We all know creatine is great. It's main purpose is to increase ATP / muscle energy. Most of us take creatine before a workout to help bang out extra reps.
Creatine stays in your blood for 1-2 hours after ingesting. So when you workout, it is there for your muscles if they need it for energy.
However, when you are sedentary, and your muscles are jam-packed full of creatine, the creatine you ingest will be converted to creatinine and come out in your urine.
This makes me question the use of creatine on off days. As I sit here drinking my creatine on my off day, I'm wondering what purpose this serves. I think we've all accepted that creatine be taken on off days to 'replenish creatine stores'. But I think this topic deserves a little discussion.
Logically, if you are taking creatine before a workout, or after a workout, your muscles should be saturated with creatine. The ATP/creatine they burn during a workout will be restored with that drink.
If creatine only stays in your blood for 1-2 hours after ingesting, and on your off day your not using any ATP or muscle energy, are we just spinning our wheels?
The one reason I drink creatine on my off day is because I beleive it helps with recovery. As I sit here my whole body is sore, I'll use just about anything if you tell me it will help DOMs and aid recovery.
What do you think? :stick:
Creatine stays in your blood for 1-2 hours after ingesting. So when you workout, it is there for your muscles if they need it for energy.
However, when you are sedentary, and your muscles are jam-packed full of creatine, the creatine you ingest will be converted to creatinine and come out in your urine.
This makes me question the use of creatine on off days. As I sit here drinking my creatine on my off day, I'm wondering what purpose this serves. I think we've all accepted that creatine be taken on off days to 'replenish creatine stores'. But I think this topic deserves a little discussion.
Logically, if you are taking creatine before a workout, or after a workout, your muscles should be saturated with creatine. The ATP/creatine they burn during a workout will be restored with that drink.
If creatine only stays in your blood for 1-2 hours after ingesting, and on your off day your not using any ATP or muscle energy, are we just spinning our wheels?
The one reason I drink creatine on my off day is because I beleive it helps with recovery. As I sit here my whole body is sore, I'll use just about anything if you tell me it will help DOMs and aid recovery.
What do you think? :stick: