Creatine question

It is suggested to take creatine with fruit juice to spike insulin so the creatine would be better absorbed. I know you suggest over 50 to supplement creatine with resistance training. So is the insulin spike not a problem to you? Is it a daily thing or should it be cycled on and off?

Ramjet - Instead of using fruit juice, just take it with Lipoic Acid and it will be utilized better.

Wow, hell of an idea, thanks!!

IH--

I heard that you can increase creatine absorption using warm water or something...sound familiar at all? I have been using R-Lipoic Acid and ALCAR at 1g post-workout along with my 10g of Creatine and 40+g of Protein (Whey Isolate) though.

nidhogge - I didn't know that, good tip, thanks.

Nid - do you "cycle" your use of creatine or do you use it continuously (after everyworkout)?

I've been taking a teaspoon (4.5 grams I think) w/ ALA prework out and a teaspoon post. I do a few weeks on a few weeks off but Im not sure what frequency I should be "cycling" it.

On another note I remember reading somewhere that its best to add a pinch of salt to it (to help keep it from breaking down too rapidly) and let it sort of dissolve in the mouth as it can get absorbed directly into the cheek and gum tissue more easily that in the stomach - were the stomach acid will break it down.

JS--

I'm not sure if cycling helps or not to be honest. In my opinion, cycling works like this--you take it for a month or two, your results increase, and then they level out. You get off the Creatine, lose some of those results, then get back on it and get them back again. People say "your body adapts to it that's why you have to cycle" but by what mechanism does your body adapt to it? I mean, it's just amino acids, and it's not as if our body adapts to protein (also amino acids)...it's something we always need.

I think your salt idea is quite interesting--gonna have to try that out with my Sea Salt.

Nid - I think you might have a point about cycling not being necessary. Im not sure Im ready to gamble on it tho.. haha I think you might be braver on this then me!

I've heard a lot of things about creatine...some good...some bad...I've been hesitant to try it

Socceroo wrote:I've heard a lot of things about creatine...some good...some bad...I've been hesitant to try it

Is this the bad type of stuff you have heard:

http://www.creatinemonohydrate.net

Unexplained Side Effects
Rumors about creatine abound and often stem from the public confusing creatine with anabolic steroids and not from factual occurrences. On the other hand, some unexplained side effects may be real, but may have escaped detection in the scientific arena. Unsubstantiated side effects sometimes attributed to creatine use include increased aggressiveness, anxiety, acne, male breast formation (gynecomastia), a reduction in penis size, hair loss (men) and body hair growth (women). Of these, aggressiveness, acne and hair loss are the most frequently reported.

I don't really understand where they're getting that info. on Creatine...it's almost as if they took it from steroid users who were using creatine as well.

Socceroo & gregslater - those are side effects of steroids, definitely not creatine. Ive been using creatine on and off for about 10 years and I have never had (or even heard of) anything close to those symptoms.

The only thing I have experienced that would be considered a negative is if too much is taken, your body cant absorb all of it into the muscles and since it converts to bi-products after about 20 if not absorbed - it will take a bit of your body's water to flush out. So if too much is taken it causes water to flush out from your system and this can cause a temporary potassium imbalance - the same as if you were to take a diuretic. This can lead to temporary muscle cramps and fatigue. You have to take more than 10 grams at a time for this to happen though.

Also, just as an aside -Ive noticed that I can tolerate a teaspoonful - about 5 grams without any negative effects whatsoever. Of course the upside is more fluid in the muscle fiber, & more endurance for anaerobic workouts hence better workouts (hence faster muscle development).

After you stop taking it, your muscles will go down in size slightly as the fluid starts to dissipate from the muscle tissue, but the muscle gains themselves wont go away and you will be better off muscle-wise than when you started.

JS--

Well-said and I agree completely on that. In addition, just anecdotally speaking, I have never heard of anyone getting those sorts of sides from creatine. Prohormones, yes, steroids, yes, but definitely not Creatine.

I pointed out the statement on the website... I didn't say I agreed with it. I was asking the OP if the statements on that website were the type of negative remarks about creatine he had heard... as he didn't elaborate.

If you read that web page, they say those are typically the type of symptoms reported from steroid use. But people are reporting these issues and swearing they aren't using roids none-the-less (more anecdotal reports on the same website). Likely they are taking other things (doesn't have to be roids) and doing other things that increase their T for T->DHT and not talking anything to counter it.

Anyway, I remember back in 2004 or 2005 some guys on HLL were using it in topical with DMSO.

Gregslater - True, no worries.. And yes, if people are experiencing those sides I'd put money it was from some other component of their regimen. It may even be that the brand of creatine they are using has pro-hormone-type ingredients added in as well..although I dont know what brand that might be. However I do seem to remember seeing a fair amount muscle building supplements with questionable pro-hormone-type ingredients a few years back. Obviously I would try to avoid those, esp. if you are worried about hairloss