Questions About Creatine

[falco21]

I am going to start using Creatine Monohydrate now, but I had a few questions. I read the sticky up top about the FAQ, but still have some of my own:

The sticky says to take a spoonful on workout days after your workou0t, and in the morning on non workout days. Is this accurate? I have also read that many people take one serving before their workout and one afterwards. Has anyone had experience with either of these? Which one worked better?

Also, is it ok to put the spoonful in my mouth and wash it down with water? Do I have to take it with a juice or my shake? Also, do I have to worry about this supposed "loading" phase and then tapering off? Not to sure on what is true or false?

Thank you for the responses everyone!

[Ashop]

I am going to start using Creatine Monohydrate now, but I had a few questions. I read the sticky up top about the FAQ, but still have some of my own:

The sticky says to take a spoonful on workout days after your workou0t, and in the morning on non workout days. Is this accurate? I have also read that many people take one serving before their workout and one afterwards. Has anyone had experience with either of these? Which one worked better?

Also, is it ok to put the spoonful in my mouth and wash it down with water? Do I have to take it with a juice or my shake? Also, do I have to worry about this supposed "loading" phase and then tapering off? Not to sure on what is true or false?

Thank you for the responses everyone!

I would use 5-10grams daily. On workouts days immediately PWO. On off days take whens best for you.
I mix my Creatine Mono in warm tea.

[slfmade]

If it's un-flavored Creatine Mono.....let me know how the spoonful in the mouth followed by the water goes. I used to do it this way, but shit.....it's the nastiest tasting shit I can think of. Make sure to video it the first time and post the youtube link. Taking it with water isn't much better. I just mix it with my shakes.

[falco21]

Ok cool. I will be taking 10grams a day and see how that plays out. I will also try the spoonful in the mouth and I will update how that goes haha

Hopefully it is not as bad as you make it seem slfmade lmao

[slfmade]

It is!!!

[falco21]

Well, I have to admit, slfmade made me chicken out trying the teaspoon straight in the mouth deal hahaha

I worked out hard today and then drank 10grams mixed in with a glass of orange juice. I read in a lot of forums that OJ was the way to go due to its high sugar content. Allows for better absorption. I can't wait to see this start working!!

[OnTheSauce]

I have no issue just doing the scoop. doesnt taste bad at all. i use all max creapure creatine.

[falco21]

Well today I didn't feel like searching the fridge for OJ (yeah, lazy I know LOL) so I poured the Creatine in my mouth and washed it down with water and it was not as hard as I thought it was going to be. The first feeling of having the powder in your mouth is not a very pleasant one, but then it's not too bad washing it down

[slfmade]

You're a stronger guy than me. Everytime that powder touches my tongue I cough and gag, powder comes out of my mouth forming a cloud of creatine which I then enhale through my nose causing me to cough and gag more with snot coming out of my nose.....It's pretty bad. Of course I could just be a pvssy!!!!!

[Times Roman]

If it's un-flavored Creatine Mono.....let me know how the spoonful in the mouth followed by the water goes. I used to do it this way, but shit.....it's the nastiest tasting shit I can think of. Make sure to video it the first time and post the youtube link. Taking it with water isn't much better. I just mix it with my shakes.

oh, ya big baby! Really? Creating??? Ever try NAC? extremely bitter and sour at the same time. I must take NAC straight into the mouth, everything you mix it will seems to not dilute the nastiness, so i just take it straight to just get it over with.

or what about argininge powder? i was taking 5 to 7 grams at a shot. even when you mix it something, it still smells/tastes like old rancid fish oil and makes me nauseous.

[nkyle90]

Take 5 grams of your creatine before and after workout with some high gly***ic carbs. This will push it into your muscles, otherwise you'll just be pissing it out. On non-training days take 5-10 grams of it, i'd say before lunch. Stay away from juices and all that crap, today i took mine and ate a kiwi right after. Creatine has never been proven to have any negative side effects when taken with enough water. So if you want you could do a week of loading where you take 1.5 times as much but you dont need to taper off. You really never need to come off of it.

[Stosh_112]

Well said. That about sums it up.

[ajordana]

i say just take it. no need to load, todays creatine will be what benefits you tomorrow, once youre saturated, youre saturated. once your muscles are fully loaded with the creatine, it wont matter how fast or slow you absorb it, it will just keep you saturated, whether you do a spoonful and take it to the head, or mix it with tons of simple carbs, its gonna do the same thing. also, i never found creatine to taste bad, its actually tasteless to me lol, only part that bothers me with it in water is the sandy texture.. gotta chug it, definitely no sippin, feels too weird..

[Armykid93]

loading is BS made up by supp companies. And I didn't really taper off and i'm fine now