Creatine - Okay for Women?

[FirePenguin]

There is so much information on creatine that I'm confused. I really want to continue replacing fat with muscle and gain great progress, but I'm afraid to take creatine because I heard somewhere that it makes you retain water and/or gain weight. I'm not afraid of weight gain per se - not so much the number but how I look and feel - but I am afraid of my clothes getting tighter and such. Does this really happen? What can I expect - good and bad - if I take creatine? I have 4 weeks left and I want to make these powerful and full of progress.

Thanks.

[yakubu]

Originally Posted by FirePenguin

There is so much information on creatine that I'm confused. I really want to continue replacing fat with muscle and gain great progress, but I'm afraid to take creatine because I heard somewhere that it makes you retain water and/or gain weight. I'm not afraid of weight gain per se - not so much the number but how I look and feel - but I am afraid of my clothes getting tighter and such. Does this really happen? What can I expect - good and bad - if I take creatine? I have 4 weeks left and I want to make these powerful and full of progress.

Thanks.

the only thing that will happen is your muscles will get bigger. wether this is good or bad for you only you can decide. nothing bad happens from creatine e.g it cant make u fat or anything. and that water thing u mentioned isnt like the normal water retention thing that u hear about (water retention is not good), its different, i think it just means that it pumps more water into your muscles

[Chris]

the degree of water retention is related to the quality of your creatine. basically the stuff attracts water like crazy. once it's in your muscles it supposedly helps pull in water and thus nutrients. I find it has many benefits and is part of my regular regime. Creatine helps you get those extra reps. It improves strength and recovery. It doesn't make you big. But it can make you retain water. In this case it's more like a little bloated.
But since you only have 4 weeks before photos I wouldn't start. It takes some time to load (which "loading" is no longer recommended, but label still says to) the creatine into your muscles, then yes, some water weight, then the benefits. It's generally recommended to come off of it before photos so you have a chance to lose the excess water. Your body shrinks a little and your muscles may go back down some, but the strength stays. I currently cycle about 8 weeks on and then 4 weeks off. Incidentally, I started my cycle back on this week and already notice the improvement.

For round 2 you may want to check it out. You can tell within 2 weeks if it's helping or not.