drops straight off? but i hear a lot of things .. LOL...

Steve · 28-Jul-02, 07:19 AM

BTW, I didn't pre-load. I believe it's not really vital for it to give results. I just took three teaspoons with dextrose(lukewarm water) three times daily while I was training.

Steve

28-Jul-02, 08:24 AM

This is their very first time using creatine and my best gains from it was my first time with loading. The second and third cycle of it loading didn't have the effect as like it did on the first time, therefore, I strongly recommend loading for the very first time it is used.

Quote:

Originally posted by Steve
BTW, I didn't pre-load. I believe it's not really vital for it to give results. I just took three teaspoons with dextrose(lukewarm water) three times daily while I was training.

Steve

Three teaspoons per day sounds an awful lot like loading to me....

Steve · 28-Jul-02, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by IronMan
Three teaspoons per day sounds an awful lot like loading to me....

Hmm....might be...depends on the size of the teaspoon really. Mine are small....about 12mm wide.

Steve

biggerdave · 29-Jul-02, 04:56 PM

Creatine is a highly genetic dependant supplement. Some people have outstanding results with no gastro-intestinal upset. Others have little results in size or strength while accruing serious diarreah and upset stomach. No doubt though, it is one of the most researched and documented of sports supplements on the market, having better results than most of the hyped up products at your local nutrition store.

Loading phases are shown to quicken the process of muscle cell volumization versus a steady intake over time. Studies show the end results are the same. It is just a matter of how fast you want to get there. For people that get upset stomach from loading, you can reduce to normal intake levels and be happy knowing it will be just as effective down the road.

Some bodybuilders find it more effective to take half their daily intake before working out and the other half within 1 hour after working out. This is due most likely for the body's need to replenish itself of depleted amino acid levels and other compounds that result in a catabolic state (muscle wasting)after intense physical exercise(a high stress environment for the body).

Hope this helps...