Should I be taking Creatine on days I'm NOT working out

[clearfield]

I workout 5 or 6 days a week.

Should I be taking Creatine on the days I'm not working out?

Pros/Cons?

Thanks

 

[aaronuconn]

When first beginning, I personally use creatine daily for a month at 3-5g (to reach saturation) and then afterwards just 2-3g 4 or so days a week. There's no need to take it daily and I would actually not recommend doing so.

 

[mike0589]

Metabolisis and the exact dosage affect it's bio availability, so it can greatly vary from person to person.

I've personally never experienced a notable difference dosing on off days.

 

[clearfield]

I guess the underlying question is should I think of it as a supplement I always want in my system for as long as I'm using it?

 

[harbonah]

Yes, I think its great to take everyday. The only real reason to stop is to drop any bloat it may cause you It has neuroprotective and cardioprotective properties, so its great for your health as well as muscle.

http://examine.com/supplements/Creatine/

 

[dboston]

I had a pulled muscle in my shoulder, and started taken creating, and in a week it actually healed it!! Go figure..

 

[digitalducki]

It's so cheap u might as well

 

[aaronuconn]

You shouldn't supplement daily indefinitely.

 

[Bootstomper]

Yes, I think its great to take everyday. The only real reason to stop is to drop any bloat it may cause you It has neuroprotective and cardioprotective properties, so its great for your health as well as muscle.

Agree with the above.... It's still probably something I'd "cycle off of" every now and then, just to give your body a break from it (and the bloat comment mentioned above (I personally build a tolerance or immunity to just about everything, quickly, so I try to cycle off just about everything save for maybe fish oil).

 

[Jiigzz]

I had a pulled muscle in my shoulder, and started taken creating, and in a week it actually healed it!! Go figure..

Wasn't the creatine

 

[Jiigzz]

Yes, I think its great to take everyday. The only real reason to stop is to drop any bloat it may cause you It has neuroprotective and cardioprotective properties, so its great for your health as well as muscle.

http://examine.com/supplements/Creatine/

The real reason to cycle is because continuous use downregulates the creatine transporter Creat1. Not because of the blot. Creatine pulls water INTO the muscle

If you read all of that link it states that prolonged use results in reduced uptake.

 

[Driven2lift]

The real reason to cycle is because continuous use downregulates the creatine transporter Creat1. Not because of the blot. Creatine pulls water INTO the muscle

Have a study for that? I have only seen the exact opposite demonstrated; that Creat1 does not down-regulate and that upon the cessation of use creatine production quickly baselines.

I see you further edited your post but couldn't find it in that article; in fact in the Q&A it again says the opposite

 

[Jiigzz]

Have a study for that? I have only seen the exact opposite demonstrated; that Creat1 does not down-regulate and that upon the cessation of use creatine production quickly baselines.

I see you further edited your post but couldn't find it in that article; in fact in the Q&A it again says the opposite

Look at section 4.5

 

[Jiigzz]

Look at section 4.4

And read this thread http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=158078053&highlight=creatine+downregulation

 

[Driven2lift]

And read this thread http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=158078053&highlight=creatine+downregulation

From Cyrus himself I see.
Strange that this year's text and studies again said Creat1 does not down-regulate.

Thanks for posting that. I will do some further research and decide what I'm doing now

 

[Jiigzz]

From Cyrus himself I see.
Strange that this year's text and studies again said Creat1 does not down-regulate.

Thanks for posting that. I will do some further research and decide what I'm doing now

May not be Creat1. That was me trying to post from memory

 

[Jiigzz]

May not be Creat1. That was me trying to post from memory

Read post #34 in that thread

 

[bdcc]

May not be Creat1. That was me trying to post from memory

It is the famous Creat1ne pathway.

Sorry, I couldn't resist lol.

 

[Driven2lift]

May not be Creat1. That was me trying to post from memory

No I think you led me down the right path though thanks brother.

Creat1 has been shown to not down-regulate I just re-read. (Either a separate reason for this or a conflicting study must exist, wonder if Cooper will enlighten us)

But what you and Coop said appears right, time to rethink my supplement schedule

 

[clearfield]

So if I get back to my original question, should I take it daily whether I'm working out that day or not and cycle off every few months?

 

[Driven2lift]

So if I get back to my original question, should I take it daily whether I'm working out that day or not and cycle off every few months?

Looks like the recommendation was to take only on workout days

 

[Young Gotti]

i was using dymatize creatine and creaplex everyday...i've since dropped down to lifting days only to see how i react, but like other ppl mentioned it's a good idea to come off every so often, i'm due

 

[fightbackhxc]

It's so cheap u might as well

Was thinking the same thing.

 

[Montego1]

I've been using creatine only in lifting days and have noticed no change in performance or muscle fullness compared to every day.

 

[ma70]

After using 5g everyday for a month, I just use 5g every workout day (3-4 days a week) and I'm still fine with regards to strength/endurance/fullness.

 

[Colbert]

I personally do but if I forget to take it I don't freak out about it. But I also most mention that every couple of months if and when I run out of it I don't purchase it for at least a month.

But after reading this thread I guess one should cycle everything just in case

 

[AntM1564]

I pretty much follow the same method as Aaron. I used it straight for 30 days, 3-5 grams. Now, I use 3-5 grams only on workout days, which is 5 days a week.

 

[aaronuconn]

I pretty much follow the same method as Aaron.

60% of the time he's right, every time.

 

[Auslifter]

blast and cruise, mate. i cruise on 1.5g of creatine, then blast on 20g ed creatine ace, creatinebolone

 

[alwaysfirst]

Dose it matter when you take Creatine, morning, pre or post workout?

 

[Quadzilla99]

Dose it matter when you take Creatine, morning, pre or post workout?

Always take it at 7:42 eastern standard time

 

[alwaysfirst]

Always take it at 7:42 eastern standard time

Wow! Thanks you so much for your dumb reply, it explains a lot about what kind of boring life you have.

 

[AntM1564]

Dose it matter when you take Creatine, morning, pre or post workout?

Take it whenever you want. Timing does not matter. I usually take it first thing in the morning or pre workout if I have a pre workout I am using that day. It just gives it a little flavor.

 

[ma70]

Dose it matter when you take Creatine, morning, pre or post workout?

As far as I know, it doesn't matter because you're going to be saturated on it anyway.

 

[alwaysfirst]

Take it whenever you want. Timing does not matter. I usually take it first thing in the morning or pre workout if I have a pre workout I am using that day. It just gives it a little flavor.

Great, thanks!